Gator’s Old Flames – Ross Twp Baron-Wheeler Inc. Fire 5/28/1985

Berkeley Hills, Laurel Gardens, and Perrysville responded in the middle of the night to a Commercial Structure Fire at Baron-Wheeler, Inc. on Babcock Boulevard in Ross Township.

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Gator’s Old Flames – Stowe Twp Structure Fire – 12/04/1986

West Park, Flemming Park, Presston and McKees Rocks responded in the early evening hours for a residential structure fire in the 500 Block of Woodward Avenue, Stowe Township.

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Gator’s Old Flames – McCandless Structure Fire – 01/28/1986

Editor note: This is another installment of Gator’s Old Flames, a look back at some fire incidents from the past

Residential Structure Fire in the 1300 Block of Duncan Avenue in the Town of McCandless. Call received at 11:51am. Peebles, Highland, Ingomar, and North Hampton Responding.

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Gator’s Old Flames – Ross Twp Best Feeds Store Fire – 1/19/82

At 8:33am, the initial alarm was received for a fire at the Best Feeds store on McKnight Road in Ross Township. Companies on scene included Berkeley Hills, Laurel Gardens, Perrysville, Quaill, Highland, and Fairview’s Air Truck. Sub-freezing temperatures and hazardous materials inside the building contributed to the fireground difficulties. The building was a total loss and the building was rebuilt with a new building on the same spot – now occupied by Jared’s Jewelry next to Denny’s.

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Gator’s Old Flames – Emsworth Structure Fire – 04/07/1983

Fire gutted unit 100 of the Cliffside Manor Apartment Complex off of Ohio River Boulevard in Emsworth. Companies included Em sworth, Ben Avon, and Avalon. (When was the last time you saw an AMC Gremlin, much less a Gremlin fire chief’s vehicle?)

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Gator’s Old Flames – Structure Fire Brighton Heights, Pittsburgh, PA (12/20/1981)

At approximately 11:30pm, a suspicious fire destroyed a vacant funeral home at the corner of California Avenue and Termon Avenue in the Brighton Heights section of the City of Pittsburgh. 55 Engine (now known as 35 Engine) was first due and originally reported nothing showing upon arrival. Upon further investigation, the engine crew found smoke coming from the roof. Four alarms later, the fire was brought under control. This is yet another strange intersection that has seen four of five buildings destroyed by fires, some suspicious, in the past two decades.

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Gator’s Old Flames – House Fire – Bellevue 4/29/1981

In the midd le of the night, a fire destroyed the top floor of a 2-1/2 story frame and aluminum siding residence on North Balph Avenue. Bellevue and Fairview Fire Departments responded.

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Gator’s Old Flames – Ross Twp Commercial Structure Fire – 12/28/1981

At approximately 2:40am, Alray Tire Company at 2002 Babcock Boulevard was destroyed by a fire fed by hundreds of rubber tires. Flames shot into the sky approximately 100 feet into the air. Numerous explosions created a near BLEVE effect. Companies on scene included Evergreen, Laurel Gardens, Berkeley Hills, Keating, Bauerstown, and Millvale. A business just to the sector 2 side suffered exposure damage. the main fire building was completely destroyed.

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Gator’s Old Flames – Apartment Building Fire – City of Pittsburgh (1/30/1986)

Apartment Building Fire – City of Pittsburgh (1/30/1986)

On January 30, 1986, this apartment building was destroyed by a fire and natural gas explosion in the Lincoln-Lemmington section of the City of Pittsburgh.

Zone 3-12 was dispatched at 1218 hours to Shetland Avenue. 15 Engine was first on scene and reported heavy smoke and fire form the first floor. The second alarm was dispatched at 1224 hours with 8 Truck on special assignment. A third alarm was dispatched just two minutes later. The fourth alarm came just two minutes after that. The fifth alarm and an additional engine company were dispatched later.

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Gator’s Old Flames – Fatal Structure Fire – McKees Rocks (2-14-1981)

Note:  These are being republished in the new site format.  Enjoy a look back at some classic fires from the Pittsburgh area courtesy of Ed “Gator” Burik.

Structure Fire – McKees Rocks (2-14-1981)

In the early morning hours of February 14th, 1981, McKees Rocks Fire Department was summoned for a structure fire on Island Avenue at the corner of Bradley Street. First in units found a large dilapidated 3-1/2 story rooming house fully involved. McKees Rocks was assisted with mutual aid from Presston, West Park, Flemming Park, Kennedy Township, and Neville Township.

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