December 1st, 2003 – Port Vue Borough Ianno’s Pizza Shop fire on Romine Avenue.
Photo by Chris Ponchak.
09/25/2003 – Structure Fire – Marshall Township
Marshall Township Station 185 was dispatched in the early morning to Sewickley Farms Drive for a working structure fire with possible entrapment. The house appeared to have been struck by lightning. No entrapment was found. Wexford Station 228, Bradford Woods Station 115, Cranberry Station 21, Mars Station 18, Zelienople Station 22, Economy Station 69, and East Rochester Station 25 responded. So many stations were needed due to low staffing levels.
Pictures Provided by: Jason Harrold
09/06/2003 – Collier Township Commercial Structure Fire
Pictures Provided by: Dave Novak, RJ Bogdon, and Kevin O’Malley
Story Provided by: Kevin O’Malley
County Dispatch put out the alarm for Kirwan Heights 124, Presto 125, Rennerdale 126, Greentree RIT 163, and Medic 815, at 0003 hrs, September 6, 2003 for a reported commercial structure fire, smoke showing, in the area of Rt. 50 and Vanadium Rd, possible apartments (124’s first due).
Chief 125 went enroute and confirmed heavy smoke while leaving his home ½ mile away. Portable 125-6, in the area, reported address to be 620 Vanadium Rd (1/2 block down from Station 124), heavy fire showing.
Engine 125-1 first on scene at 0011 hours, confirmed 2 story, L shaped commercial structure, 2/3 involved. Multiple businesses contained within the structure with unknown building contents. Live wires down, and 55 gal. drums of unknown material burning and exploding.
Chief 125 took Vanadium command. Engine 125-1 established initial water supply w/ LDH, and placed deck gun in service (2-3 corner). Crew from 125-1 placed 2” hand line in service to uninvolved section of building (side2) to protect interior exposures. Engine 125-2 arrived second and laid in second LDH to 1-4 corner. Engine 124-1 arrived and placed the deck gun in service 1-4 corner. Rescue 125 arrived and placed backup line in service to assist 125-1. Engine 255 arrived and laying LDH from second source and placed third line in to 1-2 corner to support interior efforts.
8/22/2003 – Vehicle Accident – Avalon Borough
On Friday, August 22, 2003 at approximately 2:15a.m. Avalon Police, Northwest EMS, Avalon Fire Company (Station 103), Bellevue Fire Company (Station 108) and Ben Avon Fire Company (Station 109) were dispatched to New Brighton Road in Avalon Borough, just above the Avalon Swimming Pool, for a single-vehicle accident, with the vehicle on its roof with 3 occupants trapped inside. Avalon police officers; Paul Lawry and Craig Cannella arrived on the scene within minutes. Officers Lawry and Cannella confirmed 3 occupants entrapped, all conscious and alert. Rescue Technicians worked to free the occupants from the overturned vehicle. One by one, all 3 occupants, 2 males and a female were extricated from the vehicle and removed to the waiting Northwest EMS units. All 3 occupants were transported to local Hospitals for treatment. The vehicle was up righted and towed from the scene by Mike Joyce Automotive. Bellevue Police, Sgt. Czapko and Officer Niglio also assisted at the scene.
Pictures Provided by: Dave Novak
08/19/2003 – Structure Fire – Pine Township
photos by Chip Deutsch
Wexford Station 228, Marshall Station 185, Richland Station 241, Bradford Woods Station 115, McCandless-Franklin Park EMS and Richland EMS responded to this structure fire on Route 910.
8/14/2003 – Apartment Fire – City of Pittsburgh
On Thursday, August 14, 2003 at approximately 10:20p.m. City of Pittsburgh EOC received multiple calls reporting a fire at the Highland Hills Apartments located on Oakhill Road in the Banksville section of the City of Pittsburgh. First arriving units reported heavy fire and smoke showing from the upper floor of a large multi-unit apartment complex. The incident quickly escalated to a 5-alarm fire. Crews were ordered out of the building as the roof was ready to collapse. Firefighters set up for a defensive attack and were able to bring the blaze under control by approximately 11:30p.m. Crews remained on the scene for an extended period of time, performing extensive overhaul operations. A 30-year-old Coraopolis man has been arrested and charged in connection with starting the intense blaze.
Pictures Provided by: Dave Novak, Brian Kravec, Kevin Hogan