degrees online
Accredited online degree programs .

CITY OF PITTSBURGH FIRE DISTRICT ZONE 3 Galleries

(CITY OF PITTSBURGH) POINT BREEZE STRUCTURE FIRE 216 NORTH LINDEN AVENUE 12/15/2007 : On Saturday, December 15, 2007 at approximately 1:52 p.m. Allegheny 9-1-1 received multiple calls reporting a structure fire at 216 North Linden Avenue, in the Point Breeze section of the City of Pittsburgh. The following units were dispatched on the zone 3-15 assignment; 17 Engine, 15 Engine, 18 Engine, 17 Truck, 4023 (District Battalion Chief), 19 Engine (Go Team), 4022 (Safety Chief), MAC-2 (Mobile Cascade Unit), Rescue Truck and a Medic Unit.

First arriving unit reported a fully involved structure, with exposures on sides “B” and “D”. An immediate 2nd alarm assignment was requested. The following units were dispatched on the 2nd alarm; 8 Engine, 12 Engine, 8 Truck, 402 (Deputy Chief) and 614 (Training Academy Chief). Crews immediately initiated a defensive attack on the involved structure. Crews also aggressively worked on protecting the two immediate exposures. Crews made a primary search of both exposure structures.

Command requested a 3rd alarm assignment for manpower and water supply at approximately 2:15 p.m. The following units were dispatched on the 3rd alarm; 7 Engine, 10 Engine, unit 40 (Assistant Chief) and unit 42 (Assistant Chief). The fire had extended into the two exposure structures, however crews were able to quickly knock down the fire in the exposure structures and minimize further damage and extension.

Command reported a collapse of the main fire building at approximately 2:35 p.m. Command reported that all crews were accounted for. This was the first working structure fire for 7 Engine, since they received their new KME Engine. The class A foam system on 7 Engine was put to use, to snuff out the fire that was still burning under the collapsed debris of the involved structure. 

Command placed the fire under control at approximately 3:00 p.m. Crews remained on the scene for an extended period of time dousing numerous hot spots. Salvation Army personnel were on the scene providing hot beverages and snacks to the firefighters, who not only were battling the flames, but the freezing temperatures and a little snow storm. The City of Pittsburgh Arson Squad was called to the scene to investigate the fire, which completely destroyed the building of origin and damaged the exposures.

(CITY OF PITTSBURGH) POINT BREEZE STRUCTURE FIRE 216 NORTH LINDEN AVENUE 12/15/2007

On Saturday, December 15, 2007 at approximately 1:52 p.m. Allegheny 9- ...

Updated: Dec 15, 2007 4:41pm PST

(CITY OF PITTSBURGH) POLISH HILL STRUCTURE FIRE 3109 BRERETON STREET 11/07/2007**ADDITIONAL PHOTOS COUTRESY OF PGH ARSON SQUAD & MICHAEL KOENEMUND** : On Wednesday, November 07, 2007 at approximately 1:52 p.m. Allegheny 9-1-1 received reports of a structure fire at 3109 Brereton Street, located in the Polish Hill neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh. The following units were dispatched on the zone 3-2 assignment; 6 Engine, 3 Engine, 32 Engine, 6 Truck, 4043 (District Battalion Chief), 10 Engine (Go Team), 4041 (Safety Chief), MAC-2 (Mobile Cascade Unit), Rescue Truck and Medic unit.

Medics arrived on the scene within minutes and reported a structure fully involved with several exposure threats. First arriving fire unit reported heavy fire from all three floors front to rear, of the middle unit, of a 3-story wood frame row house, with immediate exposures on sides “B” and “D”. Emergency personnel were informed that all occupants of the fire building, as well as the exposures, were accounted for. An immediate 2nd and 3rd alarm was requested for manpower and water supply. The following units were dispatched on the 2nd alarm; 7 Engine, 4 Engine, 32 Truck, 404 (Deputy Chief Walz) and 614 (Training Academy Chief Cox). The following units were dispatched on the 3rd alarm; 27 Engine, 38 Engine, 40 (Assistant Chief Deleonibus), 42 (Assistant Chief Crawford and Official 4 (Fire Chief Jones).

First arriving crews attempted to initiate an interior attack, but were forced to retreat due to heavy fire conditions. Crews switched to a defensive attack, placing several large caliber attack lines, deck guns and aerial master streams into operation. Crews operating on side “C”, where heavy fire was issuing from all floors and impinging on the exposure structure on side “B”, experienced low water pressure. Heavy winds and a common roof contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. The crew from 6 Truck was assigned to ventilate the roof of the side “C” exposure in efforts to stop the fire from further extension. The roof crew made a successful trench cut, thus preventing additional extension.

Command requested a 4th alarm assignment for additional manpower and water supply at approximately 2:28 p.m. The following units were dispatched on the 4th alarm; 12 Engine and 18 Engine. Command requested a 5th alarm for manpower at approximately 2:36 p.m. The following units were dispatched on the 5th alarm; 30 Engine, 24 Engine and 4 Truck. Command requested a 2nd Go Team be dispatched and assigned to side “C” of the structures. 8 Engine was dispatched as the additional Go Team at 2:50 p.m. With numerous attack lines and master streams in operation, crews had the main body of fire knocked down within an hour. A chimney and roof collapse occurred in the original fire building at approximately 3:00 p.m. All crews were accounted for and a collapse zone was established.

Crews knocked down the bulk of the fire in the original fire building as well as the exposure structures. Crews were deployed into the exposure structures to pull ceilings and check for further extension. Command placed the fire under control at approximately 3:48 p.m. Crews remained on the scene for an extended period of time, dousing numerous hot spots and extensive overhaul operations. An Engine crew was assigned to a fire watch detail throughout the evening and night, in the event of a rekindle. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries, while battling the Polish Hill inferno.
Salvation Army personnel were on the scene with their mobile canteen units, providing food and drinks to the emergency personnel. American Red Cross personnel were at the scene assisting those displaced by the fire, by providing them with food, clothing and temporary housing. The City of Pittsburgh Arson Squad was called to the scene to investigate the fire, which caused heavy damage to 3107 and 3109 Brereton, smoke and water damage to 3111 Brereton and roof damage from ventilation to 3105 Brereton Street. Damages were estimated at $120,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(CITY OF PITTSBURGH) POLISH HILL STRUCTURE FIRE 3109 BRERETON STREET 11/07/2007**ADDITIONAL PHOTOS COUTRESY OF PGH ARSON SQUAD & MICHAEL KOENEMUND**

On Wednesday, November 07, 2007 at approximately 1:52 p.m. Allegheny 9 ...

Updated: Nov 09, 2007 1:41pm PST

(CITY OF PITTSBURGH) EAST LIBERTY STRUCTURE FIRE EAST LIBERTY BOULEVARD 07/30/2007 : Pittsburgh, PA – On Monday, July 30, 2007 at approximately 5:59 a.m. Allegheny 9-1-1 received a report of smoke coming from the roof of an abandoned building, located at the intersection of East Liberty Boulevard and Borland Street, in the East Liberty section of the City of Pittsburgh. The following units were dispatched on the initial assignment; 8 Engine, 7 Engine, 6 Engine, 8 Truck, 4033 (District Battalion Chief), 17 Engine (Go Team), 4032 (Safety Chief), MAC-2 (Mobile Cascade Unit), Rescue 1 and a Medic unit.

First arriving unit reported heavy smoke issuing from the roof of a three-story brick vacant apartment building.  Command reported that this was the same structure of an earlier overnight fire. Crews set up for defensive operations, utilizing deck guns, aerial master stream and attack lines. The fire quickly made headway, with heavy fire conditions evident on the upper floor and roof area. Command requested a 2nd alarm assignment at approximately 6:30 a.m. The following units were dispatched on the 2nd alarm; 18 Engine, 3 Engine, 6 Truck, 403 (Deputy Chief) and 614 (Training Academy Chief).

Engine 7 was set up for deck gun operations on side “B”, 8 Truck was set up for aerial operations on the A/B corner of the structure. Upon arriving on the scene, 6 Truck was set up for aerial operations on side “A”.  Heavy fire and thick smoke continued to vent from the roof and the upper floor on sides “A” and “B”. Command requested a 3rd alarm for additional manpower at approximately 6:55 a.m. The following units were dispatched on the 3rd alarm; 32 Engine, 15 Engine and unit 40 (Assistant Fire Chief).

At approximately 7:25 a.m. Command reported still heavy smoke from the roof and upper floor of the structure. Command reported multiple lines trained on the fire at this time, in the process of obtaining additional water supply from 3 Engine. At approximately 7:50 a.m. Command reported that operations would be shut down for a brief period of time, while 7 Engine and 8 Truck could be repositioned away from the “B” side of the structure, as the wall was weak and the probability of collapse was great.

Command placed the fire under control at approximately 8:13 a.m. Crews remained on the scene for a period of time dousing numerous hot spots. Salvation Army personnel were on the scene providing emergency personnel with drinks and snacks. The City of Pittsburgh Arson Squad was called to the scene to investigate the fire, which heavily damaged the building. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(CITY OF PITTSBURGH) EAST LIBERTY STRUCTURE FIRE EAST LIBERTY BOULEVARD 07/30/2007

Pittsburgh, PA – On Monday, July 30, 2007 at approximately 5:59 a.m. ...

Updated: Jul 31, 2007 2:19pm PST

(CITY OF PITTSBURGH) LINCOLN-LARIMER STRUCTURE FIRE CLAIMS THE LIVES OF 5 CHILDREN ON WINSLOW STREET 06/12/2007 : Pittsburgh, PA – On Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at approximately 1:23 a.m. Allegheny 9-1-1 received several calls reporting a structure fire with several children trapped, at 6429 Winslow Street, located in the Lincoln-Larimer section of the City of Pittsburgh. The following units were dispatched on the initial assignment; 15 Engine, 8 Engine, 7 Engine, 8 Truck, 4033 (District Battalion Chief), 17 Engine (Go Team), 4032 (Safety Chief), MAC-2 (Mobile Cascade Unit), Rescue 1 and Medic units.

Pittsburgh Police officers from zone 5 arrived on the scene within a minute and reported a house fire “going good”. A neighbor had already rescued entered the burning residence and led one child to safety. Officers attempted to enter the burning residence to rescue the children, who were reported to be trapped on the 2nd floor; however officers were forced to retreat, due to heavy fire and smoke conditions. Officers reported that the stairwell to the 2nd floor was engulfed in flames and that the ceiling had already begun to collapse.

First fire unit arrived on the scene within minutes and reported heavy fire and smoke issuing from two 2 ½ story residential structures, with immediate exposure problems on side “D”. A frantic, hysterical female told emergency personnel that her three babies were still inside. Crews immediately laddered the structure and initiated a primary search for the reported trapped victims. Immediate 2nd and 3rd alarm assignments were requested for manpower and water supply. The following units were dispatched on the 2nd alarm; 6 Engine, 18 Engine, 6 Truck, 403 (Deputy Chief Scherer) and 614 (Training Academy Chief Cox). 3rd alarm included; 3 Engine, 12 Engine and Unit 40 (Assistant Chief).

Within minutes, Captain Wyzomirski of 8 Truck and his crew made entry to the 2nd floor via ladders. While conducting a search for the children utilizing a thermal imaging camera, crews quickly located an unresponsive child on the floor. The child was handed off to another firefighter, who handed the lifeless child off to a paramedic, who was waiting on the ladder. Captain Wyzomirski then located a 2nd child lying on a bed. The child was quickly handed off to another firefighter, who then handed the child off to a waiting paramedic. Based on the female’s cries for help that her three babies were inside, Captain Wyzomirski believed that he was only searching for one more unaccounted for child. Captain Wyzomirski was unaware that two additional children were trapped with the raging inferno. Captain Wyzomirski located the third child on the floor. The 3rd victim was quickly turned over to the paramedics. 

Several Paramedics feverishly worked on the victims at the scene and rushed them to local burn hospitals, where the three young children succumbed to their injuries. Firefighters from 15 Engine were making an aggressive attack on the heavy fire on the 2nd floor, when they discovered two more young lifeless bodies on the 2nd floor. Command was advised of the additional victims that were discovered. With the fire rapidly spreading throughout the structure and into the exposures, as well as the rapidly deteriorating conditions, all crews were ordered to evacuate the structures. Command requested a 4th alarm for additional manpower at approximately 1:34 a.m. The following units were dispatched on the 4th alarm; 32 Engine, 10 Engine, 17 Truck and Official 4 (Chief Huss).

Crews set up for a full scale defensive attack, using several attack lines, deck guns and aerial master streams. While several crews concentrated on suppression efforts to darken the heavy volume of fire, additional support crews worked on protecting the exposures and limiting any further spreading of the intense flames and radiant heat. Crews battled the intense blaze for over an hour before knocking down the bulk of the fire. Command placed the fire under control at approximately 3:08 a.m. Crews remained on the scene for an extended period of time, performing extensive overhaul operations and dousing hot spots, as well as assisting with the removal of the young victims from the structure and assisting the investigators.

Salvation Army personnel were at the scene with their mobile canteen units, providing food and drinks to the emergency personnel. Several City of Pittsburgh police homicide detectives were at the scene, along with investigators from the City of Pittsburgh Arson Squad, as well as the Allegheny County Fire Marshal, sifting through the charred remains of the house, in efforts to find evidence as to what caused one of the deadliest fires in the City of Pittsburgh. Preliminary investigations indicate that children playing with matches may have sparked the deadly blaze; however the fire is still under investigation. The fire caused an estimated $55,000 in damages.

The five young fire victims who perished in the inferno have been identified as follows; Dezekiah Holyfield  3-years-old, Cedano Holyfield 4-years-old, Daekia Holyfield 7-years-old and two friends of the Holyfield children; Andre Rankin 6-years-old and Azquel Rankin 5-years-old. The two children who escaped the deadly inferno have been identified as; Huedon Chambliss 8-years-old and Jevon Irwin 8-years-old. All five of the young victims who perished in this deadly blaze, were laid to rest on Saturday, June 16, 2007. Shakita Mangham and Furrah Love, who are the mothers of the young victims, were not at home at the time of the blaze. One of the adult females told authorities that a 17-year-old female was at the residence babysitting the children; however that was later found to be false information. It was determined that the young children were indeed left home alone, unsupervised.

The loss of several young lives was not just a sad, devastating blow to the Lincoln Larimer community, but to the Emergency personnel who did everything they could possibly do to try to rescue those young children from the raging flames. Several critical incident stress debriefings were set up for the emergency personnel that responded to and were affected by the loss of the five young lives.

(CITY OF PITTSBURGH) LINCOLN-LARIMER STRUCTURE FIRE CLAIMS THE LIVES OF 5 CHILDREN ON WINSLOW STREET 06/12/2007

Pittsburgh, PA – On Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at approximately 1:23 a.m. ...

Updated: Jun 12, 2007 6:35am PST

(CITY OF PITTSBURGH) HOMEWOOD STRUCTURE FIRE XPRESSIONS LOUNGE 631 OAKWOOD STREET 01/05/2006 : On Thursday, January 05, 2006 at approximately7:28 a.m. Allegheny 9-1-1 received numerous reports of a structure fire, at Xpressions Bar located at 631 Oakwood Street in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh. The following units were dispatched on the initial zone 3-15 assignment; 17 Engine, 15 Engine, 18 Engine, 17 Truck, BC-3 (District Battalion Chief), 19 Engine (Go Team), BC-2 (Safety Officer), MAC-2 (Mobile Cascade Unit), Rescue 1 and a Medic unit.

First arriving units reported heavy smoke issuing from Xpressions Bar, which was the middle unit of a commercial two-story brick row of four structures. An immediate 2nd alarm assignment was requested. The following units were dispatched on the 2nd alarm; 8 Engine, 12 Engine, 8 Truck and 404 (Deputy Chief Walz). First arriving crews advanced an attack line and made entry into the fire building. Interior crews encountered very heavy fire conditions, with very heavy and increasing smoke conditions. 

Truck 17 was set up for aerial operations in sector 1, Truck 8 upon arriving on the scene, set up for aerial operations on the sector 4 side of the building. Interior crews advised command that interior conditions were rapidly deteriorating. Heavy brown smoke continued to intensify and billow from multiple structures within the row. Command ordered all crews out of the building, due to the increasing risk of a back draft occurring. All crews evacuated the structure and were accounted for. The fire rapidly ran the walls into the common attic and roof area of the entire building. A defensive attack was established, with two aerial master streams, several deck guns and multiple attack lines.

Command requested a 3rd alarm assignment for additional manpower and water supply at approximately 7:45 a.m. The following units were dispatched on the 3rd alarm; 7 Engine and 10 Engine. Command requested an additional Truck be added to the 3rd alarm assignment, to be utilized for aerial operations in sector 3. 6 Truck was dispatched to complete the 3rd alarm. Shortly after the 3rd alarm was requested, heavy fire broke through the roof of the building, minimizing the risk of a back draft. Two firefighters who were operating in sector 3, sustained injuries when a rear wooden fire escape collapsed. The firefighters were evaluated by EMS, and then transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Upon arriving on the scene, 6 Truck set up for aerial master stream operations in sector 3. Additional Engines hit several hydrants to supply the aerial master streams. Command requested a 4th alarm assignment for additional manpower at approximately 7:55 a.m. The following units were dispatched on the 4th alarm; 6 Engine, 4 Engine and Official 4 (Chief Huss). Crews continued with a full scale defensive attack, pouring copious amounts of water into and onto the building. Crews also concentrated efforts on protecting a two-story brick, multi-family dwelling exposure in sector 4.

Crews battled the intense, stubborn fire for several hours before knocking down the main body of fire. Command placed the fire under control at approximately 11:00 a.m. Crews remained on the scene for an extended period of time dousing numerous hot spots. Firefighters confined the fire to the building of origin. The exposure in sector 4 sustained minimal water damage. The City of Pittsburgh Arson Squad was called to the scene to investigate the fire, which caused an estimated $175,000 in damages. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(CITY OF PITTSBURGH) HOMEWOOD STRUCTURE FIRE XPRESSIONS LOUNGE 631 OAKWOOD STREET 01/05/2006

On Thursday, January 05, 2006 at approximately7:28 a.m. Allegheny 9-1- ...

Updated: Apr 09, 2007 7:35am PST

Email David Novak