On Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at approximately 2:42 p.m. Allegheny 9-1-1 received multiple calls reporting a structure fire, at 219 Courtland Street in the Hazelwood section of the City of Pittsburgh. The following units were dispatched on the initial assignment; 13 Engine, 12 Engine, 20 Engine, 13 Truck, 4042 (District Battalion Chief), 4 Engine (Go Team), 4044 (Safety Chief), MAC-2 (Mobile Cascade), Rescue 2 and Medic 5112.

Pittsburgh Police zone 4 patrol officer arrived on the scene within a couple of minutes and reported a working fire, with other units of the row house in danger. Officer was advised that all occupants of the structure are accounted for. Engine 13 arrived on the scene within minutes after the officer and confirmed heavy smoke and fire issuing from the Alpha side, middle unit of a two-story brick row of four.

At approximately 2:50 p.m. 4042 arrived on the scene and established Courtland command. Upon arriving on the scene, 4042 requested an immediate 2nd alarm assignment. The following units were dispatched on the 2nd alarm; 10 Engine, 23 Engine, 14 Truck, 404 (Deputy Chief Mullen) and 42 (Assistant Chief Crawford). Initial crews advanced attack lines and attempted an offensive attack on the original fire structure.

At approximately 2:55 p.m. Command reported a partial collapse of the porch roof of the original involved unit, as well as heavy fire on the 2nd floor of all of the units in the row. Command requested that the evacuation tones be sounded and that all crews pull out of the structure. All crews re-grouped and set up for a defensive attack. A collapse zone was also established. Numerous 2 ½” and 1 ¾” attack lines, deluge guns and an aerial master stream were put into operation.

At approximately 3:45 p.m. Command reported that the roof has collapsed into the structure, all crews accounted for. Crews battled the intense blaze for two hours, before darkening the heavy volume of fire. Command placed the fire under control at approximately 5:30 p.m. Crews remained on the scene for an extended period of time to extinguish numerous hot spots.

The American Red Cross personnel were on the scene to assist those displaced by the fire, by providing them with food, clothing and temporary housing. Salvation Army personnel were on the scene with the mobile canteen unit, providing food and drinks to the emergency service personnel. The City of Pittsburgh arson squad was called to the scene to investigate the fire, which heavily damaged all four units.