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.