On Friday, January 18, 2008 at approximately 3:50 a.m. Allegheny 9-1-1 received a report of a fire inside the warehouse at Baron Industries, located at 80 Hafner Avenue in Etna. The following units were dispatched on the initial assignment; Etna (Station 149), Cherry City (Station 260), Undercliff (Station 264), Sharpsburg (Station 265), Aspinwall (Station 102 R.I.T.), Seneca EMS (Station 160) and Etna police.

Etna police arrived on the scene within minutes and reported heavy smoke showing from the structure. Fire units arrived and reported heavy smoke issuing from a large 3-story, brick, 200’x200’ industrial warehouse. First arriving crews advance attack lines into the structure, where they encountered heavy smoke and heat conditions. Truck 265 set up for aerial operations on side “A” of the structure. Command requested EMS evaluate three people who were inside the building when the fire started.

Truck 264 set up on side “B” for aerial operations. Crews advanced additional attack lines into the structure and assisted the initial attack crews with suppression efforts. Interior crews reported heavy fire conditions on the 2nd and 3rd floor. Command requested a 2nd alarm assignment for additional manpower and water supply at approximately 4:02a.m. The following units were dispatched on the 2nd alarm; Millvale (Station 191). Command requested that 191 Truck take a position up on Route 28, on side “C” of the structure and set up for aerial master stream operations. Engine 191 was requested to take the hydrant at the bottom of Poplar Street and lay a supply line the wrong way up the exit ramp and supply 191 Truck.

Command requested a 3rd alarm assignment for additional manpower at approximately 4:06 a.m. Command also requested two additional R.I.T. to supplement 102 R.I.T. The following units were dispatched on the 3rd alarm and special call assignment; Sharpshill (Station 263), Shaler Villa (Station 262), Mt Troy (239 R.I.T.) and Middle Road (174 R.I.T.) Command requested that 174 Engine assist 191 Engine in finishing the supply line lay up onto Route 28, as 191 dropped over 1,200 feet of supply line and it still was not enough to make the connection into 191 Truck. EMS Command requested that Parkview EMS (Station 180) and Shaler EMS (Station 170), be dispatched to have a unit from each standby at the fire scene with the Seneca unit.

The fire rapidly spread via structural members and was fueled by numerous chemicals that were stored within the building. Within a short period of time, heavy fire vented through the roof and interior conditions rapidly deteriorated. Command ordered all crews to evacuate the structure and switch to defensive operations. Numerous deck guns, aerial master streams and attack lines were operating. At approximately 4:33 a.m. Command requested that the following units be dispatched and placed on standby for an impending 4th alarm assignment; Berkley Hills (Station 247), Pleasant Valley (Station 217), Parkview (Station 218) and Bauerstown (Station 259).

Command reported that some of the R.I.T. is being utilized to assist with suppression efforts, so an additional R.I.T. was requested at approximately 4:48 a.m. Seville (Station 251) was dispatched to supplement the R.I.T. At approximately 4:52 a.m. Command requested that a representative from the Allegheny County Silver Hazmat Response Team respond to the scene, to evaluate the situation, due to the amount of various chemicals stored within the structure. Command deployed a few attack crews into the office and apartment sections of the large building, to make an aggressive attack on the fire within those sections of the building, to prevent fire extension into the exposure buildings. Defensive operations continued on the main body of fire as interior crews worked to darken the flames in the upper apartments. Numerous police and fire police were used to shut down Route 28 northbound due to supply lines being laid onto Route 28 as well as suppression efforts that were being conducted there.

Command reported multiple floor collapses within the structure, all crews accounted for. Crews battled the blaze for over 2 hours, before they were able to knock down the bulk of the fire. Command placed the fire under control at approximately 7:45 a.m. Crews remained on the scene for an extensive period of time dousing numerous hot spots. In addition to the numerous companies operating at the scene, there were also several station fills in effect. Later in the fire operation, some of the station fills were moved to the scene for manpower to relieve crews.

The Salvation Army personnel were at the scene with their mobile canteen units, providing food, as well as hot and cold beverages to the emergency personnel. They also had their bus at the scene, which was utilized as rehab providing warmth for the emergency personnel. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal was called to the scene to investigate the fire, which heavily damaged the structure. The cause of the fire is under investigationon.