On Sunday, August 3, 2008 at approximately 2:38 a.m. Allegheny 9-1-1 received multiple calls reporting a house on fire at 1650 Evergreen Avenue, in Shaler Township across from the Shop n’ Save. The following units were dispatched on the initial assignment; Bauerstown (Station 259), Evergreen (Station 246), Cherry City (Station 260), Millvale (Station 191), Mt. Troy R.I.T. (Station 239), Shaler Township EMS (Station 170) and Shaler Township police.

Shaler Township police arrived on the scene within minutes and reported heavy fire and smoke issuing from the Alpha side of a two-story vacant structure. Assistant 259 arrived on the scene a minute after the police and assumed command. Command advises that there are live wires down on the Alpha and Delta sides of the structure. Command immediately requested that Berkley Hills (Station 247) be dispatched for an Engine and requested that Seville (Station 251) be dispatched to supplement 239 R.I.T.

Command advised that this would be a defensive attack only, due to the downed wires, the heavy volume of fire and the fact that the house was vacant. Truck 191 set up for aerial master stream operations, below the house on the Alpha side. 259 Engine established the water supply and proceeded up the private roadway to the Delta side of the structure. Crews placed several 2 ½” and 1 ¾” attack lines into operation. Truck 260 was positioned in the parking lot of the Shop n’ Save and set up for aerial master stream operations.

Command requested that Berkley Hills (Station 247) be notified for 247 Truck to respond to the scene, and set up on Babcock Boulevard below the structure, on the Bravo side for additional aerial master stream operations. Crews battled the intense fire for approximately one hour, before the bulk of the fire was darkened. Command placed the fire under control at approximately 4:10 a.m. Crews remained on the scene for an extensive period of time extinguishing hot spots.

A Millvale fire Captain sustained a foot injury while battling the blaze. He was transported by Ross/West View EMS to Allegheny General Hospital for treatment. A firefighter from Evergreen Fire Company was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. Salvation Army personnel were on the scene with their mobile canteen unit, providing cold drinks and snacks to the emergency personnel. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal was called to the scene to investigate the fire, which heavily damaged the structure.