On Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at approximately 3:12 p.m. Allegheny 9-1-1 received a report of a vehicle on fire, inside of an attached garage, at 421 Guys Run Road in Harmar Township. Additional calls came into 9-1-1, reporting smoke coming from a garage. The following units were dispatched on the initial assignment; Harmar (Station 166), Fox Chapel (Station 157), Oakmont (Station 216), Lower Valley EMS (Station 150) and Harmar Township police.

Harmar Township police arrived on the scene within minutes and reported a fully involved garage and vehicle. Chief 157 arrived on the scene and reporting heavy smoke and fire issuing from a garage below a two-story brick duplex. Chief 157 requested an immediate 2nd alarm assignment. The following units were dispatched on the 2nd alarm; Blawnox (Station 111) and Aspinwall R.I.T. (Station 102).

Engine 157 hit the hydrant on Guys Run at the PPG facility and laid a 5” supply line to the scene. Engine 166-4 hit the hydrant on Guys Run at the lower end of the PPG facility and laid a 5” supply line to the scene. Crew from 157 Engine advanced a 1 ¾” attack line and made an aggressive attack on the fire. Crew from 166 Engine 4 assisted the initial 157 crew, with suppression efforts on the well involved vehicle.

Crews from Engine 216 and 216 Tower 3 arrived on the scene and laddered the structure and ventilated the 1st and 2nd floors, of the structure above the involved garage. Crews from 111 Engine and 111 Squad assisted with ventilation, as well as checked for extension within the structure. PPV fans were set up on the Charlie side of the structure to assist in ventilation progress.

Due to accessibility problems and confined space within the garage, the vehicle was pulled out of the garage to the driveway area, away from the structure, where suppression efforts continued. Efforts to extinguish the vehicle fire with water proved futile. Engine 157 and Engine 166-4 switched to foam operations. Crews applied foam onto the vehicle, resulting in total extinguishment.

Command placed the fire under control at approximately 4:25 p.m. Crews remained on the scene for an additional 45 minutes, performing overhaul operations. The fire was contained to the vehicle and the garage area; however the 1st and 2nd floor of the structure sustained smoke damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.