MILLVALE, PA – Around 4:00 P.M. on March 29th, Millvale 191 Chief contacted Allegheny County 911 to dispatch his first-alarm assignment for a working fire located along William Street.

Several departments arrived quickly and found the fire on the porch quickly extending into the second floor of the home. Crews made an initial attack and found heavy fire on the second floor already.

Shortly into the initial attack conditions rapidly changed, leading to a flashover. Several MAYDAY calls were transmitted from the firefighters trapped in the flashover. A second-alarm was immediately requested and Rapid Intervention Teams were about to make entry, but thankfully, all firefighters managed to escape prior to rapid intervention teams being deployed.

Several firefighters were able to escape down the steps while one firefighter escaped through a second-floor window onto a porch roof. After the MAYDAY call was cleared, all units were evacuated from the home until conditions improved. Crews were then able to re-enter the home and knock down the bulk of the fire. Fire crews remained on-scene for several hours for overhaul.

A Millvale police officer who arrived on-scene at around the same time as 191 Chief assisted the homeowner and two children out of the home unharmed. One firefighter who was trapped by the flashover sustained an ankle injury; a second firefighter was transported to the hospital with minor burns. Both are expected to make a full recovery.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s office is now investigating.