Structure Fire
At approximately 2:38 this morning, the Bethel Park Police Dispatch Center dispatched the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company (BPVFC) (station 110) to a fire alarm on Pudding Stone Lane in Bethel Park. It was reported that multiple fire alarms were activated including a burglar alarm glass break sensor. While our volunteers were responding to the stations, dispatch gave an update that they were receiving multiple calls for a working house fire and a full first alarm was requested. This alarm assignment included Mt. Lebanon Fire Department (station 198) and The Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department (station 284). Several officers responded to the scene from their nearby residences and upon arrival had a well advanced fire showing from the rear of the residence on all 3 levels.
At this time, the call was upgraded to a second alarm bringing Library Volunteer Fire Company (station 271), Broughton Volunteer Fire Department (station 270), and Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department (station 117). 110 Truck 3 arrived firston scene, established a water supply from the hydrant in front of the house, and several hoselines were deployed. 110-Engine 1 and 110-Rescue arrived on scene minutes later and assisted in deploying additional hand lines in an attempt to control the fire. As our first and second alarm companies arrived on scene, an additional hydrant was secured from over 600 feet away to support the additional hoselines necessary. A third alarm was requested at approximately 3:30am for additional manpower. This alarm assignment brought Dormont Fire Department (station 130), Whitehall Fire Company (station 301), and Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company (station 232). At several points during this fire, ladder stream operations from 270-Truck and 110-Truck 3 were necessary to reach certain areas of the fire.
In total, over 1500 feet of hose was deployed, over 25 gallons of foam used, and an incalculable amount of water was used fighting this fire. The bulk of fire operations was completed by 6:30am and the second and third alarm fire companies were started to be released. Crews spent the next several hours putting more water on smoldering spots and cleaning up. All fire apparatus cleared the scene at
10:15 to return to the stations to begin cleanup. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. The Allegheny County Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of the fire which does not appear to be suspicious at this time.
It should be noted that the smoke alarms are what woke the residents up and saved their lives. We encourage all of our residents to please check the batteries in their smoke detectors and test them on a monthly basis. Be sure you have at least one on every floor of your house and
replace them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, which is typically every 10 years.
We thank all of our mutual aid departments for responding and providing the much needed manpower and assistance. Several fire companies in the surrounding area were also relocatedto the stations who were present at this fire and we like to thank them for their time as well.
Special thanks also goes out to Bethel Park Police and Tri Community South EMS who are always there when we need them. Thank you also to the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services of Western Pennsylvania who responded with their truck to provide food and drinks to
all of the firefighters. This is a reminder that our community, along with most others in this area, relies solely on volunteers for fire protection. They have to respond to the stations to get equipment to respond to an emergency. Several of our volunteers will have spent over 12 hours related to this call by the time cleanup is completed. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighhter, please
reach out. We could always use the help!
