March 26--A firefighter was injured and four houses were damaged in an three-alarm fire in McKeesport early this morning.
McKeesport fire department Capt. Jim Shields said the firefighter was treated at a hospital, but he would not describe the injuries.
No one else was hurt and all pets were accounted for.
Crews were dispatched to the 2500 block of Banker Street, in the city's Grandview section, after a 911 call about 1:43 a.m.
Fire companies from Glassport, White Oak, West Mifflin, Lincoln, Liberty, Port Vue and Monroeville responded to the blaze, which destroyed one home, significantly damaged two others and did some cosmetic damage to a fourth, Capt. Shields said.
The Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the fire's cause and origin.
One home was engulfed when firefighters arrived and collapsed shortly after that, Capt Shields said.
A house next door, and the one neighboring it, suffered "significant damage" into the second floor and attic, as well as water damage, he said.
The fire caused only exterior damage on the side of another house.
One of the houses was vacant.
Capt. Shields said crews had some challenges circumventing power lines that fell across the scene shortly after they arrived.
"It just changed our tactics a little bit," he said. "We just have to work around them."
The American Red Cross said it is assisting four individuals from two families with food, clothing and shelter.
Molly Born: [email protected], 412-263-1944 and on Twitter: @borntolede.
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