Pittsburgh Firefighters Battle Church Fire in Frigid Temperatures

Jan. 27, 2009

On Sunday, Jan. 25 at 6:59 p.m., the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire was dispatched to a church on fire in the Kirkbride section of the city.

Dispatched on the first alarm were Engines 37, 35, 38, Truck 34, Battalion Chief 1, Battalion Chief 4 (Safety Chief), Engine 4 (Go team), and MAC 2 (Air unit). Battalion Chief 1 assumed command and reported heavy fire showing from a large church complex with attached exposure buildings involved.

A second alarm was requested bringing Engines 30, 32, Truck 32, 614 Safety Chief, and the Deputy Chief. All companies went to a defensive attack. A detached exposure building on the Charlie side ignited from the extreme radiant heat and was quickly extinguished.

As the fire broke through the main roof of the church, additional alarms were simultaneously requested bringing Engines 3, 6, 27, Truck 6, Unit 40 and 42 (assistant chiefs), Official 4 (fire chief), and Official 1 (public safety director). Official 4 requested Command 200, the Mobile Command Post unit to respond to the scene.

The fire was brought under control in 2.5 hours with no reported injuries. It was 16 degrees.

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