Fire Rips Through Pennsylvania Warehouse
BRADDOCK, Pa. --
As a Braddock warehouse burned Wednesday, the WTAE breaking news hotline was jammed as onlookers from miles around flooded the line.
About 10 fire companies responded to the huge blaze, seen miles away from the building, which is near the corner of Pine Way and Sixth Street.
Firefighters on the scene said their No. 1 priority was getting people out of the building, and they said No. 2 was the roughly 200 propane tanks sitting inside the building.
The 100-year-old warehouse -- used to store propane, building materials, and vehicles for the cost construction company -- simply crumbled in the blaze.
Chief Tom Petrovic, with the Braddock Fire Department, said one of his men were caught under the collapsing warehouse.
"Well, he was pulling a hose line and the side of the building fell on him, and one of the police officers, a Braddock police officer, and an employee of the Cost Corp. pulled him out of the building," said Petrovic.
The firefighter went to the hospital, the extent of his injuries were unclear.
The fire also came close to damaging the Davis Personal Care Home.
"I just heard somebody holler, 'Get out of the building, get out of the building,' as the building exploded behind us," said Bessie Snyder, who works at the home. "When they exploded, I automatically grabbed the patients up and got their coats and hats on and got them right to the front door."
Police helped evacuate the residents to a PAT bus, and they eventually were taken to the hospital to stay warm, while the firefight continued -- with the propane tanks still at risk.
"I know there was a lot of accelerants, and it appears that the fire is under control," said Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, who said officials were told to keep people away. "We want to be safe rather than sorry in respects to the residents."
The fire marshal is investigating just how this fire started.
Related Links:More Allegheny County News
RSS Headlines | E-Mail Headlines | Desktop Alert
Copyright 2008 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.