Pittsburgh Firefighter Injured in Clutter-Filled Blaze

A Pittsburgh firefighter was hurt Thursday morning while battling a fire in a Beltzhoover house filled with clutter.

"They had to literally climb over debris," said Pittsburgh fire Battalion Chief Terry Cerchiaro, who believes the firefighter suffered a compound fracture of his hand after falling while climbing over clothes, boxes and and other items that filled the house on Curtin Avenue. The firefighter was taken to UPMC Mercy, Uptown, Cerchiaro said.

The fire, which was reported shortly before 9 a.m., appears to have started on the first-floor, in the kitchen area, Cerchiaro said. Firefighters saw flames when they arrived, but could only make it about 3 feet into the building because of the clutter.

"It's the worst case I've ever seen," Cerchiaro said. "It turns into a firefighter danger immediately."

The woman who lives there in the house was not there at the time of the fire, which officials estimated caused about $15,000 worth of damage. The cause is under investigation.

Copyright 2012 - The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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