By Michael A. Fuoco
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania)
PITTSBURGH — Two Pittsburgh firefighters were hospitalized with back injuries and three others suffered lesser injuries while battling a three-alarm fire early yesterday at the former Reinhold Ice Cream plant in the North Side’s Chateau neighborhood.
The firefighters were injured by cinder blocks that fell when the roof of the boiler room burned through, said Pittsburgh Assistant Fire Chief James Crawford. All five were taken to local hospitals — three were treated and the other two admitted.
The fire was reported at 4:38 a.m. and didn’t extend beyond about a 40-foot-by-40-foot area of the boiler room, a self-contained structure attached to the main plant at 800 Fulton St., Chief Crawford said. The blaze was brought under control at 5:24 a.m.
The fire was under investigation but was not suspicious, Chief Crawford said. A damage estimate was not available.
Mike Mandell, senior vice president of sales for LaSalle Pittsburgh Corp., which now owns the plant, said he believed the cause was electrical.
Another boiler was delivered so production could resume. Mr. Mandell estimated that only five to six hours of production time would be lost because of the fire.
Reinhold Ice Cream Co., a family-owned manufacturer since the 1890s, was one of the oldest ice cream companies in the country. In October, it was sold to an Arizona-based company trying to build a portfolio of related businesses. The local ice cream maker’s name was changed to LaSalle Pittsburgh Corp., reflecting its role within LaSalle Brands Corp.
The parent company, formerly Diner’s Acquisition, acquired and took the name of a New York ice cream operation. In addition to Reinhold ice cream products, the new company also produces LaSalle ice cream, gelato and specialty items.
Copyright 2008 P.G. Publishing Co.