By Brian C. Rittmeyer
The Valley News-Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa.
CHESWICK, Pa. — At least one firefighter was injured battling a stubborn blaze Wednesday night in Cheswick.
The fire broke out about 10:30 p.m. and destroyed the home in the 1100 block of Spruce Street, which had been converted into three apartments.
A Springdale firemen injured his knee when he fell and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. His name was not immediately available.
Frigid temperatures and low water pressure hampered firefighters’ efforts. At one point, the blaze appeared to have been contained then suddenly burst through the roof in the rear of the structure.
According to officials at the scene, all of the residents apparently escaped the blaze without injury. It was not known last night how many people lived in the apartments.
One resident, who identified himself only as Wess, said he had lived in the ground floor apartment with his wife and 13-year-old son for about four years. He said he was at a high school wrestling match and didn’t know about the fire until he returned home.
“This is what I come home to,” he said, obviously distraught, as he stood in the snow, watching flames shoot through the roof of the structure.
Wess said his wife and son escaped without incident. “They smelled the smoke and someone got them out OK.”
He said he didn’t have renter’s insurance.
“Everything you work for is gone.”
Firefighters initially had entered the structure but the intensity of the flames forced them to withdraw.
To compensate for low water pressure from hydrants in the area, officials were trying to boost pressure from Cheswick’s water treatment plant and possibly open an emergency connection with neighboring Harmar’s water system.
Just before midnight, firefighters were awaiting the arrival of a ladder truck from New Kensington to help battle the blaze. Fire crews from most surrounding communities were either at the scene or standing by to respond as the fire continued to burn.
Crews from the Salvation Army and Red Cross were on scene to help the residents.
Copyright 2009 The Valley News-Dispatch