Biographical Information
Age: 27
Cause of Death: Firefighter LaBella was killed after ht roof of a building collapsed on him and fellow firefighter George McMullen.
Additional Info: LaBella’s death marks the first line of duty casualty that his department has suffered in 50 years. It was his first year serving with the Washington Fire Department.
By Thomas Olson
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Copyright 2007 Tribune Review Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — A two-alarm house fire in Washington, Washington County, early Sunday claimed a rookie city firefighter who became the department’s first on-duty fatality in about 50 years.
Jeremy LaBella, 27, died after the roof of a former motorcycle shop at the rear of the house collapsed, causing a canopy over a nearby sidewalk to fall on him and firefighter George McMullen, who suffered leg injuries.
LaBella, of Washington, who was among the first firefighters on the scene, was pronounced dead at 11:15 a.m. at Washington Hospital. The exact cause of death is being investigated by the Washington County coroner.
“Everybody is heartsick over this. He was so young and very well-liked,” said Joe Manning, captain of the Washington City Fire Department. “He had been here just a short time, only three months.”
Fire had engulfed the garage of a building in the 1200 block of Allison Avenue and was spreading to the attached two-story house when firefighters arrived about 9:40 a.m., fire Chief W. Linn Brookman said. A man who lived in the house escaped without injury.
LaBella, who was unmarried, served on the Canton Township Volunteer Fire Department before joining the city company.
Washington City Police and state fire marshals are investigating the cause of the blaze.
LaBella is the first city firefighter to die on the job since 1955, according to Washington Mayor Ken Westcott.
Manning, who has served with the department for 18 years, said a captain suffered a fatal heart attack after responding to a house fire.
McMullen, 38, of Washington, was trapped inside the burning home, along with LaBella, when the roof gave way. McMullen tore tendons and ligaments in his ankle and was bruised on his upper body, Manning said. McMullen has served with Washington’s fire department for about 12 years.
Fellow firefighter Nick Blumer performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on LaBella at the scene but to no avail.
McMullen was treated at Washington Hospital and released, a hospital spokeswoman said. No other injuries were reported.
Funeral arrangements for LaBella were incomplete.
“Fire departments from all over the state, and out-of-state places like Wheeling, will come for the service,” Manning said. “They will all be here to lend their support and help in any way as we move through this.”