The Valley News-Dispatch
KISKI TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Kiski Township police want to interview a driver who allegedly ran over the foot of an Apollo firefighter at the scene of a township house fire Thursday evening.
Police Officer Scott Ponteri said the male driver “blew past” two Apollo No. 2 fire police officers directing traffic near Second Street Extension and continued toward the fire scene at 1202 Sugar Hollow Road, across from the Pine Valley Estates mobile home park.
Near the intersection of Eckman and Sugar Hollow roads, the driver ignored a firetruck that was partially blocking the road, passed an Apollo No. 2 firefighter who was turning on a fire hydrant, and ran over a fire hose before realizing he couldn’t continue on Sugar Hollow, Ponteri said.
When the driver backtracked and again ran over the hose, the firefighter flagged him down.
Ponteri said the driver “nicked” the firefighter with his car and stopped on the man’s foot before leaving.
Ponteri said the firefighter did not require medical treatment. Ponteri did not identify the man.
No one answered the phone at Apollo No. 2 on Thursday night.
Since witnesses were able to see the driver’s license plate number, Ponteri was able to track the car to a Kiski Township home.
Ponteri spoke with a family member there and expects the driver to come to the police station to discuss the incident.
Ponteri said he’ll continue to investigate whether charges will be filed against the driver, whom he declined to identify.
Family escapes fire
Otherwise, Kiski Township fire Chief Rich Frain said extinguishing the basement fire was business as usual.
The fire was reported about 5:40 p.m. at the home of Stacy Helm and her two children. Frain said the family and their two dogs escaped safely.
Helm does not appear to have a listed phone number and couldn’t be reached for comment.
Frain said the basement was moderately damaged by the fire, but there was little damage to the main living quarters of the one-story house.
Frain believed the home could be made habitable within a few days.
He said a cause has not yet been determined, but the fire is not considered to be suspicious. He said a state police fire marshal was notified, but Frain is not certain whether the marshal will investigate.
Frain said North Apollo’s fire department and Oklahoma/Vandergrift No. 2 Fire-EMS also assisted.
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