Editor’s note: Investigations are still continuing into the cause of the ladder collapse, New Eagle Fire Chief Paul Pro told FireRescue1 Thursday. He said the apparatus was a 1977 maximum Seagrave, 110-foot stick aerial fire truck, which was last tested Sept. 28, 2008. He said it was extended approximately 65 feet. Chief Pro said firefighter Les “Hootie” Pemberton, who was injured in the fall, returned to work Tuesday.
By A.J. Panian
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review
MONONGAHELA, Pa. — Fire damaged three businesses and several apartments this morning in downtown Monongahela, Washington County.
New Eagle firefighter Les “Hootie” Pemberton, 50, of Monongahela, was injured when he fell about 20 feet after the ladder from an aerial truck collapsed onto the roof of one of the buildings.
Pemberton was at the top of the ladder, about 50 feet above ground, spraying water onto the three-story building housing Hufnagel Computers when the ladder collapsed, said New Eagle Fire chief Paul Pro, 47.
“He was belted in on the ladder, and he rode it down all the way” to the roof, Pro said. “He did exactly what he should have done in that situation.”
Pemberton was taken to Mon Valley Hospital, where he was treated and released, Pro said.
The fire in the 200 block of Main Street, reported at 5:16 a.m., was so intense that Mon City Fire Chief Frank Hnatik, one of the first on the scene, had to park along Third Street, about a block and a half away.
“The flames were jutting out 20 feet into the street when I got there. I couldn’t see past the flames up the street,” Hnatik said.
Firefighters had the fire under control by 11:45 a.m. but were searching through buildings for hot spots. The damaged businesses were the Bee’s Nest Cafe, Vocelli’s Pizza and Hufnagel Computers.
 Photo Wayne E. Ray/SnapShot47photos.com The twisted ladder is seen after the collapse. |
Hnatik said the fire started in the first floor of the building housing Vocelli’s. He said the building was too unstable for firefighters to enter early this afternoon.
Washington state police Fire marshal Shaun Jones said the cause is under investigation.
“Until we get in here and find out what’s inside, we just don’t know,” Jones said.
Sarah Lucy, 32, who lives on the second floor of the building housing the computer shop, said she was jarred awake by the sound of breaking glass. She said she thought it might have come from a traffic collision.
“When I went to look out the window, I realized the glass laying on the road and sidewalk was from my building,” she said.
She rushed to the bedroom of her 3-year-old autistic son, Aidan, scooped him up and ran outside. They saw flames engulf the first floor of the three-story building.
Bee’s Nest owner Barbara Mayfield, 69, of Monongahela, was in tears across the street from her business as she watched firefighters.
“I was coming to work,” she said. “I had no idea what was happening until I got here.”
Carroll Township firefighter Craig Marinkovich embraced her and offered words of comfort. He said Mayfield has attended Sunday night bingo at the fire hall for the past 30 years.
“She’s been there since I was a kid,” he said. “She’ll play for free tonight.”
The restaurant is a one-story building adjacent to Vocelli’s.
 Photo Wayne E. Ray/SnapShot47photos.com Firefighters remain at the scene after the ladder collapse. |
The roof of the Bee’s Nest collapsed from the weight of water used to fight the fire, damaging thousands of dollars worth of kitchen equipment.
“It was such a cute little place,” Mayfield said. “I just got the front painted and put a new sign up.”
Mayfield said the fire destroyed decades’ worth of Steelers memorabilia, including player autographs and Super Bowl ticket stubs.
Vocelli’s owner Robert Brooks, 35, of Howard Street, Monongahela, said he left his business about 11 p.m. Saturday while two store managers and a delivery driver remained behind to close. He awoke about 7 a.m. Sunday to a phone call from his sister, Elizabeth Dallas, 37, telling him the building was in flames.
“I thought she was joking,” he said.
Brooks said Vocelli’s corporate officials closed the business in August 2008 due to a gas leak. It was closed through December while piping was replaced and other repairs made, Brooks said. He said the store reopened for Super Bowl weekend and had not had any problems with gas leaks.
“We got all our customers back and some new ones,” said Brooks, who also has a Vocelli’s franchise in Bethel Park. “Business was good.
“Thank God no one was hurt.”
Main Street was still closed to traffic between First and Third streets about 1 p.m.
Copyright 2009 Tribune Review Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved