Story and Photos by David P. Novak
On Monday, September 11, 2006 at approximately 6:55 a.m. Allegheny County 9-1-1 Center received several calls, reporting a fire at the Crazy Horse bar and restaurant in the Great Southern shopping plaza, located at 1155 Washington Pike in Collier Township. Callers were reporting black smoke and flames coming from the rear of the business. The following units were dispatched on the initial alarm; Kirwin Heights (Station 124), Kirwin Heights EMS (Station 770) and Collier Township police.
Lieutenant Joseph Wissel, who was responding from the station and Lieutenant Howard Halle, who was responding from home, could see a thick plume of black smoke in the distance and immediately requested a 2nd alarm assignment. The following units were dispatched on the 2nd alarm; Bower Hill (Station 255), Glendale (Station 257), Bridgeville (Station 117) and Mount Lebanon R.I.T. (Station 198). EMS command requested that Southbridge EMS (Station 815) respond to the scene for standby.
Lieutenant Wissel arrived on the scene within minutes and established Crazy Horse command. Lieutenant Wissel reported heavy smoke and fire showing from side “C” of the two-story concrete and wood structure. The Crazy Horse bar and restaurant was flanked by several store fronts, which became an immediate exposure threat. Command requested an immediate 3rd alarm assignment. The following units were dispatched on the 3rd alarm; Fairview (Station 268), Oakdale (Station 215) and Heidelberg (Station 170). Several employees, who were working in nearby stores at the time of the fire had safely evacuated.
Engine 124-1 arrived on the scene and laid a 5" supply line from the hydrant on the “C-D” corner of the shopping plaza. Crew from Engine 124-1, led by Lieutenant Halle advanced an attack line into the doorway leading to the kitchen restaurant. Lieutenant Halle made it approximately 150-feet from the door and encountered very intense heat conditions. Lieutenant Halle and his crew retreated from the structure to obtain a thermal imaging camera, to assist them in locating the main body of fire. Lieutenant Halle and crew attempted to re-enter the structure to locate the fire and initiate an aggressive attack. The thermal imaging camera revealed heavy fire conditions above the interior crew, in the ceiling area. Due to the heavy volume of fire and intense heat conditions, the interior crew again backed out of the building.
Due to rapidly deteriorating interior conditions, and the fact that the outside walls had developed large cracks from the intense heat, command switched operations to a defensive mode and established a collapse zone. Truck 257 was positioned on side “D” of the structure and set up for aerial operations. Additional crews placed several large caliber attack lines and portable deck guns in operation on the “C” side of the structure, where heavy fire was visible inside two large windows. Approximately 30 minutes into the incident, the crew operating in the basket of Truck 257, reported that the rubber roof gave way and collapsed, leaving several large air conditioning units dangling from the collapsed roof.
Command requested a 4th alarm assignment for additional manpower as well as three additional rapid intervention teams at approximately 7:35 a.m. The following units were dispatched to fulfill the assignment; Rennerdale (Station 126), Presto (Station 125), Upper St. Clair R.I.T. (Station 284), Stowe Township R.I.T. (Stations 275 and 277), Castle Shannon R.I.T. (Station 119) and Sturgeon (Station 267) for their mobile cascade unit. Command requested that one additional R.I.T. can set up on the “D” side of the structure wit h Mt. Lebanon and that the other two can set up on the “B” side of the structure. Truck 117 was set up for aerial operations on the “B” si de of the structure and 198 Truck was set up to assist 257 Truck on the “D” side of the structure.
Command requested two additional aerial apparatus at approximately 7:40 a.m. Bethel Park (Station 110) and Carnegie (Station 118) were dispatched for their Trucks. Command requested that when Truck 110 and Truck 118 arrive on the scene, they are to set up on the “B” side of the structure and assist Truck 117 with operations. Command requested that Washington Pike (Route 50), which is the main roadway leading to Interstate 79, be shut down in both directions as large diameter hose needed to be laid from hydrants across Washington Pike to supply the additional aerial apparatus.
Truck 257 crew reported heavy fire in the roof area extending the length of the roof from the “D” side to the “C” side. The crew from 117 Truck removed the facade above the vacant Casual Big and Tall store on the “B” side of the structure, to access the fire that was running along the voids b etween the false ceilings and roof area. Truck 110 crew removed the facade above the Dollar Tree on the “B” side of the structure to access the fire.
With five aerial master streams, numerous large caliber attack lines and several portable deck guns operating, crews poured copious amounts of water onto the collapsed roof, through open doors, windows and holes in the facade, for several hours before the bulk of the fire was extinguished. Command declared the fire under control at 12:30 p.m. Command advised that units would be on the scene for an extended period of time, performing extensive overhaul operations and dousing hot spots. Command requested a special alarm assignment for additional manpower to assist with overhaul and extinguishment at approximately 2:15 p.m. Whitehall (Station 301), Broughton (Station 270) and Cecil #3 (Washington County Station #10) were notified to respond to the scene.
Two firefighters were transported to a local hospital to be t reated for minor injuries. Several transfers were needed to cover the empty stations, while crews were committed at the scene. Dormont (Station 130) transferred to Kirwin Heights (Station 124), North Fayette (Station 209) transferred to Heidelberg (Station 170), Crafton (Station 128) transferred to Bridgeville (Station 117), McDonald (Washington County Station 12) transferred to Sturgeon (Station 267), Moon Township (Station 197) transferred to Oakdale (Station 215). Greentree (Station 163) were on standby in their station.
Lieutenant Joseph Wissel (Kirwin Heights) was in command of the incident, Chief Gary Sawicki (Bower Hill) was in charge of operations, R.I.T. commander from each R.I.T. were assigned as safety officers and Kirwin Heights was in charge of accountability during the incident.
In all, 218 firefighters from 20 departments battled the intense blaze. Firefighters did an excellent job at protecting the exposure stores and preventing the fire fro m spreading. In addition to Kirwin Heights and Southbridge EMS, Scott Township, MRTS (Medical Rescue Team South) and Northwest EMS units also assisted at the fire scene. Salvation Army personnel were at the scene with two mobile canteen units, providing emergency personnel with coffee, cold beverages and food. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal and Investigators from the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) were called to the scene to investigate the fire, which extensively damaged the Crazy Horse and caused moderate to severe damages to Casual Big and Tall, Dollar Tree, K & K Soccer, Hoover Sales, Hallmark and JoAnn Fabrics. Damages have been estimated in excess of $1,000,000.