On Wednesday, February 23, 2005 at approximately 1:02 p.m. Baldwin Communications received a call from the resident at 5166 Janie Drive, reporting a fire in the kitchen, all occupants are evacuating. Baldwin dispatched Baldwin (Option) (Station 107) South Baldwin (Station 104), Baldwin EMS (Station 510) and Baldwin Police on the initial assignment.

Baldwin EMS Assistant Chief was one of the first personnel to arrive on the scene. He reported smoke showing from sector 3 of a two-story split entry, brick/frame residential structure. He advised that there is a hydrant across the street from the structure. Engine 107 arrived on the scene within minutes and hit the hydrant that was across from the structure. 107 Chief requested a 2nd alarm assignment for manpower. Baldwin notified South Hills 9-1-1 to have them dispatch Pleasant Hills (Station 232), Whitehall was notified to dispatch Whitehall (Station 301) and Broughton (Station 270 Go Team) were notified to fulfill the 2nd alarm assignment.

Crews advanced attack lines through the front door of the residence. Attack teams encountered heavy smoke, with visible fire showing in the rear portion of the house. Interior attack teams made their way back to the kitchen area, where they found the seat of the fire and initiated an aggressive attack. Support crews laddered the house in sectors 1 and 3. A crew ascended the ladder to the roof and initiated ventilation, to assist in removing the smoke and heat that the interior crews were facing.

Initial interior attack crew advised command that the fire had already extended into the wall and ceiling area, and that there was heavy fire between the ceiling and roof area in sector 3. Command could see the fire starting to vent through the roof in sector 3. A crew ascended the ground ladder in sector 3 with an attack line and initiated an exterior attack on the flames, as interior crews pulled the ceiling to knock down the heavy fire. Crews advised command that they had the bulk of the fire knocked down and were checking for further extension.

Command placed the fire under control at approximately 1:45 p.m. Command advised Baldwin Communications that crews would be remaining on the scene for an additional period of time, performing overhaul operations. The American Red Cross personnel were at the scene, to render assistance to the displaced family. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal was called to the scene to investigate the fire, which originated in the kitchen and caused substantial damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.