On Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at approximately 6:48 p.m. Allegheny 9-1-1 received multiple reports of an explosion and fire, at 4100 Tuxey Avenue in Brentwood. The following companies were dispatched on the initial assignment; Brentwood (Station 116), Whitehall (Station 301), Pleasant Hills (Station 232), South Baldwin R.I.T. (Station 104), Brentwood EMS (Station 530) and Brentwood police.

Brentwood officers Delallo and Harding arrived on the scene within minutes and reported a “fully involved” duplex with one male victim badly burned. Officers requested EMS expedite and requested that Whitehall and Baldwin police assist them with traffic control. Brentwood EMS OIC requested that Baldwin EMS (Station 510) be dispatched to assist them at the fire scene.

Chief 301 arrived on the scene moments after police and EMS and reported a fully involved two-story brick duplex, with partial collapse as a result of the explosion. Command advised that it would be a defensive attack only and requested that the first in engine take a hydrant with a 5” supply line and immediately set up deck gun operations. Crews also placed several 2 ½” attack lines into operation on sides “A”, “B” and “C”.

Crews operating on side “C” reported a partial collapse, all crews accounted for. EMS personnel rendered aid to the badly burned male victim and transported him to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. With numerous large caliber attack lines and deck guns in operation, crews had the bulk of the heavy fire knocked down within 30 minutes. Command placed the fire under control at approximately 7:45 p.m. Crews remained on the scene for an extended period of time, extinguishing hot spots and assisting investigators.

There were transfers in effect to cover for units that were committed at the fire scene; Baldwin Independent (Station 105) transferred to station 116 and Option (Station 107) was on standby at their station for station 104’s area. Salvation Army personnel were at the scene with the mobile canteen unit, providing cold drinks, snacks and cold wet towels to the emergency personnel. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal was called to the scene to investigate the fire, which completely destroyed the duplex and left the sole male occupant badly burned and in critical condition. The cause of the explosion and fire is under investigation.

The photos below are Courtesy of David P. Novak©

On Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at approximately 11:04 a.m. a diesel fuel spill in Baldwin Borough caused police there and in two neighboring towns to shut down parts of Streets Run Road. The source of the fuel was unknown. Police believe a vehicle on the move, possibly a large truck, lost the fuel as it traveled along Streets Run Road. The spill was detected from Delwar Road in West Mifflin to Brownsville Road in Whitehall, Baldwin police said. In Baldwin, parts of Streets Run Road were closed to traffic between Route 51 and Old Clairton Road.