By Kathie O. Warco, Staff writer

kwarco@observer-reporter.com

The assistant chief of California Volunteer Fire Department was burned in a two-alarm fire Saturday afternoon that heavily damaged a home in Daisytown.

California fire Chief Tom Hartley Jr. said heavy fire was showing when they were called about 2 p.m. to a two-story home at 648 Pike Run Drive. The home is owned by Don Mucko, who resides there with his daughter Sue Wagner, her husband, Dennis Wagner, and their daughter.

When firefighters arrived, Hartley said, there was a significant fire at the back of the home. The chief said the home was formerly a bar and gymnasium before it was converted to a residence.

The four residents got out safely.

"When we arrived, we got a report that two of the residents were missing," Hartley said. "As we started looking for them, they returned home."

Hartley believes they had gone shopping.

Assistant Chief Brian McCrory was taken to Brownsville Tri-County Hospital by Brownsville Ambulance for treatment of burns when a piece of hot metal fell on his hand while he was removing debris. Hartley said the metal burned through McCrory's wet glove.

Assisting at the scene were firefighters from West Brownsville, North Brownsville, South Brownsville, Bentleyville, Fallowfield Township and North Belle Vernon. Charleroi firefighters were on standby at the California fire station.

Hartley said about 75 firefighters were on the scene. He said that Brownsville Ambulance had a rehabilitation station set up so the firefighters could take a breather while battling the blaze. He said the humidity and nature of the fire made it difficult.

"For the amount of fire we had when we got on the scene, they did a heck of a job," Hartley said of the firefighting efforts.

Firefighters were called back to the scene later Saturday afternoon after the blaze rekindled.

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