May 25, 2015 2 min read

Firefighters from North Charleroi (Lock No. 4) along with mutual aid from neighboring departments battled not only a fire that started in a basement of a Monongahela Avenue home but the temperatures that exceeded 80 degrees.

North Charleroi fire Chief Mike Castner said the resident, identified by Charleroi Regional police as Clyde Myers, had been in the basement soldering water pipes when he reportedly burned a hole in a floor joist. The basement filled with smoke, and the fire went up through the walls.

When firefighters arrived at 408 Monongahela after receiving the call just after noon, they found Myers fighting the fire and reluctant to leave his home.

“Once we got him out, we could get in there and fight the fire,” Castner said. “We were able to find the fire; we got it out quickly.”

Castner said one of his firefighters had to be treated at the scene for dehydration caused by the high temperatures.

“Our mutual aid departments were a big help,” the chief said. “It was a little hot out there.”

Assisting at the scene in addition to the police department were firefighters from Charleroi, Fallowfield Township, Stockdale and Monessen No. 2 (Hilltop). The Bentleyville Rapid Intervention Team also responded to the scene as did a crew from Mon Valley EMS.

Castner said Myers refused treatment at the scene. Fire crews remained at the scene for about two hours.