Monessen fire considered suspicious
Courtesy of Delmar Hepple
Tuesday’s extreme heat hampered firefighters as they battled a fire in a vacant house in Monessen.
Numerous fire companies were called to assist Monessen after initial crews responded to the fire at 704 Ninth St. at about 6:45 p.m.
“When I pulled up on the scene it was well involved, if not fully involved, in a two-and-a-half story, wood-framed structure, right against an occupied structure,” said Delmar Hepple, Monessen fire chief. “We focused on the occupied structure, saving it.”
The fire cause is likely suspicious, as the house has been unoccupied for years, Hepple said. The state police fire marshal visited the scene Wednesday.
“There are no utilities to the structure whatsoever; there hasn’t been for years,” he said.
Hepple said multiple companies were called to assist due Tuesday’s oppressive heat.
“Guys that could normally do the firefighting for 30 to 45 minutes at a time were down to about 10 to 15 minutes at a time, so you had to rotate out more crews,” Hepple said. “I actually added another company for manpower so that we could safely do this without anybody suffering heat exposure or heat exhaustion or anything like that.”
No injuries were reported.
Crews responding included Monessen No. 1 and 2, North Belle Vernon, Washington Township, Charleroi, Carroll Township, Bentleyville for its Rapid Intervention Team and Donora for the extra manpower.
Mid Mon Valley Transit sent a bus to provide first responders a place to cool off. The Salvation Army supplied drinks and food, and rehabilitation teams from Mon Valley EMS and Fayette EMS also were on hand.
Hepple said firefighters remained at the scene for about three hours.