Public Safety Blotter Articles

UPDATE: Eight Injured in 5-Alarm Fire in Knoxville

Date: September 3, 2019
Incident Type: Structure Fire
Location: Knoxville
Summary:

Pittsburgh Fire, Police and EMS responded to a report of a house on fire on the 200 block of Reifert Street around 11:40 a.m.

The fire started in a house at 245 Reifert and spread to homes on both sides (at 243 and 247 Reifert). The fire grew to 5 alarms before firefighters got it under control around 1 p.m.

Initial reports were that people were trapped on a roof and had to toss a toddler to Good Samaritans below. Medics evaluated and released three people, including the toddler. No civilians were injured.

A police officer suffered an injured an ankle while trying to stop people from running back inside a burning home. The officer was treated at UPMC Mercy.

Three firefighters were injured, including one who was transported to UPMC Mercy with a minor head injury and two who were treated on scene for heat exhaustion.

The Fire Investigation Unit, made up of investigators from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire and detectives from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, will investigate the cause of the fire.

UPDATE: The injuries now stand at eight with four transports. Two firefighters, one police officer and one civilian were transported. Two firefighters and two civilians were evaluated and released on scene.


Reporting PIO:
Chris Togneri

2019-09-03
PIO@pittsburghpa.gov