4 Pittsburgh firefighters hurt battling blaze in South Side Slopes

Four Pittsburgh firefighters were treated at an area hospital after they were shocked Thursday morning while battling a blaze in the city’s South Side Slopes neighborhood.

The firefighters, who authorities declined to name, “came into contact with an electrical current” inside an unoccupied home in the 100 block of Monastery Avenue, Emily Bourne, a public safety spokeswoman, said.

All four firefighters were in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries when taken to the hospital for evaluation, Bourne said. Some had been released by early afternoon and the rest are expected to be sent home by the end of the day, according to Bourne.

The fire does not appear suspicious, Bourne said.

The fire bureau’s Engine 22, from the city’s Arlington neighborhood, and Engine 24, from South Side, responded to the blaze around 8:15 a.m. The fire was under control at 9:45 a.m.

A firetruck ladder came into contact with a power line, which scorched the ladder, Bourne said. But, she added, there were no firefighters on or near the ladder at the time.

Detectives with the city’s Fire Investigation Unit are working to determine what caused the fire.

Fire Chief Darryl Jones went to the hospital to visit the injured, according to Tim Leech, a member of the firefighters’ union.