Fire chief: 3 adults displaced in Avalon house fire, no injuries reported

No injuries were reported in a Sunday morning fire that damaged a single-family home in Avalon, according to the borough’s volunteer fire chief.

The two-alarm blaze was reported about 5:15 a.m. at a home on Marie Avenue, according to an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher.

Three adult occupants were displaced and are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region, Avalon Volunteer Fire Department Chief Charles Berie said. All made it out of the house safely.

The Red Cross tweeted that it provided resources and assistance to three adults who were displaced by the fire.

We responded to the 200 Block of Marie Avenue in Pittsburgh this morning following a multi-family fire. There we provided resources and assistance to 3 adults who were displaced by the fire.

— American Red Cross Greater PA (@RedCrossGPA) December 27, 2020

Berie said firefighters had a difficult time fighting the fire because of the cold temperatures and materials inside the 2 ½ story, wood-frame house. Berie said the house contained numerous boxes of clothes, books and other personal belongings. Because of that it was hard to maneuver around inside.

“The house being so tight inside, narrow stairwells, it was kind of hard access to get to the fire in the beginning,” Berie said.

Berie said it was between 17 and 18 degrees outside when firefighters arrived at the scene. The chief said colder temperatures can make fighting fires dangerous.

“It causes, from the water, very icy conditions outside,” Berie said. “Guys going in, getting hit with water, coming out and freezing, all their gear freezing up, equipment freezing up. Ladders are unsafe to climb.”

“It’s a lot more difficult fighting it (than) in the summer,” Berie said.

Berie said 65 firefighters from eight fire departments battled the blaze. It was under control shortly after 7 a.m.

The house suffered extensive damage, but Berie could not provide a damage estimate. The cause is being investigated by the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office. The fire marshal’s office couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.