Fire destroys duplex in Tarentum; firefighter injured

Two families lost their homes to fire in Tarentum on Monday, and a volunteer firefighter responding to the blaze was injured.

The fire that destroyed a duplex at 205-207 W. 11th Ave. was reported to 911 shortly before noon. It sent a thick plume of smoke into the air that was visible from as far away as the Ninth Street Bridge in New Kensington.

Firefighters were still there five hours later. With the house still smoldering, an excavator was brought in to dig through the rubble so firefighters could extinguish hot spots, Summit Hose fire Chief Josh Fox said.

An excavator has begun tearing through the rubble of a house fire in Tarentum that has left two families homeless. pic.twitter.com/r5NruAMDHv

— Brian Rittmeyer (@BCRittmeyer) February 21, 2022

Heat from the fire melted siding on houses on both sides of the duplex. At one point during the fire, the back wall of the duplex collapsed, and part of the roof caved in.

The two families who lived in the duplex were home but got out unhurt.

Julie Bashioum, who is eight months pregnant, said she and her husband have two sons, ages 10 and 12; Joe Canonico said five children ranging in age from 1 to 14 lived with him and his girlfriend on the other side of the duplex.

Bashioum said her family had lived there for two years, Canonico’s for five years. Neither family had renter’s insurance. The Red Cross was called to help them, Fox said.

Canonico, who owns a contracting business, said he got home about 20 minutes before the fire broke out. He said one of his children told him the back porch was on fire.

“The whole porch was on fire when I looked out,” he said.

Chris Lanious, who was across the street, said he first saw smoke coming from the back of the house before flames began rolling up over it.

When Katelyn Robinson first smelled the smoke, she thought someone was having a bonfire on a warm, sunny day. She said the building was quickly engulfed, with flames spitting from the windows and doors.

“It was not able to be contained,” she said.

Canonico said smoke from the fire triggered a surveillance camera at the house. He said he would be turning the footage over to investigators. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s office responded to try to determine the cause.

“It came up from underneath the porch,” Canonico said of the fire’s origin.

Canonico said he ran his business, KGK Contracting, out of his home.

“My entire life is gone,” he said.

Bashioum said her family had two dogs that got out safely. The Canonicos were not as fortunate, losing a cat and two kittens.

Numerous fire companies responded.

Fox said there was heavy smoke and fire when firefighters arrived.

At some point during the firefighting effort, Richard Schuller, 22, a member of Highland Hose, got his feet stuck in his company’s aerial ladder. Details of how that happened were not available.

They are still trying to free the firefighter stuck on Highland Hose’s ladder. pic.twitter.com/q2LtADBhTL

— Brian Rittmeyer (@BCRittmeyer) February 21, 2022

Schuller’s cousin, Brittany Schuller, said his family heard him screaming from far away.

“It was just horrifying,” she said.

Brittany Schuller and other family members watched as firefighters worked to free his feet as he lay face-down on the ladder extended over West 11th Avenue not far from the burning house as other firefighters continued their efforts there.

As they worked to free him, they cut away his boots and socks. His bare feet could be seen once they were freed.

“To see two feet is a very good sight to see,” Brittany Schuller said.

Richard Schuller held two thumbs up as he was taken on a stretcher to a nearby ambulance. Fox later said Schuller had suffered one fractured foot and had been treated and released from a hospital.

A representative of Highland Hose could not be reached early Monday evening.

Robinson said she was just happy everyone got out OK.

“All of their material possessions are lost. I’m glad they have their lives,” she said. “As a community, we can come together and help them to rebuild.”

Bashioum said they would be staying with family in the area. Canonico wasn’t sure where he, his girlfriend and their children would go.

House is on West 11th. pic.twitter.com/HnXtUT0dNo

— Brian Rittmeyer (@BCRittmeyer) February 21, 2022