Fire scorches vacant Verona home that was being renovated

Fire crews rushed to the scene of a blaze at an unoccupied home on Peter Street in Verona on Thursday afternoon.

The fire, which began just after 4 p.m., seems to have ignited in a bathroom, according to Verona Volunteer Fire Company Capt. Andy Tihey.

Though renovations had been ongoing at the home, no one was there at the time of the blaze, he said.

When the first crews arrived, Tihey said, flames were shooting out the side of the home, but he said the fire was under control in about 15 minutes.

“We got a quick knockdown,” the captain said.

Michael Ricupero, 32, was visiting his uncle’s home on Peter Street at the time.

When he went outside, he saw black smoke pouring out of the home catty-­corner to his uncle’s. Ricupero then set off his car alarm to alert neighbors to move their cars to make way for approaching firetrucks.

One of those alerted by Ricupero’s alarm was Robert Moran, 30, who lives across the street from the home. He saw flames shooting from the side of the structure and immediately moved his car. Moran said he was worried the blaze would spread to a neighboring home, but crews ultimately doused the flames before they could spread.

“It was close, very close,” he said.

Several other companies, including Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Company, Oakmont Volunter Fire Department, Pioneer Hose Company in Brackenridge and five Penn Hills departments, joined the Verona VFC at the scene.

Tihey said he was unsure about the cause of the fire and was waiting for the Allegheny County Fire Marshal to investigate.