Fire crews from numerous Alle-Kiski Valley towns battled a house fire for hours Thursday afternoon on Edgewood Drive in Buffalo Township.

The blaze was initially reported at the single-story ranch home around 1:30 p.m.

Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company Assistant Chief Tyler Hill said crews battled the “stubborn basement fire” throughout the afternoon and did not start dismissing responders until 6 p.m. All crews left around 7 p.m.

Firetrucks blocked the main entrance to the Edgewood housing plan throughout the incident.

Hill said a combination of a large amount of items in the basement and flames creeping onto the main floor made it difficult for firefighters to attack the fire’s origin.

“It was a challenge getting through the storage,” he said.

All of the occupants of the home evacuated safely, Hill said.

Hill said a firefighter was treated for exhaustion and smoke inhalation. That person was taken to a hospital for evaluation and and released later that evening.

Around 4:30 p.m., heavy smoke was still pouring from the house as firefighters scrambled to locate the various sources of the blaze. Firefighters broke multiple windows to get fire hoses inside.

Hill said there were no issues with water supply or manpower.

Crews from Buffalo Township, Sarver, South Buffalo, Freeport, Saxonburg, Fawn No. 1, Citizens Hose, Harrison Hills and Kittanning responded to the blaze.

Hill said the large response helped minimize potential injuries with teams rotating between a rehab area and the house.

“It was a great effort by all fire crews involved, and our mutual aid companies were a great support and assisted very well,” Hill said.

The house sustained significant damage to the basement and first floor, but remained standing.

Hill said it will be up to insurance adjusters to determine if the house is a total loss.

The state fire marshal is investigating the fire’s cause of the fire.

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