Five Firefighters Hurt Battling Homestead Blaze

(WPXI) – Five firefighters were hurt battling a 5-alarm fire in Homestead Saturday morning.  Allegheny County 911 confirms firefighters, police and EMS were sent to a building on the 200 block of East 17th Avenue just before 9:30 a.m.  Matt Brown, the Chief of Allegheny County Emergency Services, says police and fire units showed up within minutes of being dispatched, confirming the active structure fire.  Brown says the blaze began in one residential building and spread to two others because of the extreme cold and wind conditions. The fire was considered under control just after 1 p.m.  Five firefighters were hurt while working to put the fire out, including two who reportedly fell through the floor. Brown says none of the injuries are life-threatening.  “The first two injured firefighters had fallen through the first floor; that was early into the firefight,” Brown said. “The other injuries, again, are minor and not related to that.  Additionally, eight residents were displaced but not hurt.  Brown says at least a dozen fire departments responded, along with police, EMS, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.  The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.