Structure Fire in Mars Borough
 
By Captain Doug Mellinger
July 3, 2020
 

At 2204 hours on July 2, 2020, Adams Area was alerted along with the 90th Battalion and Stations 228 (Wexford) and 185 (Marshall) in Allegheny County on the first alarm for multiple reports of a residential structure fire with possible entrapment. Engine 42 (Capt Mellinger, Lt. J. Nickl, Driver M. Nickl, FF D. Nickl, Jr. FF Safreed) with 2 interior and 2 support firefighters, arrived on scene simultaneously with Chief 42-2 (Minjock), who assumed command, finding a single family dwelling with approximately 60% invlolvement in the first division (4 rooms and kitchen). Command upgraded the assignment to a second alarm. Engine 42 deployed an 1 3/4" cross-lay in the offensive mode for primary search and fire control and secured it's own water supply from the nearby hydrant. E-19 (Callery) arrived and was tasked to join Engine 42 as first-due to compliment the short-staffed crew. The bulk of the fire was brought under control within five minutes, with the primary and secondary searches revealing no victims inside the structure. The victim was found outside the structure in the backyard and transported to a medical facility for treatment.

Crews operated on scene for approximately 5 hours, with Command and Capt. remaining on scene with lighting and to assist the Fire Marshall with investigation.

 
Units: Engine 42, Chief 42-2, Tower 42, Engine 42-3, Rescue 42, Chief 42, Chaplain 42, Fire Police 42
 
Mutual Aid: 90th Battallion SAFER Companies: 19 (Callery), 20 (Evans City), 21 (Cranberry), 22 (Harmony) Butler County: 16 (Middlesex), 15 (Saxonburg), 11 (Penn Twp), 1 (Butler City for RIT) Allegheny County: 228 (Wexford), 185 (Marshall), 241 (Richland), 290 (West Deer 3)