Firefighters battle blaze at two vacant Monessen buildings

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Flames and smoke filled the skies of Monessen early Sunday morning.

Courtesy of Monessen Fire Department Facebook page.

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Firefighters from numerous companies battled a blaze in Monessen early Sunday morning.

Courtesy of Monessen Fire Department Facebook page.

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A photograph taken by a neighbor gives an example of what firefighters faced Sunday in Monessen.

Courtesy of Delmar Hepple

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Numerous area fire departments were called to Monessen early Sunday morning to battle a blaze at two vacant city buildings, one of which was destroyed.

Monessen Fire Chief Delmar Hepple said crews were dispatched at 3:31 p.m. to 513 Rostraver St. Some of the fire did spread to 515 Rostraver St.

“I arrived to find a fully involved three-story wood frame starting into a three-story brick building,” Hepple said. “We were in defensive mode from the very beginning. When I say it got into the other building, I mean a little bit around the window and part of the roof. It was so intense that I’m surprised it didn’t take the whole block.”

The building at 513 Rostraver St. was destroyed due to the fire.

The cause of the fire is still to be determined, but Hepple did say it’s “suspicious for sure.”

No Injuries were reported, but Hepple did say a Monessen No. 1 firefighter was evaluated at the scene as a precaution.

Firefighters were on the scene for about two-and-a-half hours.

“I brought a demolition crew in to finish off the building and to get to the hot spots that I couldn’t safely reach with my guys,” Hepple said.

Rostraver Street between Knox Avenue and Reed Avenue was closed for the better part of the morning.

“We left the road closed due to the fact that we had a hose there for the demolition company so they can wash down any spots,” Hepple said. “As the excavator moved it around, they could hose the stuff down.

The road was to be opened once that process was finished.

Hepple said buildings along that stretch on the city’s demolition list.

Monessen is in the midst of demolishing vacant buildings that have been decaying, in deplorable condition or have started to collapse.

In fact, at Thursday’s council meeting, 20 more were proposed for demolition. A public hearing is scheduled for May 23 concerning those properties.

Fire companies on scene Sunday morning included Monessen No. 1, Monessen No. 2, Carroll Township, Charleroi, North Belle Vernon and Washington Township. Also assisting were Bentleyville Fire-Rescue, Rostraver West Newton Emergency Services, Monessen Police and Monessen Ambulance Service.

“For the amount of fire that we had, the fact that we kept it pretty much about 99 percent to the one building was a pretty good job by everybody,” Hepple said. “For being volunteer companies, you never know what manpower you have available, the guys did a heck of a job keeping it from taking the whole block.”

Flames and smoke filled the skies of Monessen early Sunday morning.[/caption