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Dinsmore St. House Fire Displaces Family of 5
Deputy chief: Preliminary indications point to chimney as possible cause
By Jason Togyer
The Tube City Almanac
January 22, 2024
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
• Related story: Three Hurt in Car-Ambulance Collision
A family of five was displaced Sunday evening when fire swept through their Dinsmore Street home.
Crews were dispatched to the 2700 block just before 7:30 p.m. and arrived to find smoke visible and flames emerging from the left side of the house, McKeesport deputy fire chief Ed Harmon said.
The occupants of the home — a mother and four children, ages 7 to 18 — were able to escape safely and called 9-1-1, Harmon said.
The fireplace on the first floor of the home was in use, Harmon said, and investigators believe the fire began in the chimney, then traveled up the inside walls of the two-story wood frame home to the attic.
A second alarm was struck and additional McKeesport firefighters responded along with volunteers from Duquesne Annex, Glassport No. 1, Liberty Borough, Versailles and White Oak No. 1 and crews from Allegheny County Airport.
The fire was contained to the house and no surrounding structures were affected, Harmon said, but the home sustained heavy fire damage to its roof as well as water and smoke damage throughout.
The Allegheny County fire marshal’s office is investigating, Harmon said.
No injuries were reported. Although temperatures were well below freezing — Allegheny County Airport reported 18 degrees — the weather didn’t hamper the firefighting effort, Harmon said.
“I wouldn’t say it was comfortable, but the freezing weather didn’t hinder us,” he said. “The guys did a good job.”
McKeesport police and McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service assisted at the scene, along with the Salvation Army. The American Red Cross is assisting the family that was displaced, Harmon said.
According to property tax records, the home is a rental owned by a Beech Street man.
The house is not currently inhabitable, Harmon said.
Originally published January 22, 2024.
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