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Grover Street Fire Under Investigation
Two taken to area hospitals after abandoned house burns
By Jason Togyer
The Tube City Almanac
June 05, 2024
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A two-alarm fire Tuesday afternoon that destroyed an abandoned house on Grover Street has been ruled accidental by the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office, but the cause remains under investigation.
According to county officials, the blaze was reported to Allegheny County 9-1-1 just before 5 p.m.
First-responders found the two-story wood-frame structure at 2719 Grover St. completely engulfed in flames and a second alarm was sounded, McKeesport deputy fire Chief Tom Perciavalle said.
No utilities were connected to the home and the blaze is suspicious in nature, Perciavalle said. Allegheny County property tax records indicate the house was owned by a White Oak woman, but according to published reports, she died in 2022.
The house had been condemned by city officials.
Although the fire has been ruled an accident, Kasey Reigner, spokesperson for the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services, said the case has been referred to McKeesport police for further investigation.
Smoke from the fire was visible throughout the city and surrounding area, and Perciavalle said the intense heat of the flames caused vinyl siding to melt on two other nearby structures. No other damage to surrounding buildings was reported.
Officials said two people were taken to local hospitals by McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service — one suffering from stress and anxiety induced by the fire, and another suffering from respiratory and breathing problems.
No injuries to members of the fire service were reported.
County emergency officials said that crews from Allegheny County Airport responded to the scene, along with volunteer firefighters from Duquesne, Duquesne Annex, Elizabeth Borough, Glassport, Liberty Borough, Monroeville, Munhall and Versailles and the Salvation Army.
Firefighters from Dravosburg and Rainbow were on standby in McKeesport’s two fire stations.
City public works crews were called to the scene when a portion of the structure began to collapse, Perciavalle said, and they used an excavating machine to provide access to firefighters battling the blaze.
Emergency personnel remained on the scene until after 9 p.m. Tuesday, Perciavalle said.
Originally published June 05, 2024.
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