Tractor-trailer catches fire in Springdale; businesses damaged
A tractor-trailer hauling a load of coffee up Pittsburgh Street in Springdale caught fire Saturday afternoon, causing its front tires to blow out and damage nearby businesses.
No injuries were reported.
The incident happened about 1:40 p.m., according to Springdale police. Traffic on the street was rerouted on three blocks of Pittsburgh Street for several hours.
The fire destroyed the truck’s cab and engine compartment, and the force of the tires exploding broke a front window of the Leaning Cask Brewing Co. at 850 Pittsburgh St. As a result, the brewery closed for the day but planned to open Sunday, according to an Instagram post.
At least one window was damaged in the front of the offices of F.J. Moffitt Family Dentistry in the building next door, as well as apartments above both businesses. Damage also was reported at a former bank across the street.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
The driver was by himself, and his name was not released.
“The driver loaded up in Ohio. He got up here and somebody said, ‘Your truck is on fire,’ and he blew it off,” Springdale police Chief George Polnar said. “He looked out the rear-view mirror and saw the flames on the passenger side. You could see the smoke coming up over the top of the buildings. When the tires popped, you could see onlookers taking cover.”
Three units from the Springdale Fire Department responded to a dispatch from Allegheny County 9-1-1. Rescue crew Lt. Kris Bendinelli said the fire was contained to the cab.
“It’s like a house on wheels, so we had to take everything out of the cab and soak everything down with foam to fully extinguish the fire,” Bendinelli said.
Polnar said wires above the street appeared to be singed.
“West Penn Power came out and checked the electrical wires above the street, and they’re OK,” he said.
“This (truck) was rocking and rolling. There was a hunk taken out of the middle of the road. We’re going to have PennDOT come out and take a look at that.”
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