Single-digit temperatures make for trying night for South Greensburg firefighters

Icicles hung from a South Greensburg home Tuesday morning as firefighters hosed down the structure amid single-digit temperatures.

It was a trying night for dozens of volunteer firefighters from around the region, said South Greensburg fire Chief Matt White. The fire on Parr Street was reported around 11:30 p.m. Monday.

“Human beings and the temperature out here is just miserable, and you get all soaking wet and turn into a big ice cube,” he said. “And the water’s an issue, the hydrants are moving a little bit slower and they get frozen. Fortunately, we had what we needed.”

The homeowner escaped the flames and was taken to a hospital, he said. The home was destroyed. Firefighters spent about six hours overnight at the scene and returned Tuesday morning after the flames rekindled.

North Huntingdon EMS brought a bus to keep firefighters warm and Murrysville Medic One provided heaters and tents. Hypothermia can become an issue, and water being used to douse flames quickly turns to potentially dangerous ice on the ground, White said.

“I kept making sure that everybody got to those warming tents and took a break,” he said. “We had plenty of manpower, so it worked out.”

There’s also a weather-related impact on equipment. It didn’t take long into the initial response for the department’s engine, which pumps water, to freeze up. Red hose from the truck lay frozen on the home’s yard.

“Our engine’s froze solid, it’s sitting in the garage thawing out,” he said Tuesday morning.

A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause.