Pitcairn Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rich Bezts rushed into the burning apartment building Saturday afternoon to find some of his men already in one of the hallways, fire axes in their gloved hands.
"They wanted to knock the door in," he said, "and I said, 'No, wait. Let me get my key out.'"
Bob Donaldson, Post-GazettePitcairn Volunteer Fire Chief Rich Bezts reflects yesterday on the loss of the department's 95-foot aerial truck. The truck came into contact with a high-voltage electrical line while fighting a fire at the four-story Beam Building on Saturday, and all of its systems shorted out. Chief Bezts and Assistant Chief John Emmick, left, and two other firefighters lived in apartments in the building and lost their personal possessions, including Chief Bezts' military gear. He was to report for three weeks active duty in the Army Reserves on May 31.
Click photo for larger image.
Chief Bezts' apartment was one of 11 units damaged in the blaze in the four-story Beam Heating and Cooling building at 500 Broadway in Pitcairn, right across the street from the fire station where he works.
Three other Pitcairn firefighters, including Chief Bezts' wife, Jennifer, were among the 18 residents who lost their homes in the five-alarm fire that started at 1:23 p.m. An estimated 150 firefighters from 12 companies battled the blaze for more than five hours.
No one was injured in the fire, although three firefighters -- including Mrs. Bezts -- were treated for smoke inhalation.
Chief Bezts said the cause of the fire is still being investigated, but it was not considered suspicious.
The fire, which is believed to have started on the second floor, spread quickly to the fourth-floor apartments and the roof, Chief Bezts said, making it difficult to contain. Once it reached the roof, he said, he ordered the firefighters from the building.
"I'm not going to put anybody in jeopardy," said Chief Bezts, who has been fighting fires for more than 25 years but never had one at his own home.
"Granted, I live there and so do some of our other people, but the material inside is not worth any fireman going inside and getting killed. I lost my belongings, but they can be replaced."
Speaking yesterday at the fire station between salvage trips into his burned apartment, Chief Bezts said the fact that his home was one of those damaged still hadn't hit him. And it didn't affect the way he did his duty the day before.
"You don't look at it as it's your house. You look at it as it's a residence that you're trying to save," he said. "And [the firefighters] made a good stop. Both buildings next door were saved."
Chief Bezts said the worst damage done by the fire might have been to the company's ladder truck, which was in an alley behind the burning building when a live power line fell onto it, rendering the vehicle inoperable. It was the only ladder truck serving Pitcairn, he said.
Neighborhood residents were quick to rally around the firefighters, as well as the other residents who were rendered homeless by the blaze. Local businesses donated food, water and ice, as did a woman who was hosting a baby shower nearby.
"We have the fire victims' fund and boot drives," said Elaine Meyers, who was organizing the Saturday night bingo game at the station when the fire was first reported. "This time, it's the firefighters who are some of the people who need the help."
Assistant Chief John Emmick, who lived in one of the damaged apartments, was in Cranberry playing paintball when the call came in.
His girlfriend, who was asleep in his apartment at the time, was one of the residents roused to evacuate the building.
"I'm just glad she was able to get out," Mr. Emmick said.
"All my clothes and all my furniture are damaged. But I have so many friends that I've helped out over the years, and now they're helping me out, so I'm doing real good.
"This community, when something major happens like that flood back in '97, people always help each other out."
Anyone interested in donating to the fire victims' fund can contact them at 100 S. Center Ave., Pitcairn 15140, or at 412-372-7040.
First Published: May 28, 2007, 2:45 a.m.