UPDATE Before & after photos of Ladder 14 on fireground in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. Aerial ladder collapsed with firefighter on tip. New videos.
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Pictures by Wayne E. Ray at SnapShop47photos.com.
New details and video from WTAE-TV
Two firefighters were hurt this morning when an aerial ladder collapsed during a commercial fire in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. New Eagle VFD Firefighter Les “Hootie” Pemberton was at the tip of Ladder 14 (New Eagle VFD, Washington County) when it collapsed during ladder pipe operations. Pemberton was strapped in and rode the ladder down as it crashed onto a roof top. He was treated and released from the hospital on Sunday afternoon.
Photographer Wayne E. Ray with SnapShop47photos.com was on the fireground when the incident occurred. Wayne had already snapped pictures of Ladder 14 in operation in the rear of the building. Wayne was elsewhere on the fireground when the collapse occurred. He arrived around back and shot many pictures of the bent and crumpled ladder. Wayne was nice enough to send STATter911.com dozens of photos. We have some of them posted and will add more later.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D1OejyEI9k&hl=en&fs=1&]
Click above to watch Wayne E. Ray’s complete series of photos of Ladder 14 at the fireground in Monongahela, Pennsylvania.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEhoBIrlIi8&hl=en&fs=1&]
Helmet-cam video of fire. Does not include collapse of Ladder 14.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s A.J. Panian reports it this way:
New Eagle firefighter Les “Hootie” Pemberton, 50, of Monongahela, was injured when he fell about 20 feet after the ladder from an aerial truck collapsed onto the roof of one of the buildings.
Pemberton was at the top of the ladder, about 50 feet above ground, spraying water onto the three-story building housing Hufnagel Computers when the ladder collapsed, said New Eagle Fire chief Paul Pro, 47.
“He was belted in on the ladder, and he rode it down all the way” to the roof, Pro said. “He did exactly what he should have done in that situation.”
Pemberton was taken to Mon Valley Hospital, where he was treated and released, Pro said.
“Before” picture from Google Maps Street View. Click image to tour the neighborhood. Click here for Bird’s Eye View from Bing.
The fire damaged Vocelli’s pizza, Hufnagel Computers, the Bee’s Nest Cafe and some apartments. It broke out at 5:15 AM today. Neighbors reported hearing explosions just before the fire was discovered.
Here is more about the fire and a close call for a cop from an Observer-Reporter article:
No one was seriously injured in the fire that appears to be traced to leaking natural gas in a Vocelli Pizza franchise, 222 W. Main St., authorities said.
“It was a very, very dangerous situation,” said Monongahela Police Chief Brian Tempest.
Police were called to the scene about 5:15 a.m. to investigate breaking glass, Tempest said.
Patrolman Bill Fusco encountered the fire and then entered the building to evacuate the tenants. Fusco was pulled from the building by a Carroll Township police officer because he was beginning to “go down,” overcome by smoke, Tempest said.
Ladder 14 from New Eagle VFD website.
Bee’s Nest owner Barbara Mayfield said she was concerned about how the fire started because she has complained about Monongahela police officer George Langan, who was arrested two days earlier on drug and corruption charges.
However, Washington County District Attorney Steve Toprani said it does not appear his widespread drug investigation in the city is related to the fire.
