Churchill Fire Company was dispatch on the second alarm to a working fire at the Churchill Center Plaza in Penn Hills, July 29, 2019 7:50pm. 122 Rescue responded to the scene.

Initially Churchill crews laid 1000 feet of 4″ supply line up Pennoak Ave from a hydrant at Emrose and Pennoak and establishing a water supply to the Forest Hills 153 and Penn Hills 227 ladder trucks operating on the rear and side of the building. Edgewood 137 Engine was initially connected to the hydrant, but was replaced by 122 Rescue after an equipment failure.

Rescue 122, operated by 122 Assistant, remained in place all night pumping water to the rear master stream operations. By morning, the Rescue had used 50 gallons of diesel fuel from the pumping operation.

After the water supply was established, 122 crews assisted with fire attack in multiple location at the rear and side of the building along with crews from Penn Hills 227 and Monroeville #1. Approximately 2 hours into the incident, a natural gas explosion occurred at the wing restuarant at the rear corner of the building, causing a wall collapse onto a Penn Hills and a Churchill firefighter. Firefighters were quickly removed from the collapse and EMS crews quickly evaluated and transported the firefighters and the operator of 227 Truck who was also injured in the explosion.

The natural gas fed fire proved to be very difficult to extinguish. The gas company shut off the gas supply at midnight and crews remained on scene until 8am pouring water and foam onto the fire until the extra alarm crews had picked up and were released.

Dozens of fire companies from the Eastern suburbs responded to the call under the command of Penn Hills Chiefs from 225 and 227. The injured Churchill firefighter was treated and released by 8am