CHESWICK, Pa. — Two firefighters were injured while battling a massive blaze at Cheswick business complex Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, officials said chemicals inside the building did not affect a nearby river.
The blaze was reported at the building, which houses four separate businesses, around 4:30 p.m.
Chopper 11 flew over the scene showing heavy black smoke pouring from the roof, which eventually collapsed.
Hazmat crews were called to the scene because of concerns about chemicals in the building. It was later determined that those chemicals did not cause any environmental hazard and the nearby Allegheny River was not affected.
Emergency dispatchers said one firefighter was to UPMC Mercy Hospital for burns to the hand. A second firefighter was injured, according to the Cheswick Fire Chief Lindsay Sandusky.
The names and conditions of the firefighters were not immediately released.
A worker who was inside the building at the time of the fire said he heard an explosion before smoke began pouring from the building.
“We heard an explosion coming from the back of the warehouse towards the dryer area. When we turned around, looked back, we could see it had blown the top off the dryer," said Curt Hubert.
Eddie Watson, who is part owner of the building, said he plans on rebuilding his company, Filter Service and Installation.
“We aren’t going to quit doing business,” Watson said. “It’s starting to hit me now. Last night I was in shock.”
In all, four businesses were destroyed in the fire, officials said. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
WPXI
