Bethel Park home considered a total loss after three-alarm fire

BETHEL PARK, Pa. — A Bethel Park home is considered a total loss after an early-morning three-alarm fire.

Firefighters were first dispatched to the home on Pudding Stone Lane around 2:45 a.m. for reports of a fully involved fire, with additional manpower arriving near 5 a.m. In total 10 departments responded.

Firefighters kept the Channel 11 crew back from the house, so we couldn’t see the extent of the damage. But, our crew did notice at several departments lining the street, saw a lot of smoke in the neighborhood and saw a ladder truck fighting the fire from over the house.

Photos a neighbor shared with Channel 11 show that at one point a large fire burned in the back of the home.

“Well, I know the people that live there and I saw all the flames shooting up through the roof and I just couldn’t believe [it was] that big of a fire,” a neighbor said.

Photos posted by the Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company show significant damage on the back of the home.

Fire officials told Channel 11 that the fire started outside by the back of the house. When firefighters arrived, all three floors in the back were in flames.

“Apparently, a neighbor had some security footage of it had some flickering in the back of the house, whether the hot tub or you know something else down there with the pool,” said Bethel Park Fire Department Chief David Gerber.

Gerber said firefighters stayed outside while battling the blaze.

“We couldn’t get into the house so they had some floor collapses and stuff inside. So we never did have anybody enter, just trying to get enough water in. It’s a bigger house to cover all ends of the house to get the fire extinguished,” Gerber said.

The couple that lives at the home, as well as their dog, were able to get out safely.

“It’s just unbelievable especially when it’s so close and you know the people. I’m just glad they got out safe,” the neighbor said.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is at the scene investigating the cause of the fire.

This is a developing story that will be updated as Channel 11 learns more.

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