Two firefighters were injured in a ladder accident while battling a house fire at the corner of Marion Street and West Oliver Road in Munhall on Friday, reports triblive.com.
The accident occurred when one of the responders apparently lost control of a fire hose while on the ladder. The men fell about 15 feet and one of them, a firefighter from Munhall, may have suffered a broken leg, Munhall fire Chief Ed Pletsch said.
The other firefighter had a sore shoulder but was otherwise OK, the chief said. He was examined and released at the scene.
Allegheny County Deputy Fire Marshal Don Brucker, who was at the scene, said pressurized fire hoses can be dangerous.
A hose at full blast, he said, “will lift a man in the air.”
Pletsch said cold and icy conditions may have contributed to the mishap.
“The ice (makes it difficult),” Pletsch said. “You lose your balance and you’re gone.”
Weather wasn’t the only challenge in bringing the fire, which was reported at about 9:30 a.m., under control.
Inside, the house was packed with clutter that prevented crews from reaching the fire.
