Power Plant Fire Call Only a Malfunction

A reported fire in the FirstEnergy Armstrong Power Station at 3:22AM December 30, 2011 in Washington Township woke up firefighters from six neighboring fire departments, but there was no fire found. The alarm was set off due to a sprinkler malfunction.

by Jonathan Weaver

Electrical service to many Western Pennsylvania homes was thought to be in danger last week during a fire call in Washington Township.

At approximately 3:22AM December 30, 2011, Armstrong 9-1-1 received a call alerting fire companies to respond to an incident at the Armstrong Power Station located in Reesedale.

However, a representative from First Energy, which operates the Allegheny Energy Supply Co. after acquiring the provider in 2011, explained there was no danger.

“There wasn’t a fire at the plant. What happened was there was a sprinkler valve tripped on our coal handling fire protection device and because of that, the fire department was called out. In essence, it was just a malfunctioning sprinkler head,” the representative said.

Calls to Washington Township volunteer fire fighters were not returned.

Even though ambulance crews were dispatched, no injuries were reported.

Worthington, Sugarcreek, East Franklin and Applewold, as well as Kittanning Hose Company #1 were originally dispatched, but, as Armstrong County 9-1-1 Coordinator Ron Bausert said, they were eventually canceled.

“It looks like they cancelled everyone pretty quick into it – at 3:52AM, Washington Township fire chief told everyone else to hold,” Bausert said.

FirstEnergy is working on fixing the sprinkler malfunction.

The station has sold power on the electrical grid from that location since 1958.