‘Electrical Problem’ Likely Cause of Kittanning Township Garage Fire
Black smoke filled the Kittanning Township sky Wednesday evening as fire crews worked to extinguish a garage fire. Eight different crews were called in total, as the garage was filled with tires. No one was injured in the blaze, which crews worked on for two hours.
by Jonathan Weaver
Eight fire companies were called into action to extinguish a garage fire in Kittanning Township last night.
Kittanning Township, Rayburn Township, Manor Township, Rural Valley, Elderton, West Kittanning, and Kittanning Hose Companies #4 and #6 volunteer firefighters descended onto 185 Sunnyside Rd. at 6:47PM.
Nobody was inside the garage at the time of the fire. The house is owned by John Beck.
Kittanning Township Fire Chief Steve Baker said firefighters tore down charred walls of the structure and had to remove what seemed like dozens of tires from inside. He said preliminary indications show there was an electrical problem in the structure.
“We had to tear it apart to make sure nothing would smolder and going to rekindle,” Baker said.
The owner’s father reportedly sold used tires from the scene, tires that were covered with white foam by the time smoke cleared.
Kittanning Township and Rayburn Township crews were the first dispatched by 9-1-1 operators, but Baker said more assistance was necessary.
“We called West Kittanning, Rural Valley and Elderton for extra water, #6 for manpower and #4 for their air packs,” Baker said.
Kittanning #6 medical technicians were also dispatched, but did not have to treat any fire crews or homeowners.
Black smoke was seen at least a half-mile away in either direction from the structure.
Kittanning Township firefighters were the last to leave the scene at 8:45PM.
Local News | jweaver May 17, 2012 | 
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