A house fire in South Oakland was caused by the ignition of construction materials, according to fire officials. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire responded to the blaze on the 3200 block of Dawson Street early yesterday morning. The fire, which has since led to the home being condemned, began shortly before 8:30 a.m. By 9 a.m., firefighters had escalated their response to a second alarm, as reported by WTAE.
All four residents of the home, along with their dog, were able to evacuate safely without sustaining any injuries. Stephen Thompson, the homeowner, described the rapid spread of the fire, "I just walked into one of our off rooms, and the fire was ahead. There was a fire in the room. It was a small fire. I thought I could put it out, but, when I opened the door, I saw the fire. I can see the fire climb the wall. And, I did some things to try to, you know, put the fire out, but it was just, it just moved so fast," he stated per WTAE.
Following the extinguishment of the fire, the Fire Investigation Unit detectives confirmed the origin of the blaze was the spontaneous combustion of construction materials. The incident did not extend beyond the single property, and no injuries were reported, according to the City of Pittsburgh press release. The American Red Cross was called in to assist the displaced family with resources, detailing the support for those suddenly facing the aftermath of a domestic inferno.
