Ford City Duplex Fire Mystery Continues

by Jonathan Weaver

The fire last month that destroyed a two-story apartment duplex along 4th Avenue in Ford City, displacing two families and killing some household pets, is still a mystery to investigators.

Pennsylvania State Police Deputy Fire Marshal Trooper Baird at the Butler barracks has forwarded his report back to Ford City Borough – but with little answers.

“I completed my cause and origin investigation and forwarded my report to the Ford City Borough Police Department,” Trooper Baird said last week.

Ford City Sgt. Mark Brice showed some details of the report to the Kittanning Paper.

The report indicated that Trooper Baird did not find the fire suspicious in-nature and could not rule out the possibility that the fire began due to an electrical problem. The cause remained ‘undetermined.’

Sgt. Brice said officers have not found any evidence to reopen the investigation.

Firefighters, police officers and emergency medical responders converged at the apartments of 634 and 636 4th Avenue November 18 after a 9:26PM 9-1-1 dispatch for the working structure fire.

Fire engines and aerial trucks blocked off the entire area near the intersection of 4th Avenue and 7th Street and units remained on-scene for approximately three hours, gaining the attention of local homeowners in the cold evening.

Carolyn Piper, a renter at 634 4th for about five years who evacuated safely, thought the fire began in the attic of her home.

Ford City Fire Chief Scott Gaiser said flames were venting through the roof and out an attic window of Renter Alysia Petak’s residence at his arrival. Firefighters attempted an interior attack, but had to battle from the outside first.

That outside attack – including ladders between both houses - did prevent the fire from reaching a white house next door.

Ford City, Ford Cliff, Manor Township and Kittanning Hose Company #1, #4 and #6 firefighters utilized Manor Township’s aerial along 7th Avenue and covered the back of the house and the side window while Kittanning Hose Company #1’s aerial was positioned in front of the building.

Electricity was connected to the housing units throughout the entire knockdown.

While all the family members got out safely, a Ford Cliff firefighter was injured inside the structure.

Ford Cliff Fire Chief Bill Goodman confirmed Firefighter Joe Peluso – part of the first interior crews - had minor burns to his neck and had to be treated that Monday night.