Four firefighters injured battling Grindstone house fire
Four firefighters were injured and one was taken to the hospital battling a fire in at a vacant house in Grindstone Wednesday night, officials said.
The New Salem firefighter was taken to Uniontown Hospital and later released.
Ten fire departments were called to the fire at about 9:30 p.m. on Grindstone Road near New Hill Road. The home was vacant for 12 years. Homeowners had been trying to sell the home, and no longer had insurance, said Grindstone Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rich Lenk.
A fire marshal was called to investigate to determine the cause of the fire. Lenk said the home is likely still livable. The structure of the home, which had multiple additions and multiple roofs, posed a challenge to firefighters.
鈥淚t looked like a castle,鈥� he said.
Its position on a hill also made it difficult for firefighters to access it.
The four firefighters were injured when they were attempting to pull down a ceiling to get to the source of the fire.
鈥淚nstead of coming down in pieces, it came down in one slab,鈥� he said.
At least one firefighter was hit in the head, and others sustained neck injuries from the slab. The three other firefighters were treated on the scene, Lenk said.
He said he spoke with all the injured firefighters Thursday morning. He reported they are doing well.
Lenk thanked the assisting fire departments for their help.
Grindstone was assisted on the scene by Republic, Smock, Fayette City, Washington Township, South Brownsville, Newell, Flatwoods, New Salem and California fire departments, along with Fayette EMS.