Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire

Pittsburgh EMS, Fire, and Police responded to a 1-Alarm on the 400 block of Alger Street around 9:45 a.m. When first responders arrived, they were met by the re...sident, who alerted them of a fire in the basement. Firefighters kept the fire contained to the basement. The fire was extinguished in just under 30-minutes. A firefighter suffered an ankle injury inside of the structure. He was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. There were no other injuries. The Fire Investigation Unit will be investigating to determine the cause.

ALERT: HazMat responded to an ammonia leak on the roof of a large cold storage facility in the Strip District around 6:45 p.m. The leak does not present a hazar...d. However, the odor will linger until the leak is fixed. For more info, see the Public Safety Blotter: https://pittsburghpa.gov/publicsafety/blotterview/1027

Here is one of the seven pumpers recently delivered to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire! -Spartan Metro Star Chassis -Hale QTWO 2000 GPM Pump -500 Gallon Poly Tank... -Low Hosebed -Low Crosslays -Rear Suction -Severe Duty Bumper -Solid-Poly Removable Wheelwells -Ladder Rack -176" Wheelbase -346" Overall Length See more

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Fire, and EMS responded to a 9-1-1 call for a structure fire on the 70 block of Cust Street around 2:15 a.m. When first responders ...arrived, they observed flames coming from an empty home. The fire started as a 2-alarm fire upon the responding crew’s arrival. It was later escalated to a 4-alarm fire. The flames reached two adjacent, occupied homes. Those three residents were able to escape without injuries. The fire was reported to be under control in just after two hours. The Red Cross will be assisting the displaced residents. The Fire Investigation Unit, comprised of Pittsburgh Police detectives and Pittsburgh Fire investigators, is investigating the cause of the fire.

Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire responded to a 1-alarm residential structure fire that grew to 2 alarms in the 200 block of Venture Street just before 2 p.m. The stru...cture was deemed to be unoccupied and abandoned. Firefighters extinguished the fire in under 30 minutes. No other structures were exposed to the flames. No firefighters were injured. Both EMS and Police were also on scene. The Fire Investigation Unit will investigate the cause of the fire.

This year, Fire Prevention Week (Oct 4-10) took on a different look and feel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time, most fire prevention officers were unable to visit communities and classrooms around the country to teach children and their families how to prevent fires and burn injuries and stay safe in the event of a fire. But, Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Inspector/Fire Prevention Officer Lisa Epps-Cuda represented the Bureau this week as "Firefighter Lisa" to vir...tually visit 150 cities and classrooms as part of the Junior Fire Marshal event. Epps-Cuda, with the help of a first-grade teacher from Ohio, delivered a live, 30-minute virtual lesson to children on the four-most important things they can do to prevent and survive fires: avoid matches/lighters and hot liquids, ensure there are working smoke alarms in the home, create and practice an escape plan, and establish a meeting place. At the end of the lesson, Lisa Epps-Cuda deputized the children as Junior Fire Marshals. "I am excited about the possibilities this Fire Prevention program can bring to schools, daycares, and households throughout the year, not just during Fire Prevention week," Lisa Epps-Cuda said. https://www.juniorfiremarshal.com/for-educators

We are very proud to have recently delivered 7 more custom pumpers to the City of Pittsburgh!

https://www.post-gazette.com//Pittsbu/stories/202010020184

Public Safety has issued a new statement on our battle against Covid-19: https://pittsburghpa.gov/press-releases/press-releases/4480 As of this morning, 9 @PghP...olice officers, 9 @PghFireFighters and 3 @PghEMS members tested positive, but infection rates remain so low that staffing is unaffected. All but one of the (positive) employees are recuperating at home," Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said Tuesday. "One was hospitalized, but has been improving daily. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.

Never forget the darkness of that day; always remember the victims’ strength. #StrongerThanHate #TreeOfLife

UPDATE: The Fire Investigation Unit has determined the cause of the fire to be electrical in nature. In addition, the firefighters who were injured in this fir...e have been released from the hospital and are recovering. Firefighters with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire responded to a two-alarm structure fire in the 30 block of Mount Oliver Street just after 8 p.m. When crews arrived on scene they found heavy flames at the rear of one of the structures. The fire quickly grew to four alarms. There were two separate collapses at the rear of the building and a mayday was called out at one point until all of the firefighters were safely accounted for. Four firefighters were injured. One suffered a minor burn injury, while another received a laceration. Two others sustained shoulder injuries. All four were transported by EMS to the hospital for treatment and evaluation. All of the residents of the three affected structures exited safely, but they will be assisted by the Red Cross with finding temporary accommodations. The fire was contained mainly to the center building, but the two adjoining buildings received water and smoke damage. The fire was declared under control at 10:22 p.m. The Fire Investigation Unit is investigating the cause and exact origin of the fire. The Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections will be called in to assess the integrity of the structures.

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire continues to enhance its swift water and flood response capabilities. Congratulations team on being recognized as a Type-3A Team

Fill The Boot A Pittsburgh Tradition The IAFF has been partnered with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) since 1954 and began the Fill The Boot campaign in 1959. It was developed by a former Local #1 Pittsburgh Fire Chief named Charles Lewis. Lewis and his fellow firefighters wore their uniforms and carried their fire boots in busy foot traffic areas and intersections to collect donations. Fill The Boot was a great success in Pittsburgh and began to take off acros...s all 50 states and Canada. Lewis passed away in 1990 but the tradition of Fill The Boot still continues on. His grandson is currently a Pittsburgh firefighter and is actively involved with MDA. Charles Lewis would sure be proud today to see his vision of the Fill The Boot campaign's success. His dream has helped an infinite number of muscular dystrophy patients and will continue on for many years to come. The goal of this fundraiser is to improve the quality of life and find a cure for everyone with Muscular Dystrophy. This year due to COVID-19, Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Local no.1 is forced to distance and request donations virtually. If you would like to donate to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association, you can donate here: https://filltheboot.donordrive.com/participant/Pittsburgh Donations for the "Fill The Boot" campaign will be accepted until the end of September. Thank you in advance!

Today and every day, we remember.

We will never forget.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The City of Pittsburgh Hazardous Materials Response Team (HAZMAT) has a new chemical identification instrument. The Thermo Scientific Gemini identifies substances in liquid or solid form. It can identify more than 14,000 types of chemicals in under a minute. ... This will be a crucial tool for Pittsburgh HAZMAT. HAZMAT is composed of Pittsburgh Bureaus of Fire, EMS and Police.

Thanks for the lemonade, Dominick and Cienna!

It was with great sadness that Pittsburgh Public Safety observed the passing of Robert Full on July 17, 2020. Bob was a mentor and a teacher to me, Public Saf...ety Director Wendell Hissrich said. I’ve known Bob since I started my Public Safety career with Forest Hills in 1978. He was a leader. He was a well-known instructor in firefighting, rescue, and hazmat throughout the region. Bob Full was an incredible ally of Public Safety. For full statement: https://pittsburghpa.gov/publicsafety/blotterview/769

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire is now certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner as a Type 3A Swift Water Rescue Team. Congratulations to Captain Patrick Shaw and his team for their commitment and hard work.

Last night’s episode of Story Time with Pittsburgh Helpers featured Firefighter Novotny and Firefighter Jones with Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire. They read Peace i...s an Offering by Annette LeBox and illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. Have you heard about the City’s partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library? The City of Pittsburgh is providing FREE books to children from birth to age five! Learn more https://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/imaginationlibrary

The Pittsburgh Bureaus of Police, Fire and EMS responded to a call for a distressed male who had climbed the superstructure of the West End Bridge just before 8...:30 a.m. Police negotiators spoke with the male intermittently by cell phone for more than two hours, calmly trying to convince him to come down. At around 10:40 a.m. the male made his way to safety on the ground. He was treated by medics on scene and transported to the hospital for further evaluation. More details here: http://pittsburghpa.gov/publicsafety/blotterview/754

The Fire Bureau sends its condolences to our Brothers and Sisters in the EMS Bureau for the loss of District Chief Jeffrey Meyer. Rest easy Brother. We will take it from here.

It is with great sorrow that the Department of Public Safety announces the passing of Emergency Medical Services District Chief Jeffrey Meyer in the early morni...ng hours of July 6, 2020. District Chief Meyer had been battling cancer for some time, but continued working diligently for the City. He began with the Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS on November 12, 1985 and advanced through the ranks from Paramedic, to Crew Chief, and finally to District Chief. Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich started with EMS on the same day as Meyer as a paramedic. Jeff was a colleague, a friend, and a model for EMS. He was well-respected and he kept people accountable. He cared about his crew and he cared about the patients, said Director Hissrich. His knowledge, dependability and his compassion on the job will be greatly missed, said EMS Chief Ronald Romano. He served the City well, and it will be impossible to replace him. As recently as late May, Chief Meyer received State recognition from the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council for his tireless commitment as the Bureau’s Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator, helping Pittsburgh EMS achieve expert level pediatric care. Just last week, the Office of the Mayor William Peduto, declared July 2, 2020 as Jeffrey M. Meyer Day, recognizing his unending dedication to the residents of this City. Public Safety extends its most sincere condolences to Jeffrey Meyers’ family and to his colleagues. Please keep them in your thoughts. Arrangements will be announced at a later date.

Fourth of July fireworks complaints and incidents kept the Fireworks Taskforce busy all evening. The taskforce responded to 131 complaint calls throughout the city with dozens more pending. Read here for a breakdown of the more serious incidents:... https://pittsburghpa.gov/publicsafety/blotterview/746

Happy 4th of July, Pittsburgh! Make sure you’re staying safe in this heat by drinking plenty of water. Remember that heat is the #1 weather killer. Protect y...ourself and others from the impacts of heat waves. U.S. National Weather Service (NWS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Happy Independence Day from Public Safety! It's a celebratory weekend, of course, with many Pittsburghers taking to launching their own fireworks in lieu of cit...y-sanctioned events. But, ever wonder where some of those bottle rockets and cherry bombs land? This one ended up in a pine tree in Troy Hill last night. Three other trees in the city also went up in flames due to fireworks. The Fireworks Task Force responded to another busy night of complaints about fireworks, with 104 calls. Remember, even though some consumer fireworks are now legal, there are several restrictions to using them in the City. Please celebrate safely this July 4th. Read more on the regulations here: https://pittsburghpa.gov/press-releases/press-releases/4096

Firefighters with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire responded to the 7900 block of Madiera Street for a 2-alarm residential structure fire at 11:25 p.m. on July 3. Once on scene, firefighters observed heavy flames coming from the second floor of the structure, which was unoccupied. The fire grew to three alarms. Two firefighters suffered injuries fighting the blaze. A third was treated for heat exposure. ... More details: https://pittsburghpa.gov/publicsafety/blotterview/742

Sizzling temperatures to arrive for the holiday weekend: A blocking high pressure area will form over the central United States and Ohio Valley later this week,... bringing well above normal temperatures to the region, mainly Friday (7/3) through Monday (7/6). This should be the hottest stretch so far this season. High temperatures during this period will be in the low to mid 90s. Heat index values during this period will be in the mid to upper 90s. Remember that heat is the #1 weather killer. Protect yourself and others from the impacts of heat waves. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Firefighters have extinguished a 3-alarm fire in an unoccupied residential structure on the 200 block of Spencer Ave. in Carrick. Several Engine and Truck companies, EMS and Police responded to the scene. The fire was declared under control just before 8:15 p.m. ... No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

#team12house out here doing the Fight for Air Climb 2020! #PITTClimb #ClimbAgainstCOVID #EVERYSTEPCOUNTS #FIGHTFORAIRCLIMB

We don’t know what the future holds. We do know that Pittsburgh Police and Pittsburgh Fire have a long tradition of standing side by side in times of emergency, when the people we serve need us most. We expect that tradition to last for generations to come.

UPDATE (5 p.m. June 1): Bartels turned himself in and is being questioned by Police detectives. ORIGINAL POST: Police Seek Male Suspected of Inciting Riot Pitts...burgh Bureau of Police, with assistance from Shaler Police, North Hills SRT and FBI Pittsburgh, served a search warrant at a Shaler residence Sunday afternoon. Police secured the warrant as part of an investigation into a male suspect who instigated Saturday’s violence by breaking the windows out of a marked Pittsburgh Police vehicle Uptown, against the wishes of peaceful protesters who tried to stop him. The suspect, Brian Jordan Bartels, 20, was not in the home, but investigators seized evidence linking him to the crime. Bartels faces charges of institutional vandalism, rioting, and reckless endangerment of another person. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. The investigation is ongoing. https://pittsburghpa.gov/publicsafety/blotterview/671

For tonight’s episode of Story Time with Pittsburgh Helpers, Firefighter Costa with Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire will be reading Little Sleepyhead by Elizabeth M...cPike. Have you heard about the City’s partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library? The City of Pittsburgh is providing FREE books to children from birth to age five! Learn more https://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/imaginationlibrary

Today and every day we honor the sacrifice of all who gave their lives to protect ours. #MemorialDay2020

The Pittsburgh Fireboat is back! COVID-19 delayed this year’s launch of the boat named after former Mayor Sophie Masloff. But after wintering in Fox Chapel the Fireboat is back in service for 2020. #HereForYou412

On #NationalNursesDay(May 6), Mayor William Peduto and every branch of Pittsburgh Public Safety joined forces to thank all frontline healthcare workers for their sacrifice and bravery. It was quite a turnout. We see you, nurses. And we thank you.

Get to Know: Detective Michael Burns and K9 Dodger Detective Burns has been a police officer since 1993, a member of the Fire Investigation Unit (FIU) since 200...0, and Bomb Squad since 2005. He responds to fire and explosion scenes and determines the origin and cause - an accident (appliance or electrical failure), natural (spontaneous combustion or lightning strikes), or intentionally set. His canine partner is Dodger, a three-year-old English Black Lab. Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones applied for a grant through the State Farm Insurance Arson Dog Program and State Farm invested $25,000 in obtaining Dodger, the training, and certification program. Maine Specialty Dogs imprinted Dodger for accelerant detection work and trained the duo for a month in Maine and New Hampshire. Dodger is the first accelerant detection canine assigned to FIU and has been used to assist investigators in over 125 fire scenes since April of 2019. Dodger assists fire investigators at scenes by locating the presence of an ignitable liquid. If he alerted to an area, a sample from that is collected and sent to the Allegheny County Crime Lab to confirm what liquid he located. Interesting facts: A lot of people try not to laugh when I tell them my name is Detective Burns and I’m with the Fire Investigation Unit. I then tell them that my father was a City Firefighter and his name was Bernie Burns. That one really throws them for a loop! My wife Lynn and I have three children: Timothy is a police officer in Maryland, Haley is in the Pittsburgh Police Academy and Arianna is a social worker. I grew up in the Tenth Ward of Lawrenceville. I graduated from Central Catholic High School and was a nationally ranked table tennis player. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice and was an equipment manager for the Pitt Football and Women’s Basketball programs. I recently graduated with a master’s degree in Management and Public Policy from Pitt. Did you know that humans have about five million olfactory smell nerve cells and canines have about 220 million olfactory cells? Do you want to nominate an officer for next week's Get to Know feature? Let us know in the comments section. Learn how to join the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police by visiting https://pittsburghpa.gov/joinpghpolice/index.html #ArsonAwarenessWeek

Today, Mayor William Peduto thanked workers at the Department of Public Safety for their service during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He also surprised Pittsbu...rgh Bureau of EMS Assistant Chief Mark Pinchalk with the Mayor Sophie Masloff Employee of the Month Award. The Mayor gave a special recognition to Pinchalk, the City’s lead planner for the pandemic, and named today Mark E. Pinchalk Day in the City of Pittsburgh. His family was able to participate via video. Under Mayor Peduto’s direction, Pinchalk and Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich began planning for the pandemic in January, focusing on protecting residents as well as City workers on the front lines. Pinchalk led efforts to not only respond to the pandemic on a day-to-day basis but also to issue strategic planning in the midst of Public Safety’s response. He authored the COVID-19 Prehospital Infection Guidelines book for EMS. Congratulations Assistant Chief Mark Pinchalk! Well deserved.

Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire would like to thank Gloria Horn Sewing Studio for donating homemade masks. Gloria and her team of staff and volunteers have donated to many different organizations, including the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Thanks Gloria!

Fire Chief Darryl Jones has a message for all Pittsburgh residents and visitors: Tough times don’t last, but tough people do. We will get through this difficult time, Pittsburgh. And rest assured that PBF and all First Responders will continue to be #HereForYou412.

Firefighters with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire battled a 4-alarm commercial structure fire on the 1700 block of Penn Avenue in the Strip District around 8:10 p....m. Heavy smoke and flames spilled from the third floor of the building and flames broke through the roof. A firefighter received an injury to his shoulder and was transported to the hospital by EMS for treatment. The fire was declared under control by Fire Chief Darryl Jones at approximately 9:20 p.m. The Fire Investigation Unit is investigating the cause. https://pittsburghpa.gov/publicsafety/blotterview/616

A lot has changed recently. One thing that won't: Pittsburgh Firefighters' dedication to our communities. We're still out there, still working for you. Stay safe, Pittsburgh. #HereForYou412

Even at a difficult fire scene, @PghFireFighters are masked up and working to keep distace. Thank you Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire for (and all public safety staff) for leading by example and continuing to work to keep all Pittsburghers safe

ALERT: Pittsburgh Firefighters responded to a structure fire at the intersection of Gardner and Hatteras streets in Troy Hill around 12:21 a.m. Responding crews found significant flames throughout the first floor of a two-story home. Upon learning of an adult male possibly in the home, the fire went to a second alarm. Firefighters located the male on the first floor and removed him from the house. The male was pronounced dead around 12:37 a.m.... The fire was under control around 12:45 a.m. The Fire Investigation Unit, comprised of Police detectives and Fire investigators, will determine the cause of the fire. https://pittsburghpa.gov/publicsafety/blotterview/606

Now more than ever, we at Pittsburgh Public Safety are thankful for the amazing work of our local 911 dispatchers. In honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, we salute them, your first line of contact in an emergency. #NPSTW

At the heart of a Pittsburgh Public Safety first responder, is the desire to protect and help our family, friends, neighbors, and fellow Pittsburghers. From Su...mmer Hill to Overbrook, Fairywood to East Hills, and every neighborhood in between, we all must continue to practice social distancing and wear the suggested masks when out in public. These practices not only keep you safe, it can keep your fellow Pittsburghers safe, including first responders. We will get through this and be stronger than ever. Pittsburgh Public Safety is #HereForYou412. Do not hesitate to call 911 if needed. Happy Easter from Public Safety. Stay safe everyone.

https://www.wpxi.com//this-da/4GCVXJPQINGCRN7T5HDOV4BGMY/

Good Friday, Pittsburgh! Did you know that, on this day in 1845, The Great Fire of Pittsburgh happened? Even though 30% of the city was destroyed, Pittsburgher...s emerged from the ash and ruins to come together to rebuild a stronger and brighter Pittsburgh. We want to thank all the firefighters who are on the front lines at a moments call and risk their lives every day. If you are interested in becoming a firefighter for the City of Pittsburgh, please subscribe for job alerts at www.pghjobs.net, if you have questions then contact Ronda Sherrill at [email protected]

City of Pittsburgh Staff Issued Masks to Help Stop Spread of COVID-19 All City of Pittsburgh staff working in the field and having contact with the public will ...be issued protective masks, following recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Governor Tom Wolf. Residents will soon see masks being worn by police, firefighters, paramedics, Animal Care & Control officers, Park Rangers, and personnel from the departments of Public Works, Mobility and Infrastructure, Permits Licenses and Inspections, and Parks and Recreation. We’ve got to model this practice for everybody else, Police Chief Scott Schubert said. If everyone does their part and wears a mask, we might be able to stop this virus even quicker. The masks do not prevent the person wearing them from contracting the virus, but they do help reduce the amount of potentially infectious droplets expelled by the wearer, thereby protecting anyone the mask-wearer encounters. Public Safety and other City of Pittsburgh staff are using the masks to protect First Responders and the public. We all have a part to play in this battle, and we will not waver until COVID-19 is defeated. #HereForYou412

Today we remember those we lost

Our firefighters cannot work from home - they continue to respond to keep Pittsburgh safe. Please watch this safety message to understand how you can help us stay safe during this pandemic.

Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire and Public Safety officials are bottling 70 gallons of hand sanitizer donated by Maggie's Farm Rum for Public Safety use. Many others are helping and donating to ensure that First Responders can be #HereForYou412. Thanks to all.

In honor of Women’s History Month, each week in March we will feature a woman who has chosen a career with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire. Get to Know: Lisa Epps-Cuda Epps-Cuda is the Fire Inspector/Fire Prevention Officer for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, with 29 years of service. She is the Fire Marshal for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers at Heinz Field. She also oversees all of the fireworks, pyrotechnics, permits, inspections, and escorts for all concerts, play...s and special events in Pittsburgh. She alone has trained 3,000 individuals and businesses in fire prevention techniques. She's won multiple awards including the Red Cross Hero Award for outstanding community leadership, City of Pittsburgh Living Legend and First Responder Awards, the Harriet Tubman Shining Star Award and many others, in addition to sitting on several boards. Her goal next year is to hold the first-ever Girls Day Camp Fire Academy to help introduce young women to the fire service, with the hope of one day handing the torch to another African American woman. Interesting facts: "If I hadn't pursued a career with the fire department I would probably have been singing professionally." "In 2013 I was featured in Episode 125 of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood - I'm Firefighter Lisa! The little ones would recognize me from it and give me hugs!" "I graduated from Allderdice High School where I ran track." "My brother Chuck is a fire lieutenant in Fairfax, VA. It's in the family, but I became a firefighter first!" "I recently got married and I couldn't be happier!" "My dog Winter is my baby, other than my husband!"

In these uncertain and unpredictable times, one thing will not change: Your First Respondersto include Police, Fire, EMS, Animal Care & Control and all Pittsburgh Public Safety officialsstand ready to serve the community and respond when needed. We prepare for all possibilities. Pittsburgh has had a Pandemic Operations Plan in place for years, and that plan has been updated for our COVID-19 response. As part of that plan, First Responders will follow recommendations of limi...ting our exposure to the public because we need to do our part to flatten the curve while also ensuring that our officers, medics and firefighters are healthy so they can be there in your time of need. What does limited exposure mean? For Pittsburgh Fire, it means that when there’s smoke, there will still be firefighters. But when it comes to medical callouts, PBF will be excluded from certain calls in favor of assessment teams. I understand that the recent developments in the city, country and world are causing stress and anxiety for many people, Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones said. One thing I don’t want anyone to worry about is whether or not we'll be there when you need us. We will. Period. We’ve prepared for this. Firefighters will continue to save lives and keep residents safe. Resources: For updates from the City of Pittsburgh on Coronavirus, go to https://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/covid-updates. For updates from Allegheny County, go to Allegheny Alerts at www.alleghenycounty.us/alerts.

In times of turmoil, Pittsburghers always answer the call to help. We know this from experience. However, at this time please do not bring food donations to any... First Responders, including police zones, firehouses and Medic units. We appreciate the thought, but for health reasons we simply cannot accept food donations at this time. Thank you for your understanding.

On March 13, 2004 the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire and the Pittsburgh community suffered a tragic loss at the Ebenezer Church Fire. Battalion Chief Charles Brace and Master Firefighter Richard Stefanakis were killed battling the blaze. We take time to remember their sacrifice. May their memories be eternal.

The Fire Investigation Unit, a blended unit of Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, received training this morning from Lt. Brian Wright on the new environmental detection meters. Starting immediately, this equipment will be used in the field to ensure scenes are toxic-free and safe for investigators, including K9 Dodger the accelerant detection canine. It looks like K9 Dodger had a "ruff" day at the office. #StateFarmArsonDog

ALERT: City of Pittsburgh, Public Safety and Bureau of Fire officials learned this evening that a city firefighter was arrested in Virginia and charged via a fe...deral criminal complaint with multiple sexual offenses involving a minor. The charges against the firefighter, identified in an FBI investigation as Brian Kosanovich, are deeply disturbing. He was immediately removed from duty and placed on unpaid administrative leave pending an administrative investigation. As this is an ongoing case, we will have no further comment at this time. Any and all additional questions should be directed to FBI officials in Virginia. https://pittsburghpa.gov/publicsafety/blotterview/521

In honor of Black History Month, Pittsburgh Public Safety would like to recognize those who helped forge the path for many of our Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, P...ittsburgh Bureau of Fire, and Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS first responders today. We are thankful for their service to the City of Pittsburgh!