Crime & Safety

Several Departments Respond to Dormont Blaze, Cause of Fire Unknown

Four local fire departments responded to a fire that broke out in the 3200 block of West Liberty Avenue around 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Four local fire departments responded to a blaze that affected several buildings in the 3200 block of West Liberty Avenue in Dormont on Tuesday night.

Chief Dennis Davis said the fire started around 8 p.m., and affected the businesses and apartments in the three-story row building between 3223 and 3229 West Liberty Ave.

The fire started in the back of the section that houses AllState Insurance, and quickly spread up the back of the building and past the third floor, he said. and also are located in the building.

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An Allegheny County fire inspector was on the scene, but Davis said it was too early to tell what caused the fire or how much damage had occurred.

“It’s way too early to tell,” he said. “It’s under investigation. We got the county investigators here right away.”

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The fire departments of Mt. Lebanon, Castle Shannon and Whitehall also responded.

Alan Etkins, a salesman at the dealership across the street, said he saw the flames around 8 p.m. and called 911.

“It was red,” he said. “You couldn’t really tell where the fire was coming from. At different times it looked like it was coming from different parts of the building.”

The flames were extinguished by 9:30 p.m., but all four departments were still on scene, and West Liberty Avenue remained closed between McFarland Road and Park Boulevard until after 10:30 p.m.

Davis said there are at least eight apartments in the building, but he did not know how many people were living in the building. Red Cross had been called to aid those in need of shelter, he said. No injuries were reported.

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