Crime & Safety

Firefighters Extinguish Ross House Fire, Cause is Undetermined

The farmhouse on Milbert Lane off Rochester Road caught fire Friday morning.

Firefighters fought a house fire in a wooded area of Milbert Lane in Ross Township late Friday morning and into the early afternoon. 

Ross Fire Marshal John Reubi said the fire at the unoccupied home has been extinguished, but the cause is undetermined.

The fire was reported before 11 a.m. at 141 Milbert Lane where flames quickly spread to brush and toward a nearby gas well.

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No one was injured in the blaze, but Reubi said firefighters had to run about 5,000 feet of hose from hydrants on Rochester Road up a dirt road to the house to fight the flames.

About 50 firefighters from 10 companies responded, he said.

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Smoke was visible from surrounding neighborhoods. Traffic on Rochester Road between Old English and Sewickley-Oakmont roads remained blocked off for several hours in both directions.

Reubi said the fire destroyed the two-story wood house and a nearby garage and shed. The home was vacant and none of the utilities were on, but someone was preparing to move in soon, Reubi added. 

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal's office is investigating.

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