MARGARET HARDING
Pittsburgh Tribune

Pittsburgh fire officials want to know if faulty equipment is to blame for injuries that four firefighters sustained while battling a blaze yesterday in Greenfield.


The four were treated and released from UPMC Mercy, Uptown. Their injuries included first- and second-degree burns of their hands, neck and ears, and some minor injuries from falling down stairs, said a release from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire.

Fire Chief Darryl Jones said the four were hurt in a backdraft at the Greenfield Avenue fire, which was reported at 1:30 a.m.

"The fire was behind a wall in a concealed space, and when they opened the wall to expose the fire, air was injected in -- and caused this explosion," Jones said. "When this happens ... it's pretty dynamic."

Jones said the department is investigating whether the injuries could have been caused by equipment that was damaged or worn improperly.

"It should protect them to a certain extent," Jones said. "It's not fireproof. They can still get burned even through that gear, if the heat gets high enough."

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May 6, 2011