Fire crews attempting to knock down a West Deer blaze Wednesday were hampered by heavy rounds of ammunition exploding in the back of the home, authorities said.
“When we got on scene, there was heavy fire — about 60% involved — and a solid half-hour of ammunition going off,” said Anthony Creaturo, chief of West Deer Volunteer Fire Department No. 2.
The homeowner and his dog were killed in the fire, authorities confirmed.
The victim was identified late Thursday as Van Laskey, 71, by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Kasey Reigner, public information officer for the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services, said the incident remains under investigation.
Josh Wiegand, chief of West Deer No. 3, said crews responded about 10:40 a.m. to the home in the 100 block of Trump Road and found “flames coming from every side.”
Firefighters battled the elements, including deep snow and a frozen hydrant, to get the blaze knocked down.
“We encountered some difficulties,” Wiegand said, adding crews had to use tankers to supplement the water supply.
Creaturo said the victim was the only person in the home at the time of the fire. He credited neighbors for calling 911 and said one person tried to get inside the house but was knocked back by fire.
One firefighter was treated for a hand injury at the scene.
Crews from surrounding municipalities and from Butler County responded. Firefighters worked for four hours to get the scene under control.
