Fire destroys 2 vacant houses near former Oakmont Auto Body

Two vacant houses next to the former Oakmont Auto Body were gutted by a fire Monday evening.

Oakmont Fire Chief Joe Flanick said his department was dispatched about 5:50 p.m. for a fire at a house near the intersection of Plum Street and Dark Hollow Road.

Before they arrived, firefighters were notified flames had spread to a neighboring house, which also was vacant.

Aspinwall, Blawnox, Sharpsburg and Verona firefighters also responded.

No injuries were reported. Both properties were heavily damaged with interiors gutted by the flames.

Both homes had been vacant for a couple of years, Flanick said.

It was unclear where the fire started, he said.

A power line caused some problems for firefighters.

“There was a power line stringing across here, and it fell and started burning on the ground,” Flanick said. “We had to keep the water and the hoses away from the wires. So, we couldn’t pull our truck in to operate it. We isolated (the fire) to these houses only.”

The houses were next to the former Oakmont Auto Body garage.

Plum Street was closed between Dark Hollow Road and Sixth Street. It reopened about 8:30 p.m.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the blaze.