Highland Hose firefighter injured in Tarentum fire expected to recover fully; aid sought for families

A Tarentum volunteer firefighter is expected to make a full recovery after his feet became trapped on an aerial ladder while he and others were battling a fire at a duplex Monday.

Richard Schuller, 22, was trapped near the far end of the ladder as it was extended from an aerial truck over the road near the burning duplex at 205-207 W. 11th Ave.

Summit Hose fire Chief Josh Fox said he spoke with Schuller and he is doing well. He said Schuller was a junior firefighter with Summit before joining Highland Hose.

“He’s in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery,” Fox said.

According to a statement from Highland Hose Chief Michael Koval, his department’s crews began setting up its truck upon arriving at the scene. Schuller went up the ladder to control the water stream.

Koval said the decision was made to extend the ladder to its maximum length. The ladder was extended before Schuller got off the ladder, which Koval said led to Schuller’s feet “becoming impinged within the rungs of the ladder.

“Help was quickly summoned, and, after a well-coordinated rescue operation, the firefighter’s feet were freed from the rungs by removing his steel-toe firefighting boots and he was transported via ambulance to a local trauma center.”

Koval extended specific appreciation to Eureka Fire Rescue EMS, which he said provided all available resources to free Schuller.

Koval said Highland Hose is examining every action made to understand how the accident happened.

“While it (is) easy to quickly assign blame to a single event or person, firefighting is a complex operation that requires perfect coordination to ensure a safe and successful operation,” Koval’s statement says. “We will make all possible changes to ensure that this never occurs again after investigating the events.

“We are extremely thankful that firefighter Richard Schuller is doing well and wish him a speedy recovery.”

Koval said no other comment would be given about the incident.

The rental building, occupied by two families, was destroyed.

The fire was reported shortly before noon Monday, and Fox said they were at the scene until about 7 p.m.

Fox said companies responding to the midday fire included all three Tarentum and all three Harrison companies as well as departments from Brackenridge, Lower Burrell, Frazer No. 1 and East Deer.

Allegheny County Chief Fire Marshal Matthew Brown said the fire remained under investigation Tuesday.

“However, due to the extensive damage, collapse and subsequent demolition with heavy equipment, (it) most likely will be undetermined,” he said.

What was left of the building was unstable, and equipment was brought in on an emergency basis to take it down Monday evening, Tarentum code enforcement officer Anthony Bruni said. The excavator also helped firefighters with reaching and extinguishing hot spots.

Fox said a safe belonging to one of the families was recovered. Joe Canonico, who lived in half of the duplex with his girlfriend and five children, said the safe was his and contained documents such as birth certificates, Social Security cards and car titles.

A contractor chosen by the property owner will remove the debris later this week, weather permitting, Bruni said.

“Our hearts go out to the families,” Fox said. “They lost everything.”

Assistance for families

Efforts to help both families were starting before the fire was out, and were continuing Tuesday. Neither family had rental insurance.

GoFundMe accounts were set up for both families.

Angela Rotondo created one for her family, which includes herself, Canonico and the five children who live with them, ages 1, 8, 10, 12 and 14. As of Tuesday afternoon, it had raised just over $3,500 from 61 donations toward a $10,000 goal.

New Kensington resident Diamond Stocks created an account for her stepmother, Julie Bashioum — who is eight months pregnant — and her family, which includes her husband and their two sons, ages 10 and 12. The family also has two dogs. Stocks’ effort has raised almost $700 from 11 donations toward a $4,000 goal.

On Tuesday, Canonico said his family is staying in two places, with half at his mother’s home and half at the home of Rotondo’s mother.

He said they are working on getting a house but at the moment have nowhere to put physical donations. He said support through the GoFundMe is the best option until they have a place, at which time he said they will need everything.

“We run one day at a time,” he said.

Canonico said Rotondo had been a manager of the Family Dollar in Tarentum. The store provided them with some necessities, he said.

In addition to her GoFundMe, Stocks said donations for her family are being accepted at 826 Hazlett Ave. in Brackenridge, where they are staying. Donations can be left on the porch, she said.

Nothing from their half of the duplex was recovered, Stocks said.

“They lost everything,” she said.