Remote Ross House Fire a Challenge for Firefighters

The Ross Township  and Allegheny County Fire Marshals are searching for the cause of a multiple alarm fire, which destroyed a two-story farmhouse at 141 Milbert Lane Friday morning.

The fire broke out shortly before 11 a.m. and had completely engulfed the structure before firefighters could arrive.

The home is located nearly a mile up a gravel and dirt road off of Rochester Road. 

Ross Fire Marshal John Reubi estimated crews used more than 5,000 feet of hose to get water from the hydrant at Rochester to the fire scene.

"This was a tough one to get to," said Reubi. "By the time we got water up there, the fire had gotten way ahead of us." 

No one was living there, but Reubi said the owner was planning to reconnect the electric service. He said for now, the cause remains a mystery.

"Everything is burned up, it's very difficult to say at this point what happened," he said. "We do know the power had not yet been turned on."

In addition to the house, the fire also destroyed a nearby garage and shed. A woman living next door said firefighters hosed her home down at least three times to prevent the fire from spreading to it.

About 50 firefighters from 10 companies in Ross and McCandless responded to the fire, Reubi said.

Traffic on Rochester Road between Old English and Sewickley-Oakmont roads remained blocked off for several hours in both directions. 

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