Crews Battle Blaze As Roof Collapses On Knights Of Columbus Building In Crafton
CRAFTON (KDKA) -- Crews were called to fight flames at a Knights of Columbus building in Crafton on Friday.
NewsChopper 2 flew over the scene of the building after the roof collapsed.
The hall was built in the early 1930s, and the Crafton Fire Chief Mike Crown said the building was being renovated.
Workers were on the roof when smoke started pouring out of the building around 12:40 p.m. Crown said the workers made it out of the building safely, and it is not clear if those renovations played a factor in the fire and roof collapse.
#NOW We are on scene of a fire at the Knights of Columbus building in Crafton. The roof has collapsed as firefighters are working to put out the last of the flames. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/MpPSbzjVRQ
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) July 9, 2021
"What caused the fire, how long it had a headstart before we arrived, that's all going to be up to the investigation team to decide," the chief said.
One firefighter was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion. He is expected to be released on Friday night.
Crews spent much of the evening spraying water across various parts of the building to prevent hot spots. When a roof collapses, according to Crown, it creates a bonfire effect that can continue to fuel itself.