Family displaced after chemicals spontaneously combust, causing large fire at house in South Oakland

PITTSBURGH — Thick smoke was pouring from a house fire in Pittsburgh on Sunday morning.

PHOTOS: South Oakland home seriously damaged in fire

Allegheny County 911 officials tell Channel 11 that first responders were called to a fire on Dawson Street near Frazier Street around 8:30 a.m. in the city’s South Oakland area.

A second-alarm response was called just before 9 a.m., firefighters say.

Fire erupted from the roof of the house moments after homeowner Tara Lewis said her husband saw the flames quickly crawl up the wall from the second floor.

“I was met with the smoke in the hallway,” she said. “The whole second floor just blew up. The windows blew up.”

Thankfully, the couple, their son, grandson and dog Sisqo, all made it out safely. Lewis is still in disbelief.

“I’m feeling taken aback,” Lewis said. “I’m feeling confused and just lost for words.”

Heavy smoke filled the neighborhood as firefighters raced to save what they could and protect neighboring homes.

“The smoke was all over the block and then it was creeping into my house because our house isn’t very insulated,” said Brendan Gola, who lives across the street from the family.

Gola’s neighbor, Mike Sun, said the smoke was intense.

“Smoke was filling our noses,” Sun said. “We look outside and the smoke’s hundreds of feet in the air and we’re just freaking out hoping nobody is injured.”

The smoke could be seen for a couple of miles.

“I walked out onto the Greenfield bridge and just saw it pouring out,” said Greg Mock of Greenfield.

Investigators said the fire started after a spontaneous combustion of construction materials inside the house.

Lewis’ husband told Channel 11’s Antoinette DelBel he’s done a lot of renovation work to their home of 30 years and stored chemicals like paint thinner, rags and paint cans upstairs.

“[We] just remodeled the bathroom...and kitchen,” Lewis said. “We just put a new solar roof on. We just put a new gate around the fence, everything.”

The family of four lost just about everything inside their home but managed to save a few special things, including a proclamation to Lewis’ husband from the governor.

“Oh my goodness; he salvaged it,” Lewis said.

Lewis’ husband said, “I saved two things - this and my sister’s painting.”

The house is now condemned but the family said they do plan on rebuilding and eventually moving back in.

The fire was contained to one house. No injuries were reported.

The American Red Cross is helping provide resources to the displaced family.

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