Part of McKeesport under water advisory
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Residents of the Lower 10th Ward in McKeesport are being asked not to use their tap water as a result of a fire in the city Friday.
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County issued an advisory on its website early Saturday morning, stating that firefighting foam containing PFAs and glycol may have been sucked into a fire hydrant.
MAWC officials are investigating the incident, which affects more than 500 people.
The authority is testing the quality of water in the impacted area, and it’s possible the advisory will remain in place for a week or more.
Residents in the affected area should use bottled water or other water sources for drinking, bathing, hand washing, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, cooking or food preparation until further notice.
Water buffaloes have been stationed on Atlantic Avenue at the sewage plant and at R&W Oil.
The authority said boiling, freezing, filtering or letting the water stand will not reduce the level of chemicals. The fire-fighting foam contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and glycol, which can cause serious health concerns.
A map of impacted areas is a available online on the water company’s website. For more information on water disruptions, call 724-755-5800.
The fire was likely sparked by a live wire that fell onto McKeesport Auto Body during severe storms that swept through the area Friday afternoon, according to City of McKeesport fire Chief Jeffrey Tomovcsik. However, crews are still awaiting an official report of the incident, which is expected later today.
Several Mon/Yough Valley fire departments were called to the three-alarm fire, which was reported shortly after 5 p.m. at the business on the 600 block of Rebecca Street.
One firefighter from a neighboring department was treated for heat exhaustion, but has since recovered.
Residents and surrounding departments posted videos and photos of the fire, with smoke visible from as far away as the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge, which is on the opposite side of the city.
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