In Homestead, Allegheny County, a massive five-alarm fire tore through rowhouses on Saturday, resulting in five injured firefighters and leaving eight residents without a home.

The first call reporting the fire in the 200 block of East 17th Avenue came in around 9:27 a.m., according to the chief of Allegheny County Emergency Services, Matt Brown. Firefighters swiftly arrived within ten minutes, but they faced a significant challenge due to the below-freezing conditions, including frozen fire hydrants, that complicated their response.

During the intense battle against the flames, five firefighters sustained injuries. Two of them fell through a collapsing floor, while the others suffered unspecified injuries. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening, as confirmed by Chief Brown.

In addition to the injured firefighters, eight residents were displaced from their homes. However, all of them managed to escape the fire unharmed. The ensuing blaze severely damaged three rowhouses, with the roofs of at least two of them collapsing, as reported by our partners at the Trib.

Chief Brown stressed the difficulties faced by the firefighters due to the frigid weather conditions on Saturday. Water supply issues and the freezing temperatures added to the challenges, as mentioned in a social media post by the Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company, one of the many departments that responded to the incident.

Chief Brown acknowledged the adversity faced by the firefighters, particularly when responding to rowhouse fires in these harsh weather conditions. He commended the responding fire crews for their remarkable efforts in battling the cold to extinguish the fire, describing their performance as a "fantastic job."

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but the county fire marshal is currently on the scene investigating the incident.

As of 2 p.m., the fire had been successfully knocked down, marking a significant milestone in containing the devastating blaze. Further updates on the investigation and recovery efforts are expected as more information becomes available.