An electrical failure caused the fire last month at Pittsburgh’s Gulf Tower, fire investigators have determined.
The May 19 fire was caused by “a failure of the secondary phase Gulf Tower’s electrical system,” authorities wrote on social media. They emphasized that the electrical system is not part of the Duquesne Light’s infrastructure.
The fire was limited to the building’s basement, though smoke pouring from the top of the tower caught attention and made for jarring photos.
Fire Chief Darryl Jones said at the time a ventilation shaft meant to move air from the basement out through the roof caused the smoke to appear like it was coming from up there. Callers reported the smoke and fire to 911 about 9:23 a.m., and fire crews were on scene within five minutes.
Jones said solid buildings like the Gulf Tower make it “very difficult for a fire to leap floors.”
The Fire Investigation Unit has determined the cause of this fire to be a failure of the secondary phase of the Gulf Tower's electrical system, which is NOT part of Duquesne Light Company's infrastructure. https://t.co/hCZ2rzxT5c
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 3, 2021
The call rose to five alarms because of the sheer size of the building – 44 floors – and crews evacuated those inside floor by floor. It took more than an hour to get everyone out of the building.
The fire was declared under control within about two hours of being reported, Jones said, but smoke remained an issue throughout the day. The basement – concrete and windowless – made getting the smoke out difficult.
The heat the day of the fire created uncomfortable conditions for firefighters, and Jones said high heat from the fire combined with the concrete walls meant it was “like being in an oven.”
Firefighters could be seen hosing each other down in the streets after they came out of the building. Jones said that was in part to help remove the oils, contaminates and carcinogens that came from the burning transformer.
