DISPATCH: Firefighter injured after flames destroyed home in Beaver County
WELCOME BACK. AND FINALLY FOR YOUR HEALTH. SOME SWEET NEWS FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS. HERE’S ABC’S ALEX STONE. IN A STUDY OF MORE THAN 1600 ADULTS HIGHER LEVELS OF NATURAL COMPOUND CALLED THEOBROMINE WERE LINKED TO SIGNS OF SLIGHTLY SLOWER AGING BASED ON A SERIES OF DNA TESTS. EXPERTS SAY IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN EATING CHOCOLATE SLOWS AGING, BUT IT DOES ADD TO GROWING RESEARCH SHOWING THAT COCOA COMPOUNDS CAN OFFER POSITIVE HEALTH EFFECTS. PAST STUDIES SHOW THAT DARK CHOCOLATE AND COCOA ARE GOOD FOR THE HEART AND IMPROVE VASCULAR HEALTH, INCLUDING CIRCULATION AND BLOOD PRESSURE, OTHER RESEARCH SUGGESTS COCOA MAY HELP RAISE GOOD HDL CHOLESTEROL AND SUPPORT BRAIN FUNCTION AND MEMORY, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET OLDER. OF COURSE, CHOCOLATE IS STILL A TREAT. IT CONTAINS SUGAR, FAT, AND LOTS OF CALORIES, SO MODERATION MATTERS. IF YOU’RE A CHOCOLATE LOVER LOOKING FOR A LITTLE EXTRA HEALTH KICK, CHOOSING DARK CHOCOLATE WITH HIGHER COCOA CONTENT AROUND 70% OR MORE, AND KEEPING PORTIONS SMALL IS A WAY TO GO. I’M ALEX STONE, NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO START YOUR SATURDAY. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR CONTINUES RIGHT NOW. AS RIVER LEVELS KEEP ON DROPPING. IN FACT, WE ARE BELOW ACTION STAGE NOW IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEKEND IS COMING UP IN THE FORECAST. THE DHS SHUTDOWN DRAGS ON THIS MORNING. COMING UP, THE FUNDING FIASCO ON CAPITOL HILL, WHEN TSA WORKERS WILL SEE THEIR PAYCHECKS NOW PROMISED BY THE PRESIDENT. PLUS NO PROTESTS PLANNED NATIONWIDE AND ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TODAY, THE DEMONSTRATIONS HAPPENING IN OUR AREA AND CONCERNS FOR SAFETY. THESE CLOSURES ARE NOT JUST NECESSARY, THEY ARE INTENTIONAL. AND BY DESIGN, ROAD CLOSURES IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH IN THE NORTH SHORE AHEAD OF THE NFL DRAFT NEXT MONTH. COMING UP, THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PLAN BEGINNING TODAY. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR THIS MORNING STARTS NOW. GOOD MORNING TO YOU. IT IS 9:00. I’M AVA RASH. WE WANT TO KICK THINGS OFF WITH PITTSBURGH’S ACTION WEATHER 4. METEOROLOGIST JILL SZWED WITH YOUR CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE FORECAST. AND JILL, IT’S A LITTLE CHILLY OUT THERE TO SAY THE LEAST. A LITTLE CHILLY AT THE END OF MARCH. WE WANT SPRING TO BE HERE AND WE WILL GET BACK TO THOSE WARMER TEMPERATURES. JUST NOT TODAY. AT LEAST WE GET SUNSHINE THOUGH. AS YOU LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW. LOTS OF BLUE SKY AT YOUR HOUSE. YOU CAN KEEP THAT GOING THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY. A LITTLE BIT OF A BREEZE THOUGH, WILL HOLD THOSE TEMPERATURES BACK, BUT NICE TO SEE THE CONDITIONS WILL STAY DRY AS TEMPERATURES WARM UP THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEKEND. HERE’S A LIVE VIEW OVER THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. ALL THREE RIVERS STILL A LITTLE SWOLLEN, BUT LEVELS CONTINUE TO DROP HERE THIS MORNING. IN FACT, WE HAVE JUST GONE BELOW ACTION STAGE FOR THE OHIO RIVER IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. GOOD NEWS THERE. MORE THAN LIKELY A LOT OF YOUR AREA CREEKS STILL RUSHING A LITTLE BIT. COMING OFF OF ALL THE HEAVY RAIN THURSDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES CERTAINLY NOT RUSHING RIGHT NOW 29 DEGREES FEELS LIKE 22 IS A LITTLE BIT OF A BREEZE. IS KICKED IN OUT OF THE NORTHWEST. THAT NORTHWESTERLY FLOW HAS BROUGHT IN A FEW SCATTERED FLURRIES, BUT A LOT OF THAT ACTIVITY IS FADING RIGHT NOW AS MORE SUNSHINE CONTINUES TO TAKE OVER. DESPITE BRIGHT CONDITIONS. NOT MUCH OF A WARMUP TODAY. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE LOW TO MID 40S. WE’LL CALL FOR 45 IN PITTSBURGH. AND AGAIN THAT BREEZE COMING IN OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AT A LITTLE EXTRA CHILL. DESPITE ALL THAT SUNSHINE. 60 TOMORROW, TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO TURN UP AS WE GO THROUGH THE END OF MARCH ON TUESDAY. BUT JUST AS WE FLIP THE CALENDAR OVER TO APRIL IN YOUR 4-DAY PLUS 4 MORE FORECAST, WE HAVE BETTER CHANCES FOR RAIN. THAT INCLUDES WEDNESDAY AND EVEN FRIDAY FOR THE PIRATES HOME OPENER. WE’LL LOOK TOWARDS THOSE RAIN CHANCES COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. THANKS SO MUCH, JILL. OF COURSE, STICKING WITH PITTSBURGH’S ACTION WEATHER, FRIDAY’S RAIN IS CONTINUING TO CAUSE FLOODING CONCERNS THIS MORNING. NOW THIS IS VIDEO OF THE ALLEGHENY RIVER ALONG THE NORTH SHORE LATE LAST NIGHT. YOU CAN SEE THE STEPS AND RAMP LEADING DOWN TO THE LANDING DOCK SUBMERGED. AND THE STORM CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A HOME IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. THIS WAS THE SCENE ALONG LOCUST AVENUE IN SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP YESTERDAY. A LANDSLIDE SENT DIRT AND DEBRIS DOWN THAT HILLSIDE, AND A PINE TREE CRASHED INTO AN ELDERLY HOMEOWNER’S BEDROOM WINDOW WHILE HE SLEPT. JUST A TERRIFYING SITUATION. WE SPOKE WITH HIS SON ABOUT THIS. THAT WAS A LOUD BANG AND HE WAS UP AND TRYING TO DEAL WITH MUD THAT WAS COMING IN THE FRONT DOOR. I’D LIKE SOMEBODY TO COME OUT HERE AND DEAL WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE MUD AND GET IT ALL CLEARED UP. AND SO THAT AND SO WE CAN CHECK ON THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND GET IT REPAIRED. HE TELLS US THE MUD HAS ALREADY CREATED CRACKS IN THE HOME. PENNDOT CLOSED THE ROADWAY AND THEY’RE ACTIVELY MONITORING THIS SITUATION. MEANWHILE, A MAJOR ROAD IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY IS CLOSED BECAUSE OF ANOTHER LANDSLIDE. THIS IS ON ROUTE 51 BETWEEN NEVILLE AND EWING ROADS IN STOWE TOWNSHIP. THIS VIDEO FROM SKY FOUR. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS CHOPPER SHOWS A TREE BLOCKING THE ROADWAY. NOW THERE’S NO WORD ON WHEN IT COULD REOPEN, BUT ACCORDING TO PENNDOT’S WEBSITE, THE ANTICIPATED END TIME IS APRIL 3RD. WELL, TIME NOW IS 903 AND WE’RE JUST 26 DAYS AWAY FROM THE NFL DRAFT WHEN MASSIVE CROWDS ARE EXPECTED TO FLOOD THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. AND AS PART OF THE CITY’S REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN, SOME STREETS WILL BE SHUTTING DOWN STARTING THIS WEEKEND. NOW, THERE ARE SIX PHASES OF THE ROAD CLOSURES TAKING EFFECT IN DOWNTOWN AND AROUND THE NORTH SHORE. PHASE ONE BEGINS TODAY. ART ROONEY AVENUE, PART OF WEST GENERAL ROBINSON STREET AND SCOTLAND AVENUE, WILL BE CLOSED TO VEHICLES TODAY THROUGH APRIL 12TH. PHASE TWO OF THE CLOSURES IS SET TO BEGIN ON APRIL 13TH, AND FOR FANS HEADING TO THE NORTH SHORE FOR THE PIRATES HOME OPENER NEXT WEEK, OFFICIALS SAY TRAFFIC PATTERNS WILL BE ADJUSTED DURING HOME GAMES TO HELP WITH ACCESS. SO JUST A HEADS UP FOR YOU THERE. AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN FIND FULL TRANSPORTATION PLAN ON WTAE.COM. AND REMEMBER, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR IS YOUR HOME FOR ALL THINGS NFL DRAFT. WE’LL HAVE SPECIAL COVERAGE IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO AND DURING THE BIG EVENT ON APRIL 23RD. THROUGH THE 25TH. WELL, TSA EMPLOYEES WILL BE PAID AGAIN SOON UNDER AN EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNED BY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AN EFFORT TO EASE LONG SECURITY LINES AT MANY MAJOR AIRPORTS. THE PRESIDENT BYPASSED CONGRESS TO PROVIDE RELIEF, BUT THOUSANDS OF OTHER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES STILL FACE PAYCHECK DELAYS AS THE FEUD OVER FUNDING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CONTINUES. AND COME TOMORROW, THE FUNDING LAPSE WILL SURPASS THE RECORD 43 DAY SHUTDOWN LAST FALL, OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT JACKIE DEFUSCO JOINS US ON CAPITOL HILL THIS MORNING. AND JACKIE, LOOKS LIKE THIS PARTIAL SHUTDOWN ISN’T ENDING ANYTIME SOON. LAWMAKERS ARE LEAVING TOWN FOR A TWO WEEK RECESS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY STILL LARGELY SHUT DOWN. AND NOW THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, BOTH CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS, ARE BACKING DIFFERENT PLANS TO REOPEN IT. THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A DEAL EARLY ON FRIDAY TO FUND MOST OF THE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING TSA, THE COAST GUARD AND FEMA. THAT PLAN, THOUGH, LEFT OUT FUNDING FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND BORDER PATROL, AS DEMOCRATS ARE STILL DEMANDING REFORMS IN THOSE AREAS. HOUSE REPUBLICANS REJECTED THAT APPROACH, THOUGH, AND JUST LAST NIGHT INSTEAD PASSED A BILL TO FUND THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT THROUGH MAY 22ND. THAT PROPOSAL STILL NEEDS SENATE APPROVAL, BUT DEMOCRATIC LEADERS SAY IT IS DEAD ON ARRIVAL. HERE’S WHAT BOTH SIDES IN THE HOUSE HAD TO SAY ON FRIDAY. TAKEN HOSTAGE. THE FUNDING PROCESSES OF GOVERNMENT SO THAT THEY CAN IMPOSE THEIR RADICAL AGENDA ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND WE CAN’T HAVE ANY PART OF IT. THIS GAMBIT THAT WAS DONE LAST NIGHT IS A JOKE. I’M QUITE CONVINCED THAT IT CAN’T BE THAT EVERY SENATE REPUBLICAN READ THE LANGUAGE OF THIS BILL. REPUBLICANS CANNOT CONTINUE TO HOLD FUNDING FOR AIRPORT SECURITY, DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND RESPONSE FOR THE COAST GUARD HOSTAGE BECAUSE THEY WANT AN OUT OF CONTROL ICE THAT BRUTALIZES OUR COMMUNITIES, DETAINS CHILDREN AND KILLS U.S. CITIZENS. THAT STALEMATE CONTINUES, BUT HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR TSA WORKERS, SPECIFICALLY, PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNING AN ORDER ON FRIDAY TO RESTORE PAY FOR THEM USING MONEY FROM HIS MEGA BILL THAT WAS PASSED LAST SUMMER. DHS SAYS THEY SHOULD START SEEING THEIR PAYCHECKS AS EARLY AS MONDAY. THE QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS WHETHER THAT WILL IMMEDIATELY EASE SOME OF THE LONG AIRPORT SECURITY LINES THAT WE’VE BEEN SEEING AS NEARLY 500 TSA OFFICERS HAVE REPORTEDLY LEFT THEIR JOBS ALTOGETHER. JUST SINCE THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN STARTED MORE THAN 40 DAYS AGO ON CAPITOL HILL. I’M JACKIE DEFUSCO. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. ALL RIGHT, JACKIE, WE’LL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT. MEANWHILE, TODAY, A NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE NATIONWIDE AND HERE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN NO POLITICAL PROTESTS. ORGANIZERS SAY THEY’RE PROTESTING WHAT THEY CALL AN ABUSE OF POWER BY PRESIDENT TRUMP. AND THOUSANDS OF DEMONSTRATIONS WILL BE HELD ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THAT INCLUDES PROTESTS PLANNED IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA. THOSE LOCATIONS ARE ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW. THEY INCLUDE DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH, SHADYSIDE, MOUNT LEBANON. MCCANDLESS, SEWICKLEY, WASHINGTON AND UNIONTOWN. AND ANOTHER PROTEST IS PLANNED IN DOWNTOWN GREENSBURG. IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT OUTSIDE THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE ON THE CORNER OF MAIN AND OTTERMAN STREET. NOW, JUST LAST WEEK, A PROTESTER WAS ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED IN THAT AREA. BUT ORGANIZERS SAY THAT WON’T STOP THEM FROM COMING OUT TODAY. WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE BACKING DOWN ON THIS. WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE PROTESTING PEACEFULLY IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS PROTEST IS SCHEDULED FROM NOON TO TWO IN GREENSBURG. POLICE TELL US THEY WILL HAVE PATROL UNITS IN THE AREA TO RESPOND IF NEEDED. STAYING IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY, WHERE THE YORK COMMUNITY IS COPING WITH A TRAGEDY INVOLVING FOUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THEY ALL DIED IN A FIERY CRASH LAST WEEKEND. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED FOR A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IN HONOR OF THEM. LAST NIGHT, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER JASMINE RODRIGUEZ HAS THEIR STORY. IT’S BEEN ALMOST A WEEK SINCE FOUR STUDENTS FROM THE YORK SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE KILLED IN A FIERY CRASH IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY. IT’S BEEN VERY ROUGH GOING TO SCHOOL, AND FRIDAY NIGHT, HUNDREDS IN THE COMMUNITY GATHERED AT THE MEMORIAL GARDEN IN CRABAPPLE TO REMEMBER THOSE LIVES LOST, JOINING TOGETHER IN PRAYER, SONG AND SUPPORT. THIS IS A GREAT COMMUNITY. WE COME TOGETHER AS ONE WHEN WE NEED. I LOVE THE LANTERNS. I THOUGHT ALL THE PRAYERS WERE AMAZING. I JUST THOUGHT THAT EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER WAS BEAUTIFUL. THOSE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 15 YEAR OLDS BRADY HUNKER AND FELICITY MARTINI, 16 YEAR OLD CAITLIN NICOLE CORY BOOKER AND 18 YEAR OLD ROCCO. THESE KIDS AND EVERYTHING TO OUR COMMUNITY, IT IS SO HARD BECAUSE THERE’S SO MUCH LOVE HERE, BUT THE KIDS WERE JUST AWESOME. FROM WHAT I’VE HEARD FROM ALL THEIR FRIENDS. SPEAKING OF THEM TONIGHT, AMONG THOSE PRESENT WAS ALEXIS HAYS, WHO SHARED THAT FELICITY WAS HER BEST FRIEND. SHE SPOKE ABOUT FELICITY’S KIND SPIRIT. FELICITY WAS A GREAT PERSON. SHE WAS THE BEST PERSON THAT SHE COULD BE. SHE WAS VERY SMART, VERY KIND, VERY GENEROUS. SHE WOULD TALK TO GOD ABOUT YOU. AND JUST, YOU KNOW, BE THERE. PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE ARE STILL URGING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CRASH TO COME FORWARD. JASMINE RODRIGUEZ, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. SUCH A SAD SITUATION RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU YASMIN. NOW LET’S HEAD ON OVER TO FAYETTE COUNTY. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS HIS OFFICE, ALONG WITH STATE POLICE, ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK FOLLOWING AN INCREASE IN REPORTED ABUSE IN THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS COMES AFTER TWO STAFF MEMBERS, MARTIN GATTI AND DANIEL CERVONI, WERE ARRESTED AND ACCUSED OF SEXUAL CONTACT WITH STUDENTS. DURING A MEETING THIS WEEK, THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO FIRE GATTI AND PUT HER ON LEAVE. ADDITIONAL CHARGES HAVE NOT YET BEEN FILED, BUT ACCORDING TO THE D.A., THE INVESTIGATION IS FAR FROM OVER. WE’RE GOING TO VET EVERY SINGLE REPORT THAT HAS BEEN MADE TO US. WE’RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. WE’VE MADE TWO ARRESTS AT THIS POINT. WE HAVE OTHER ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS. AND LIKE I SAID, WE’RE WORKING NONSTOP 24 HOURS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS DISTRICT. NOW, THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS SUPERINTENDENT JESSIE WALLACE, TELLS PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR THAT THE DISTRICT WILL FULLY COOPERATE WITH ANY INVESTIGATION. SWITCHING GEARS NOW HAPPENING TODAY, IT’S THE FIGHT FOR AIR CLIMB. RUNNERS WILL TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE OF SCALING THE 836 STEPS. ONE OXFORD CENTER. IT’S THE 20TH YEAR FOR THIS EVENT AND IT RAISES AWARENESS FOR LUNG DISEASE. REGISTRATION STARTED AT 730 THIS MORNING, AND HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN WILL BE ON THE MOVE TODAY. THEY’RE TAKING PART IN THE KIDS OF STEEL FEST AT THE RMU ISLAND SPORTS CENTER. THE TRACK AND FIELD COMPLEX WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO AN INTERACTIVE PLAYGROUND OF ACTIVITY STATIONS. P3
DISPATCH: Firefighter injured after flames destroyed home in Beaver County
Updated: 6:42 PM EDT Mar 28, 2026
A firefighter was injured after flames broke out inside a home in Beaver County Saturday afternoon. County dispatchers confirmed to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that officials were called to a 2-alarm fire along the 1500 block of 2nd Street in New Brighton. VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4The fire was reported just before 4 p.m. Our photojournalist on the scene captured the aftermath of the flames. The structure’s roof appeared to have collapsed, as multiple windows were seen seriously damaged. We’re told one firefighter was taken to the hospital from the scene. The extent of their injuries has not been made clear. A cause remains unknown. This is a developing story. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
NEW BRIGHTON, Pa. —
A firefighter was injured after flames broke out inside a home in Beaver County Saturday afternoon.
County dispatchers confirmed to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that officials were called to a 2-alarm fire along the 1500 block of 2nd Street in New Brighton.
VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4
The fire was reported just before 4 p.m.
Our photojournalist on the scene captured the aftermath of the flames.
The structure’s roof appeared to have collapsed, as multiple windows were seen seriously damaged.
We’re told one firefighter was taken to the hospital from the scene. The extent of their injuries has not been made clear.
A cause remains unknown.
This is a developing story.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.