Hydrant near home of 15-year-old girl killed in fire being tested

OHIO TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The water hydrant closest to the home where a 15-year-old girl was killed in a fire is being tested due to concerns that it had problems.

Avonworth High School student Hannah Milbert died in a fire at her Ohio Township home Saturday night.

RELATED: Avonworth High School student killed in Ohio Township house fire

The Ohio Township police chief told Channel 11’s Catherine Varnum that the hydrant closest to the home was originally reported as being frozen, but he believes there was an operator error when it was first hooked up. This caused a delay in getting some water to the home. The water company tested the hydrant Monday due to concerns.

Varnum also reports that the first fire crew was on the scene 13 minutes after the first call was made.

“You can second guess all you want, but it doesn't change what happened,” Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Tim Solobay said.

Solobay was not at the scene of the fire, but said the time frame does not seem too long.

“As volunteers, we're all leaving, in most cases from our homes, to respond to the call, depending on the distance,” he said.

11 Investigates drove the route from both of the closest fire stations to the scene, and it took about five minutes from each location – obeying the traffic laws. This would give firefighters about eight minutes to get to the station geared up and leave.

Hannah’s soccer coach said he will always remember her smile and her hard work.

“(I will) remember Hannah’s work ethic, (she) always gave 200 percent,” JC Mahan said.

Cox Media Group