Investigates

Smoke causes $25K in damages to updated East Liberty fire station kitchen

PITTSBURGH — A recently updated kitchen inside the East Liberty fire station, which a Target 11 investigation a few months ago revealed was in bad shape, has been damaged after a pot of hot oil was left burning on the stove, according to officials.

Heavy smoke from the burning oil caused $25,000 in damages to the new ceiling and paint job in the kitchen, Chief Operations Officer Guy Costa said.

FREE APPS | NOW | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

City work crews began installing a new kitchen three months ago after a Target 11 investigation that uncovered dilapidated conditions, including black mold under the kitchen sink.

Target 11’s Rick Earle showed photos of the conditions to the Firefighters Union president, Ralph Sicuro, in May.

“It is deplorable to see that our men and women have to work in those conditions,” Sicuro said.

The East Liberty station wasn’t the only problem. Across the city, fire, police and public works facilities were found to be in poor condition.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto issued an order to begin emergency repairs to some facilities, and now crews will be forced to repair the work already completed at the East Liberty fire station.