Firefighters battle a five-alarm apartment fire in Oakland

(Photo: post-gazette.com)

Pittsburgh firefighters were on the scene of a five-alarm apartment fire in Oakland this morning.

Fire Chief Darryl Jones said the first call for the fire at 519 Zulema St. came in at 7:47 a.m. and the first crews — from a station on Allequippa Street — made it there within three minutes.

When firefighters arrived, he said, most people had already left the building using the front door

Firefighters were on the scene of a five-alarm apartment fire in Oakland. Firefighters searched through the building’s first and second floors but did not make it to the third because the flames had spread so quickly.

Firefighters searched through the building’s first and second floors but did not make it to the third because the flames had spread so quickly.

The roof collapsed.

Some residents reported hearing a “boom” but investigators have not yet determined whether there was an explosion, the chief said.

Firefighters sprayed water on nearby buildings to try to prevent the blaze from spreading. Some of those buildings, the chief said, might have some water damage.

The building where the fire began has “heavy damage” and the chief said he plans to ask building inspectors to evaluate whether it should remain standing.

One firefighter had a minor injury — a cut to the hand — that did not require a trip to the hospital.” -� Liz Navratil and Jon Schmitz�/�Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Here is raw video (Credits: medicvideo, Alertpage, WTAE.com)