Gulf Tower Evacuated Due To Possible Transformer Fire, Smoke Rises From Top Of Building

By: KDKA-TV News Staff

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The Gulf Tower downtown was evacuated Wednesday morning after a basement fire caused smoke to pour from the top of the skyscraper around the Weather Beacon.

Pittsburgh Public Safety officials say the possible transformer fire that broke out around 9:30 a.m. caused a power outage to half the building. The "active fire" was knocked down around 11:30 a.m. and smoke was being ventilated out of the building.

"This is a five-alarm response from the fire department today for a transformer fire in the basement of the Gulf Tower," Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said.

The fire was contained to the basement but caused smoke to fill the entire structure.

Fire officials say the smoke poured from the top of the building because "a ventilation shaft forces it out per building design."

People evacuating the building were unaware of what was going on.

"I didn't smell any smoke in the stairwell coming down. I didn't feel terrified or anything so I just wanted to get out," said Jonathan DiBernardo, who was on the 21st floor.

"Everything was fine for a minute. Then the lights started flickering, then they went off," said Thomas McDonnell, who works on the 24th floor. "Then there was an announcement over the building's PA system that there was a fire emergency to evacuate."

Firefighters went floor-by-floor to make sure everyone got out of the building.

Pittsburgh Public Safety said everyone made it out OK. One firefighter was taken to the hospital with chest pains. Officials said he is fine and has been released from the hospital.

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

This is not the first emergency situation in the building. Back in 1974, the group Weather Underground took responsibility for a bomb that damaged the 29th floor. No one was injured.