Josh Parise met his wife in California, but she was the one who found their dream house in Plum.

Josh and Vanessa Parise enjoyed six years in their house overlooking the Allegheny River off of Coxcomb Hill Road (Route 909) before their home was destroyed by fire Tuesday.

Josh Parise said they had left their home for breakfast around 10 a.m. Tuesday. A neighbor called them about the fire around 12:30 p.m.

“It was a very architecturally unique house,” said Josh Parise, an O'Hara native. “That's why we fell in love with it. There was nothing like it around.”

An Allegheny County fire marshal at the scene said the two-story, wood-frame home, which the county had assessed at almost $200,000, was “totally leveled.” It collapsed while engulfed in flames, leaving only the chimney standing.

No injuries were reported, but the couple's Great Dane, Deacon, was missing and it wasn't known if he had escaped or died in the fire.

The extent of the destruction may make determining how and where the fire started impossible, according to the fire marshal, who declined to give his name. The blaze formally remains under investigation, but he said there were no “red flags.”

The two-story house was in flames when firefighters arrived, Logans Ferry Heights fire Chief Ray Brenner said.

“Every room was on fire. It was starting to go through the roof,” he said. “This was a losing battle to start with.”

Frigid temperatures, snow and limited access to the home's location made putting the fire out difficult, Brenner said. In addition to the house, the fire destroyed the nearer of two garages on the property. Two vehicles were destroyed.

The house was located at the end of a long, snow-covered private drive off Coxcomb Hill. With no hydrants nearby, tankers were used to haul water to the scene.

Manpower was limited because of the time of the call, Brenner said. Firefighters from eight departments responded and had the fire under control in about an hour.

No firefighters were hurt, Brenner said.

The fire posed no threat to a nearby natural gas facility, Brenner said.

Josh Parise praised firefighters for their efforts and compassion.

“They were doing their best,” he said. “I appreciate the effort they put into it.”

Route 909 was closed between Logans Ferry and Kerr roads for several hours because of the fire trucks and other emergency vehicles parked on the road.

Parise said he had no idea what might have caused the fire. The couple is insured, and he said they would initially stay with family.

Parise said he went to California after joining the Marine Corps. He and his wife were living in Los Angeles when she found the house.

Parise owns Urban Eden, which he described as a landscape design company specializing in water features. He said they'll rebuild.

“I love the neighborhood. I love the neighbors. That was our dream home,” he said. “We'll rebuild another dream, I suppose.”

Josh Parise said the small garage that was saved contains his tools.

“I have a hammer,” he said. “I can rebuild.”

Brian C. Rittmeyer is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at brittmeyer@tribweb.com.

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