SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – Just before 1:00 PM on Thursday, September 18, Fire District 43 (Frackville) was dispatched with Altamont Fire Company, Englewood Fire Company and Mahanoy City Tower 456 to the 100 Block of North Bell Street for a reported house on fire.
Police quickly arrived on scene and confirmed the address to be 138 North Cherry Street. Police also confirmed a working fire and possible entrapment. Shenandoah ALS was added to the incident.
Ladder 43-20 and Chief 43 arrived on scene to find fire venting from the second floor of a single family dwelling. A rapid intervention team was requested from Mahanoy City. Altamont Engine 367 position in front of the ladder and sent their crew into the building with a line and an attack was initiated. Englewood Engine 369 secured a water supply and fed Engine 367.
Tower 456 sent their crew to ladder the building and then ascend to the roof for ventilation. A second line was stretched from Engine 369 while crews rapidly searched the building for trapped occupants. Mahanoy City RIT (West End & Humane) staged to the front of the building and threw additional ladders.
The bulk of the fire was knocked down within twenty minutes and a secondary search was performed. Both searches turned up negative.
Crews began to pick up and return to quarters within an hour. The American Red Cross was called in to assist the displaced occupants and a State Police Fire Marshal was requested in to the scene.
