SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – On Friday, November 6, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched Fire Districts 38 (Ashland) and 45 (Girardville) to 1020 Walnut Street in Ashland for a reported house on fire around 1PM.
Assistant Chief 3802 was immediately on radio reporting a working fire with heavy smoke showing from the middle of a row requesting a second alarm be dispatched.
First arriving firefighters found a row of three homes with the home on the West side heavily involved in fire to the rear. Smoke was also pushing from the middle unit.
Engine 38-15 arrived and took the corner of 11th and Walnut while Engine 38-10 arrived and positioned East of the row. Multiple heavy lines were stretched to begin a defensive attack from the front.
Chief 3802 then requested a third alarm be dispatched into the scene. He also requested an engine from Shenandoah as well as Ladder 745 out of Shenandoah. An additional Rapid Intervention Team out of Pottsville was requested to respond.
Gordon Engine 46-10 secured a water supply in the rear and began to knock down the fire with their deck gun while firefighters stretched lines into the backyard. Engine 45-10 nosed into 46-10 and also initiated an attack with their deck gun.
Ladder 38-15 and Mount Carmel Truck 2 positioned on the West side of the row and set up for ladder pipe operations. Mahanoy City Tower 456 and Ladder 745 both went to the rear of the row. The tower set up to flow water while the Ladder company went to the roof of the exposures and began venting.
A RIT from Mahanoy City set up on Walnut Street and watched over operations in the front while a RIT from Pottsville Stations 30 and 40 watched over the rear.
The bulk of fire was knocked down within an hour and crews began to perform overhaul. Third alarm companies began to be released around 4PM however first alarm companies remained on scene well into the evening.
One person was treated and transported by EMS on scene. The American Red Cross was on location assisting those displaced by the fire. A State Police Fire Marshal was also called into the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.
