SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – At 10:27 AM units were sent to the former Swiss Chalet restaurant at 529 Second Mountain Road in West Brunswick Township for a reported commercial building fire. The first alarm included Fire Districts 42 (West Brunswick / Deer Lake), 56 (Orwigsburg), 47 (Landingville), 63 (Schuylkill Haven) and a Rapid Intervention Team out of Pottsville.
Chief 42 and Chief 56-02 went responding and were advised County was receiving multiple calls reporting a fire at the former restaurant. Chief 42 requested a tanker task force be dispatched due to no water supply in the area. The tanker task force brought in tankers from Districts 34 (Wayne Twp.), 39 (Auburn), 55 (New Ringgold) and 63 (Schuylkill Haven).
Chief 56-02 arrived on the scene and confirmed a working fire in a one story addition to a three story former restaurant that now held apartments. Fire appeared to be contained to the one story addition on the “B” side of the main building.
Chief 42 arrived on the scene and assumed West Brunswick command. A second alarm was requested into the scene as the fire was now spreading into the main apartment house. The second alarm dispatched additional units from all three Schuylkill Haven companies and Ladder 51 out of Pottsville.
Engine 56-10 arrived and pulled into the driveway. A line was stretched into the front door of the addition and the fire was darkened down. Engine/Tanker 47-10 positioned at the end of the driveway and nursed the engine while a portable pond was set up at the front of the rig. 47-10 began to draft while the tankers poured their water into the pond.
Next arriving crews were sent into the former restaurant to search for hidden fire. Multiple lines were requested into the building as smoke could be seen pushing from all corners. The RIT from Pottsville brought their equipment into the driveway and stoodby in case of emergency.
Ladder 63-25 arrived and began to ladder the building. Smoke continued to pour from the third floor leading command to direct the truck company to the roof. A vent was cut to alleviate some of the heat in the attic.
At this time, smoke continued to push from the attic as well as the “C” side of the building where the addition connected to the main building. Additional personnel were still needed to battle the stubborn fire prompting command to request units from New Philadelphia, Tuscarora, Tamaqua and Hamburg.
Smoke conditions were continuing to change at the roofline leading a crew from Ladder 51 into the attic to attack the fire. A crew from Yorkville (Pottsville) ascended to the roof and cut an additional vent hole at the peak of the roof. At this time the smoke finally cleared from the third floor.
Crews continued to work on the roof and interior of the original fire building where small pockets of fire continued to flare up. At the 140 minute PAR check, Command put the fire under control and stated no further PAR checks would be needed.
A State Police Fire Marshal was requested into the scene to aid in investigating the fire. Additional services from PPL and the American Red Cross were also dispatched into the scene. First alarm companies remained on the scene well into the evening mopping up the fire. No injuries were noted on the scene.
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