SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – At 12:16 PM on Friday, March 25, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched the first alarm structure assignment to 74 Grier Avenue in Rush Township for a reported house on fire. The first alarm included Fire Districts 26 (Ryan Twp.), 25 (Rush Township), 27 (Schuylkill Twp. – Tuscarora) and 06 (Delano Twp.). Altamont Fire and Mahanoy City Fire (Citizens and Good American) were due as well as Polish American Tanker 759 out of Shenandoah.
Engine 26-10, Tanker 26-30 and Engine 454 were all off the floor moments after the initial alarm sounded. Chief 26 arrived on scene shortly after and found a 2 and a half story wood frame single family dwelling with smoke showing. A working fire was announced.
E26-10 took the driveway on the “B” side of the dwelling while the tanker pulled right behind it to start nursing its water. A line was stretched off 26-10 and taken into the building. Tankers 25-30 and 25-35 positioned behind Ryan Twp.’s tanker and were readied to provide their water. Engine 454 parked along Grier Avenue and sent its crew to stretch a backup line off 26-10. Tower 456 snuck into the corner of the driveway and crews began to ladder the building.
Ryan Twp. EMS and APTS Medic 11 arrived on the scene to find one patient with burns. After quickly assessing the patient, it was determined the patient would need treatment at a burn center. Aeromedical was requested to fly.
Meanwhile on scene, fire crews were making good progress on the fire. Within the first 10 minutes on the scene, the fire had been knocked down and crews were working on finding hot spots. The fire was officially placed under control at the 20 minute PAR check.
Altamont Engine 367 and Tuscarora 27-17 were sent to the Ryan Township Fire Company to set up a landing zone for Lehigh Valley Health Network MedEvac 4. The helicopter landed safely and loaded the patient for a trip to the burn center outside Allentown.
All units were clear of the fire scene by 1:30 PM.
