SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – At 11:19PM, on Thursday, July 7, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched the first alarm assignment to 134 South Market Street for a garage fire.  Marshal 751 arrived on the scene and confirmed a working fire, he was advised by Communications that police were reporting possible entrapment and recommending a second alarm be struck.  The second alarm was struck as heavy fire was scene from the front of a residence with exposures on all sides.

Squrt 745 and Engine 742 arrived from opposite ends of Market Street and both secured a water supply on the way.  The squrt began to stretch lines and knocked down the fire in the front while 742 opened the deck gun to knock down fire showing from the rear.  The 742 crew started to stretch lines to the rear of the building.

Tanker 759 came into the scene and staged on Cherry Street off Market, Frackville Ladder 43-20 positioned directly behind the tanker and set its stick to the roof.  Engine 751 took the corner of Main and Cherry behind the truck.  Engine 747  positioned on Main Street in the area of Mike’s Seafood.

A quick knockdown of the fire in the front of the building allowed a crew from the Squrt to stretch a line up the exterior stairs and try to make progress on the interior fire.  Shortly after their entry, firefighters were pulled out of the main fire building.  After further investigation, it was determined all residents had safely evacuated from the buildings prior to the fire department’s arrival.

Second alarm units began to arrive at this time; Mahanoy City Engine 454 secured a water supply from Main and Centre and proceeded to Oak and Market.  Ringtown Engine 30-15 staged at Oak and Main and sent its crew to the building.  Nuremberg-Weston Ladder 581 was directed to the front of the row on Main Street.  Shenandoah Heights Engine 881 also staged on Oak Street and their crew came down to the front of the building.

Firefighters determined the fire was quickly spreading to numerous attached exposures to the rear.  It was also noticed the fire had spread across Market Street to the exposure directly opposite the original fire building.  Smoke was seen pushing from the second story siding.  A ladder was thrown and firefighters pulled the siding off and knocked down the fire.

Nuremberg Ladder 581 flew its stick to the roof and its crew went to the back of the Main Street row to open up for the crews inside.  A line was stretched off 747 into the Main Street Row.  Mahanoy City Tower 456 was requested to the scene and directed to Main Street and assist the 581 crew.

Smoke was seen rising from the area that all of the buildings met in the rear as the noise of multiple saws cutting roofs and walls hummed throughout the area.  Firefighters worked on the D exposure roof to open up the side of the main fire building while crews below opened up the garage door to check for extension inside.  A third alarm was struck for manpower.

As third alarm companies were coming into town, firefighters in the Main Street exposure radioed to command that they have successfully stopped the fire was spreading any further.  With the help of the master stream off the Squrt, the main body of fire that was showing from the roof of the main fire building had also been knocked down.  Most third alarm companies were directed to different staging points in the borough for standby.

By 12:30 AM, most of the smoke had dissipated from all of the buildings and the fire had been brought under control.  Crews began to get refreshed and gather their tools.  Multiple EMS resources were on the scene due to the warm temperatures and high humidity.  Ryan Twp. EMS brought their rehab unit and provided firefighters with mist fans and rehab chairs that helped them bring their temperatures down.  The American Red Cross was also on scene to assists.

Stand by companies started to be released around 1:30 with second alarm companies clearing the scene before 2AM.  All Shenandoah units were clear by 3AM.

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