SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – Around 6:15 AM on Saturday, January 7, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 sent the first alarm to 199 Valley Road in Foster Township for a reported house on fire. First responding units were advised that all occupants were evacuated and the house was possibly fully involved.
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Captain 519 arrived on-scene shortly after dispatch and confirmed a working fire with the dwelling fully involved. Captain 519 requested a tanker task force to the scene and stated the building was beyond saving. Foster Chief 350 went enroute and advised to strike a second alarm tanker task force.
Minersville Engine 528 arrived on the scene and pulled past the residence while South Cass Engine 268 took the address. Minersville Tower 519 positioned behind 268 and prepared to possibly begin master stream operations.
Firefighters began to stretch heavy lines to the “A” and “D” sides while Engine 268 poured water on the structure from the deck gun. Engine 353 began to set up a water supply using a portable pond from Llewellyn Tanker 3-30. After a brief loss of water, tankers began to dump into the portable pond and the lines continued to flow onto the fire. After they dumped, tankers from throughout the County traveled to the Highridge Industrial Park to the fill site that was set up by Schuylkill Haven Squad 63-69.
The majority of the building collapsed into itself while firefighters were working on dousing the flames from the exterior. After the bulk of the fire was knocked down, crews began pulling pieces of debris off the pile using hooks and pike poles before additional crews re-opened the hand lines and completely extinguished the fire.
As the fire was extinguished, command ordered the water supply engine to ensure all pumping rigs were filled with water and then they could cease the tanker shuttle. The tanker task force began the break down around 8 AM. Firefighters remained on the scene throughout the morning mopping up the scene.
