SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – At 3:45 PM on Friday, January 20, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched the 1st alarm assignment to 198 East Main Street in Ringtown Borough for smoke in a house. The assignment included Districts 30 (Ringtown Valley) and 9 (Sheppton-Oneida) with Shenandoah (SQ745, E742 and T759), Mahanoy City (T461 and R993) and Columbia County Tanker 353 (Aristes). Shenandoah ALS was also due.
Engine 30-15 responded and was advised of smoke filling the house, reportedly coming from the basement. Engine 30-15 arrived on scene shortly after and confirmed a working fire with smoke showing. A second alarm was requested to the scene.
Crews encountered heavy smoke pushing from the front door of the residence and found the smoke banked down to the floor. Crews stretched two lines into the residence as other crews began to ventilate windows and a crew from Squrt 745 went to the roof for ventilation.
After searching the residence, crews confirmed the fire was in the basement and began to make a knock on the fire. Both lines were stretched to the basement and continued to overhaul after the bulk of the fire was knocked down.
Rescue 993 set up a rapid intervention team in the front yard as additional crews entered the residence to search for extension. The American Red Cross and PPL Electric were requested to the scene.
The fire was brought under control in approximately 30 minutes and crews began to break down their equipment.
