SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. – At 9:13 PM on Thursday, November 30, the Shenandoah Fire Department was dispatched to the 100 Block of East Lloyd Street in the borough for a reported house fire. Mahanoy City West End Rescue 993 and Shenandoah ALS were also due.
Marshal 747 was advised by the County 9-1-1 Center that multiple calls were received reporting a fire in a house on Lloyd Street; an update was quickly given that police were on the scene and confirmed a working fire.
Ladder 745 and Squrt 745 were first to respond and arrived to find fire showing from the first floor of a three story vacant home at 24 East Lloyd. The Ladder pulled past the address leaving room for the Squrt to take the A/D corner.
Firefighters stretched a 1.75″ hand line through the front door and began to knock down the fire while the operator secured a water supply from a hydrant located next to the rig.
Heavy smoke was visible from the third floor as crews continued to make the push inside. Fire was then visible on the “D” side. The Ladder set up for operation and sent a crew to the roof for ventilation while other members laddered the building.
Engine 742 arrived and positioned behind the Squrt on Lloyd Street. Engine 747 came up Lloyd the wrong way and secured a water supply at Lloyd and White while nosing into the Ladder. Engine 751 secured a water supply on Centre Street and came down the Market Street alley.
Rescue 993 arrived on scene and was directed to set up a Rapid Intervention Team in front of the building.
Two additional lines were stretched off Engine 747; one line went interior while crews from Tanker 759 stretched the second to the B/C corner. A line was stretched to the “C” side through a garage on Market Street by Engine 742 firefighters while 751 stretched an additional line.
The bulk of the interior fire was knocked down within 10 minutes however the exterior fire on the “D” side proved to be stubborn. With limited accessibility to the area, the fire was hit using the elevated master stream from the Squrt. Shenandoah EMS was on the scene providing rehab to firefighters as they exited the building.
The fire was placed under control in less than an hour as crews were making good progress inside with overhauling the building. Stack tips were placed on the Squrt’s master stream and then water was used to blast apart the troublesome “D” side.
PPL Electric sent a representative to the scene however it appeared the building did not have any power to it at the time of the fire.
Shenandoah Fire Marshal Rick Examitas told Fire & Film that the cause of the fire was being investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and no injuries were reported at the scene.
Fire crews were clear of the scene around 12:30 AM.
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