SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. – At 4:19 PM on Friday, February 2, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched the Mahanoy City Fire Department to 508 West Spruce Street in the borough for a house fire.
First responding units were advised the caller was reporting fire in the walls. Assistant Chief 455 and Ladder 457 arrived on the scene to find smoke showing and confirmed a working fire.
Chief 450 arrived on scene and assumed command. The Chief requested Englewood for their Rapid Intervention Team and a tanker task force for a possible supplement to the municipal water system.
Crews made entry into the house and found fire in the second floor while additional crews made their way to the third floor. Command requested Frackville Ladder 43-20 be dispatched off the second alarm.
As interior firefighters continued to work, exterior chiefs advised them they had heavy fire underneath them. At this time, command requested the full second alarm be dispatched to the scene.
Shortly after the second alarm was sent, interior teams radioed that they had the bulk of the fire knocked down on the second and third floors. Light smoke and steam was seen exiting the building.
Frackville’s Ladder Company was directed to throw a ground ladder and be prepared for vertical ventilation, which was found not to be needed.
The fire was under control in about 20 minutes and out of town companies began to be released. PPL Electric was dispatched to the scene as was the American Red Cross to help displaced residents.
