SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. – Just after 9 AM on Monday, May 7, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched a first alarm assignment to the area of 886 East Mountain Road in Hegins Township for a building fire.
The first alarm included Districts 13 (Hegins Valley), 10 (Pitman), 12 (Donaldson), 14 (Sacramento), 22 Station 4 (Joliett) and 58 Station 2 (Pine Grove North End).
First responding units spotted a column of smoke across the valley as they were responding and requested a tanker task force. This request brought Joliett, Newtown, Donaldson, Llewellyn, and Klingerstown as well as three tankers from Dauphin County.
Engine 13-15 arrived on scene to find fire showing from a one story barn type structure used for storage. Multiple hand lines were stretched off the engine while Tanker 13-35 arrived and pulled behind the engine and fed them water. Chief 13-01 assumed command of the incident.
Donaldson Engine 12-10 was next to arrive and was sent to an adjacent driveway to begin drafting from a portable pond where tankers were dumping water. A few hundred feet of large diameter hose was stretched across a field to feed 13-15. Engine 22-14 was directed to a local business to set up a tanker fill site. Chief 14 took charge of the water supply.
The remaining first alarm engines were directed to stage at the end of the driveway and send their manpower to the front of the structure. Room was left in front of the building for Ladder 58-25 to position and fly to the roof. As they approached, crews began to pull out of the building until the truck company could provide some relief.
The truck company made it to the roof where they determined roof conditions were unsafe for operations. The rest of the units operating were ordered to retreat out of the building and a water supply was set up to the ladder pipe from 13-15.
A Rapid Intervention Team from Pottsville was requested as well as an engine from Minersville as conditions continued to deteriorate.
Thick smoke continued to pour from side A and the entire roofline until the ladder pipe began to blast water into the attic area from the front of the building. The smoke began to lighten and turn to steam after a good deluge of water was applied.
Companies were then able to ascend to the roof and began opening up the metal roof. Once opened up, smoke began to thicken through the vent holes and eventually led to heavy black smoke and flames blowing out of the roof.
While the fire was blowing out above them, crews were able to stretch lines into the building and began to knock down the fire. After a 10 minute fight, the fire was brought under control and the thick black smoke turned to steam. Command was able to mark control just after 11 AM.
Extensive overhaul was now needed to keep the fire under check. Crews began to rip siding from the building while interior crews soaked hot spots.
Hegins Ambulance was on the scene throughout the incident and was supported by Ryan Township Ambulance who brought their rehab unit for additional supplies.
PPL Electric was also on scene to ensure all power was disconnected from the building. Command requested a State Police Fire Marshal respond to the scene as well.
Command marked the fire out around 11:45 AM and began to release units. By 1 PM all units were clear of the scene. District 13 returned after 3 PM for a small rekindle.
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