LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. – Over 50 people lined the sidewalks of Carleton Avenue in Hazleton Wednesday night, July 4th, to watch as fire tore through two buildings. Around 11:30 PM, Hazleton City Fire and Medic 26 were dispatched to the 300 Block of Carleton Avenue for a reported house fire.
First responding units advised communications that a header was present as crews raced toward the Heights neighborhood. Crews arrived on scene to find heavy fire consuming the rear of two duplexes at the corner of Carelton and East Court. A nearby SUV was also on fire.
Chief 2 immediately requested all apparatus to be staffed and respond to the scene. Rescue 3 and Ladder 1 proceeded to the front of the building where smoke could be seen escaping from all floors of the original fire building.
An engine was positioned on East Court and a blitz fire was placed in service. Command requested RIT and an engine out of Hazle Township as well as a move-up of McAdoo’s Quint to cover the City.
Hazle Engine 2 secured a water supply at Berner Ave and East Court and sent water to the scene.
As firefighters worked to get a handle on the fire, flames began to blow out of a first floor window on the “D” side which was only a few feet away from the exposure. Crews knocked down that fire and the smoke escaping from the second floor began to intensify. The second floor window was taken out and shortly after, fire was blowing out of the second floor.
Personnel stretched an additional hand line from Rescue 3 and began to knock down the fire from the street.
At this time, McAdoo’s Quint was brought into the scene as well as a Rapid Intervention Team from Mahanoy City. Freeland was sent on the move-up to the City’s South Side station.
Additional crews were sent into the exposure through the front door and directed to check for extension in the upper floors. Light smoke from the roof began to turn to dark brown smoke as crews could be seen pulling ceilings in the third floor. A crew ascended Ladder 1 and put a hole in the roof for ventilation.
At the same time, thick black smoke began to pour out of the attic window of the original fire building.
Firefighters in the exposure building were unable to bring the fire under control and the smoke continued to thicken until flames were seen from the “B” side and through the top of the roof. Tower Ladder 1 backed into the scene and set up for ladder pipe operations. The Tower opened up its ladder pipe on the roof of the exposure building and knocked down the fire.
All crews were now ordered to evacuated the buildings. Heavy fire began to shoot through the roof and out the attic window of the original fire building until the ladder pipe from Ladder 1 was put in service to help with the Tower.
Water was continuously poured onto both buildings until the bulk of the fire was knocked down around 1:30 AM.
Crews remained on scene well into the morning extinguishing hot spots and investigating the fire. According to the American Red Cross, 11 people from four families were displaced by the fire and receiving assistance.
During the night, Hazleton Police Chief Jerry Speziale posted on social media indicating the fire was possibly started by fireworks being set off for the holiday. It is unknown if the fireworks in question were the type that were recently legalized in Pennsylvania. The new fireworks law has been a hot topic for safety among first responders throughout the State.
