SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. – At 6:39 PM on Tuesday, January 8, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched a first alarm assignment to 238 South Jardin Street in Shenandoah for a house fire.  Fire District 64 (Shenandoah) and 48 Station 5 (Mahanoy City – West End) were due on the alarm.

First responding crews were advised of a possible kitchen fire.  EMS from Shenandoah ALS arrived on scene to find smoke showing from the first floor and then located heavy fire to the rear.

EMS reported the fire was growing and County dispatch recommended a second alarm which was confirmed by Chief 64. The second alarm included units from Englewood, Frackville, Mahanoy City, Ringtown, Shenandoah Heights and William Penn. A Rapid Intervention Team from Pottsville was requested as the 48-50 crew would be repurposed into fire attack.

Squrt 64-20 arrived to find fire showing from the “B” side and positioned on Poplar Street securing their own water supply.  64-10 staged on West Street allowing 64-12 to lay a supply line down from Cherry Street.  Tanker 64-30 laid LDH down Jardin Street and continued into the 300 block which allowed Tiller 64-25 to take the address and 64-11 to pull in behind the Squrt.

Multiple lines were stretched through the A, B and C sides of the structure and the bulk of the fire was quickly knocked down.  Second alarm crews began to arrive and were sent to the second and third floors to check for extension.  Firefighters ascended to the roof via the A and B sides and performed vertical ventilation.

The fire was under control in roughly 30-45 minutes with overhaul continuing until around 9 PM.

According to Assistant Chief Rick Examitas, three people were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.  The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental due to a cooking incident.

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