LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. – At 8:26 PM on Saturday, January 12, Luzerne County 9-1-1 sent 183 Fire (West Hazleton) with 577 EMS (Sugarloaf) and Medic 26 to 101 East Green Street in West Hazleton for a reported building on fire.
Shortly after dispatch, communications sent out alert tones advising of multiple calls reporting a working fire. 183 Safety arrived on scene and confirmed fire showing from the second floor of a two and a half story duplex.
183 Engine 1 went responding and was advised to secure a water supply in front of the building and stretch a blitz fire. The engine arrived on scene to report fire “blowing” out the second floor windows. 183 Truck was sent to the 4th Street side of the structure.
The 183 Deputy Chief arrived on scene and requested a second alarm to the scene. At this time, chief was advised there were now reports of people trapped in the residence.
The second alarm brought an engine from Hazle Township, engine and ladder from Hazleton City, Sugarloaf for an engine, Valley Regional for a rescue, Freeland for a ladder, McAdoo for an engine and a Rapid Intervention Team from Mahanoy City.
Hazleton Rescue 3 was directed to hit a hydrant and fourth and broad and supply the scene. Hazle Township Engine 3 secured a hydrant on Fourth Street and laid in behind 183 ladder.
Multiple lines were stretched off 183 Engine 1 and 141 Engine 3 through the A & C sides of the structure. Visible fire was seen venting out windows on the “B” side and additional crews began to knock down the fire from the exterior. Additional crews were stretching lines to the “D” side and working interior as Engine 1 opened up their deck gun into the structure.
The Engine was advised to shut off the deck gun as interior crews and exterior crews were both being pelted with the water. Interior firefighters continued their attempt to make a push on the fire but it had spread throughout the building and all crews were ordered to evacuate around 30 minutes into the incident.
Freeland firefighters were sent into the “D” exposure to check for extension and ended up stretching two lines into the neighboring home.
Once everyone was accounted for, the ladder pipe off 183 Truck was put in service and Freeland backed their ladder down Green Street to the A/D corner and put their pipe in service. Multiple hand lines were opened up from the street onto the building as well.
The bulk of the fire was knocked down around 10 PM. At this point, most of the roof of the building had collapsed into the attic.
Crews remained on scene well into the evening mopping up the blaze that destroyed the original duplex.
West Hazleton firefighters were called back to the scene around 4:40 AM after reports were received of fire in the roof. Crews found active fire when they arrived.
It is believe that the entrapment reports turned out to be false however there is no official word at this point. Some reports also indicate a firefighter was transported to a hospital for minor injuries.
