SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. – Just moments after midnight on Friday, December 6, the Pottsville Fire Department was alerted of a house fire at 1971 West Howard Avenue in the City.
Crews arrived on-scene to find heavy fire showing from the first floor and learned a woman was trapped inside the home. Engine 68-16 and Ladder 68-25 took the address of the building to begin fighting the flames and searching for the trapped occupant. While initiating their operations, firefighters also had to use extra caution as a power line came down from the house and was now lying on the street.
Schuylkill Haven Fire Department was dispatched for their Rapid Intervention Team. Command also requested a second alarm be dispatched to move-up to the City.
Engine 68-11 went to the rear of the address and was followed by 68-14 who secured a water supply. Engine 68-13 secured a water supply for the front of the building and came in from the East side.
Approximately 10 minutes into the incident, firefighters radioed they were bringing a victim out of the building. Once extricated from the burning home, the victim was taken to a local hospital where she passed away from her injuries.
Firefighters stretched lines into both the “B” and “D” exposures while other crews ascended to the roof for vertical ventilation. PPL arrived on-scene and de-energized the downed power lines and also cut power to the entire block.
Tamaqua RIT was brought to the scene as was Minersville Fire-Rescue. The remainder of the second alarm staged at Station 30.
Smoke and flames could still be seen from the attic of the home as firefighters worked to open up the building. An additional handline was stretched to the roof to knock down some exterior fire.
The bulk of the flames were knocked down in approximately one hour and Chief 68-8 declared the fire under control at 02:00 AM. Command also requested a service respond to remove a deceased animal on the property.
Paramedics assisted neighbors out of the exposures and also collected information to request the American Red Cross. It is believed that seven residents were displaced.
During initial interviews, Fire Chief Jim Misstishin reported there were no initial indications that working smoke detectors were present in the home.
The majority of units were released from the scene by 03:00 AM but some City units remain on-scene into the afternoon hours as the State Police Fire Marshal investigates the scene.
