SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – A fire that broke out inside a school building in Mahanoy City caused significant damage throughout, cancelling classes.
Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched the Mahanoy City Fire Department with the Altamont Fire Company for their Rapid Intervention Team and Rush and Ryan Township fire companies for their tankers to 1 Golden Bear Drive at the Mahanoy Area School District in Mahanoy Township for a possible structure fire around 7:30 AM on Monday, May 30, 2011.
First responding units were advised that a caller was reporting smoke coming from the building in the area of the middle school. Battalion Chief 455 (Macleary) arrived on scene reporting a two story educational facility with smoke showing.
Citizens Engine 454 arrived on the scene and tagged a hydrant directly in front of the building. Tower 456 arrived and pulled past the engine into a small driveway leading to the lobby. Department Chief 450 (Kalce) arrived and assumed command and assigned operations to BN 455.
As crews got off their rigs and approached the building they noticed a heavy smoke condition through the windows. Entry was being forced when a key was brought in by police. Once the set of double doors was opened, firefighters witnessed thick, black smoke banked down to the floor and began to experience a large amount of heat.
Tower 456 quickly set up for aerial operations and sent a crew to the roof to begin opening up vents and other latches to allow the smoke to vent from the structure. Once the openings were propped open, a large amount of smoke started to be released from the building.
While the truck crew was on the roof, the engine crew stretched hand lines into the structure. The fire was found to be in the cafeteria / kitchen area with the seat of the fire located in a storage room. The fire had spread to the ceiling and traveled along wiring in the drop ceiling. Firefighters worked to pull the ceiling to extinguish the fire above them.
The bulk of the fire was knocked down within fifteen minutes of arrival. Crews were then faced with the tremendous task of overhaul and ventilation. Due to the large, intricate layout of the building the smoke had traveled throughout the entire complex on both floors.
Multiple exhaust fans were set up throughout the complex and many windows were opened. Because of the high temperatures command requested the Goodwill Fire Company of Frackville to respond in the assist with overhaul.
Personnel remained on scene well into the afternoon clearing the smoke from the complex. A State Police fire marshal was requested to the scene to assist in determining the cause.
No children were in the school at the time of the fire due to the Memorial Day holiday. Due to the damage, classes were cancelled for Tuesday and possibly the rest of the year.
No injuries were noted on the scene.
