NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, PA – Firefighters from Nancy Run (Station 14) and Bethlehem Township (Station 17) were dispatched with Bethlehem Township EMS at 7:20 PM on Wednesday, June 01, to 2600 Brodhead Road in Bethlehem Township for a commercial structure fire. The dispatch had given a report of a possible fork lift fire in a warehouse.
Moments after the initial dispatch, Northampton County 9-1-1 alerted responders that police were reporting smoke showing from the Nazareth Pike, approximately a mile away.
Chief 1751 went responding with a short response time and reported heavy smoke showing. Northampton 9-1-1 relayed to the chief that police were on the scene with a tractor trailer fire extending into the building. With the additional information, the first alarm was requested to be filled out and a Rapid Intervention Team be added.
Chief 1451 arrived on the scene reporting a tractor trailer against the structure on fire with fire extending into the building. The chief reported fire showing from the building. Ladders from the second and third alarms ladders were added as the chief stated the fire was “working pretty good into the building.”
The additional units were dispatched bringing in apparatus from Fountain Hill, Freemansburg, Hanover Township, Hecktown, Palmer Township and West Easton.
First arriving units grabbed a hydrant alongside the structure and laid in. Crews were originally ordered to try to make an aggressive interior attack but due to the progression of the fire, a blitz attack was initiated. The bulk of the fire was knocked down with a deck gun and firefighters then entered the structure.
Interior teams found heavy smoke and fire once inside and requested colleagues to the roof. Truck 1421 was the first truck on scene and flew the bucket to the roof. As personnel got on the roof they reported a rubber roof that was melting. As additional ladder companies arrived they flew on the B and C sides of the structure.
At 7:43 PM, command requested the second alarm be filled out. The second alarm brought in units from Nazareth, Se-Wy-Co, West Easton and Williams Township.
Command reported the bulk of the fire had been knocked down at 7:49 PM and the fire was placed under control at 8:01 PM. Crews remained on scene well into the evening performing overhaul.
At the height of intensity, smoke from the fire could be seen from over ten miles away. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
