LUZERNE COUNTY, PA – Around 9:30 PM on Saturday, September 3, Luzerne County 9-1-1 sent out the box to 311 West Green Street in West Hazleton Borough for a reported working dwelling fire with entrapment. The first alarm assignment included Station 24 (West Hazleton), Station 10 (Hazle Township), West Hazleton BLS 583 and APTS Medic 11.
Hazle Tower-Ladder 107 and Engine 102 were on the street immediately upon dispatch and were advised of multiple reports a working fire with people possibly trapped inside.
West Hazleton Chief 241 (Ward) went responding and was advised that West Hazleton Police were on the scene reporting a working fire on the east side of 311 W. Green and it was extending into the exposures. The chief arrived on scene shortly after and confirmed a worker with smoke and fire showing from the A/D corner of the building, extending to the D exposure.
The tower arrived and took the address, sending their crew in for a primary search. Engine 102 pulled in behind the tower and secured a water supply. An attack line was stretched into the fire building as the remainder of the truck crew laddered all sides.
West Hazleton Engine 241 tagged a hydrant on the west side of Green Street and proceeded into the scene. WHFD Engine 242 and Ladder 244 arrived and staged on Green Street behind the Hazle apparatus. Hazle Rescue 101 staged on Sambrowski Street.
Interior crews made quick work of finding the seat of the fire and efficiently knocking it down as the bulk of the blaze was contained within ten minutes. Search crews proved the report of entrapment to be erroneous. Additional crews entered the exposures, as both buildings were duplexes, to check for extension. Ventilation fans were put into operation.
Crews remained on scene well into the night checking for additional hotspots and performing overhaul. APTS staged two EMS units on Sambrowski Street and provided rehab for all firefighters. No injuries were noted at the scene and the cause of the blaze was still under investigation.
Click here to view the entire photo gallery!
