SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – Shortly after 9:30 PM on Saturday, July 7, the Shenandoah Fire Department was dispatched to 220 West Columbus Street in the borough for a reported fully involved house fire. Frackville Ladder 43-20, Nuremberg Ladder 581, Mahanoy City West End Rescue 993 and Shenandoah ALS were also on the first alarm.
Initial responding crews were advised of a working fire reported to be fully involved endangering exposures. While en route, units were advised by Shenandoah Police that entrapment was reported in one of the houses.Crews arrived on the scene to find a duplex with the rear of the address fully involved and heavy fire venting out of the front and side. A second alarm was immediately requested to the scene.
The fire was quickly spreading to a nearby exposure. Heavy lines were immediately stretched to being to knock down the fire. Once a quick knock was made on the exterior fire, crews stretched smaller lines into the building.
Firefighters contained the majority of the fire within the first fifteen minutes on scene. While search crews were in the right side of the duplex they found an unconscious male on the second floor. Command was immediately notified of the crew’s findings. Multiple ladders were set up to the front of the building and a stokes basket was taken in through the window. The victim was removed in the basked and lowered to awaiting EMS with the help of multiple personnel and rope. ALS interventions were immediately started. The patient was taken into the ambulance where he was found to be deceased.
Members on scene continued the primary and secondary searches which did not turn up any other findings. Other members continued to try to contain the fire in the B side exposure which appeared to be an abandoned building. Crews used multiple handlines from the exterior to control the fire.
A third alarm with special requests were eventually added to the assignment to aid with manpower. Multiple rehab units were sent to the scene due to the high temperatures being experienced in the area.
