SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – A few minutes before 8:00 PM on Friday, September 7, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 advised PD Unit 71 (Frackville) that a report was received of a possible business building fire in the area of the bagel shop at Oak Street and Lehigh Avenue. The fire department was dispatched moments later. The first alarm assignment included Frackville Fire, Altamont Fire, Englewood Fire, Tower 456 (Citizens of Mahanoy City) and Frackville Ambulance.
Unit 71 was advised that multiple calls were being received. 71 then called on scene and reported a working fire. Smoke was reported to be pushing from the building but no flames were visible. Police relayed they were making entry.
Altamont Engine 367 was the first fire unit on scene and found a working fire in a 1.5 story bagel shop, they secured a water supply and assumed command. Smoke was showing from the closed business as the first lines were stretched. Frackville Ladder 43-20 positioned behind E367 while Englewood Engine 369 positioned at the A/D corner. Tower 456 was directed to travel down the alley next to the building and set up the bucket.
Multiple windows were taken out on the Apha side of the building to assist the crew with visibility. Crews descended to the basement where they found fire. E369 and part of the Tower crew were assigned to force entry through a man door to the basement. A circular saw was used to gain entry.
While the interior crews worked on finding the fire, the truck crew ascended to the roof and began vertical ventilation. Other exterior crews began to pull siding off the Charlie side to search for extension. The exterior crew found a large amount of fire spreading up the exterior wall. The rest of the siding was pulled off and the fire was extinguished.
The bulk of the fire was knocked down and smoke had dissipated by 8:20PM. Crews remained and began to overhaul the scene. By 9:00 PM crews were picking up their equipment and mutual aid companies began to be released from the scene.
