LUZERNE COUNTY, PA – Around 11:15 on Sunday, December 2 Luzerne County 9-1-1 dispatched the Hazleton City Fire Department and APTS Medic 11 to the unit block of North Cedar Street for a reported residential structure fire. Chief 2 (Jones) went responding and was advised the center was receiving multiple calls for an apartment building fire with children possibly trapped at 53 North Cedar Street.
Ladder 1 arrived and took the front of the building to find heavy smoke showing from a three story multi-family dwelling. Chief 2 arrived and took command and requested Engine 5 be placed in service. A page for additional volunteers was also requested. The chief reported he had heavy smoke and fire conditions on the third floor and all occupants had been located outside the building.
Lines were stretched and crews began to advance to the third floor. Additional personnel were directed to begin horizontal ventilation of the windows to assist the interior crews. The aerial was flown to the A side roof while a crew ascended to vertically ventilate. Command requested off-duty personnel be called in to staff additional engines and bring Tower Ladder 1 to the scene.
It appeared firefighters were making good progress inside as the smoke began to dissipate from the exterior but the fire had spread to the cockloft and other hidden places. The smoke began to once again pick up while the firefighters tried to locate the hidden fire.
The ladder was repositioned to the corner of the building and flown to the D side and an additional vent hole was cut. An additional crew entered the third floor on the D side with a hand line off a ground ladder.
As time passed, the smoke once again began to dissipate as crews extinguished the hidden fire. Firefighters were rotated out with fresh manpower and medical crews from APTS provided rehab. The fire was brought under control shortly after noon and crews remained on scene into the afternoon. Close to a dozen people were displaced by the fire which is under investigation by the Fire Marshal.
