SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – Shortly into 2014, Ashland PD Unit 41 radioed Schuylkill County 9-1-1 that he was en route to the 1300 Block of Walnut Street for a suspicious person possibly involved in drug activity. Police arrived to find household belongings thrown about the street and the suspect gone on arrival. The officer went up to the house and noticed smoke coming from it. The door was opened and the officer declared a working house fire.
The first alarm was sent to 1331 Walnut Street for a working structure fire. The alarm brought Ashland, Girardville and Mount Carmel fire companies. A tanker task force was also dispatched on the first alarm due to Ashland’s water tank being empty due to maintenance.
An assistant chief arrived on scene and confirmed a heavy smoke condition within the residence and requested the second alarm be dispatched. The second alarm brought Altamont, Englewood, Gordon and Columbia (Shenandoah) fire companies. The chief also put in a special request for Shenandoah Ladder 745.
The bulk of the fire was knocked down within 25 minutes and the original suspect was apprehended and taken in for questioning.
While crews were returning from the Ashland fire, the structure fire assignment was dispatched for 328 Ohio Avenue in Shenandoah Heights for a dwelling fire. Ladder 745 arrived first on scene and confirmed a working fire. The crew entered the structure with water cans and found fire in the attic. The fire was contained by the truck crew until a line was stretched. The fire was placed under control within fifteen minutes.
Below is helmet camera video from Shenandoah Fireman Bill Moyer Jr. who was acting as the tillerman on Ladder 745. The crew was sent to the roof for vertical ventilation in Ashland and then performed the knockdown on the fire on Ohio Avenue.
