SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – At 7:30 AM on Tuesday, January 7, the Shenandoah Fire Department was dispatched with Mahanoy City West End Rescue 993 and Shenandoah ALS to the area of 200 South Ferguson Street in Shenandoah for a reported house on fire.
Multiple calls were received into the 9-1-1 center reporting a fire in the area. Squrt 745 was the first responding unit and spotted a column of smoke pulling out onto Main Street. Medic 64 arrived on the scene and confirmed a working fire with fire blowing across the street.
The Squrt and Marshal 745 arrived on the scene with the working fire and requested a second alarm be transmitted. The second alarm was dispatched bringing Shenandoah Heights, Englewood, Frackville and Mahanoy City West End for the engine.
Heavy fire was venting from the first and second floor of the duplex as crews packed up and stretched a 2 1/2″ line to the front door. The fire on the first floor was knocked down and crews advanced into the structure. Conditions continued to deteriorate and crews backed out the structure and a defensive attack was initiated. The Squrt secured a water supply as additional lines were stretched.
Engine 747 positioned at Cherry and Ferguson and secured an additional water supply. Tanker 759 beached it on the lawn at Poplar and Ferguson while securing a water supply. Multiple crosslays were stretched off the tanker plus a leader line to the front of the building. Engine 751 secured a water supply at West and Cherry Streets and stretched lines to the rear of the building. Engine 742 parked behind the tanker and also stretched multiple lines.
Firefighters continued to battle the flames that engulfed the entire building while battling frigid cold temperatures. The temperature on the thermostat read -8°. All water and overspray quickly froze to their gear and the ground producing a dangerous and slick fire ground. Additional EMS units and rehab crews were dispatched to the scene. Ryan Twp. Ambulance set up a rehab tent that provided hot beverages and soup to firefighters while the Red Cross distributed coffee to firefighters in front of the house.
The bulk of the fire was knocked down within two hours and crews began to overhaul the structure. Firefighters were continuously rotated in an attempt to keep them warm. The fire was placed under control and apparatus began to return to service shortly after noon with the final units clearing the scene in the late afternoon.
While the scene was very treacherous, no major injuries were reported to firefighters or civilians.
