SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – At 4:19 AM on Sunday, February 14, Shenandoah Marshal 747 spotted smoke coming from a building in the unit block of North Main Street in the borough. M747 radioed into Schuylkill County 9-1-1 who also began to receive reports of the fire. The first alarm was dispatched.

Squrt 745 was out the door in seconds and took the address, a second alarm was requested. Engine 747 took the rear of the address where heavy fire was showing. Multiple lines were stretched off 747. Ladder 745 positioned right behind the Squrt and sent a crew to the roof to start to open up. Mahanoy City Rescue 993 assembled a Rapid Intervention Team and staged in front of the Squrt.

The second alarm dispatched Frackville Fire, Englewood Fire, Mahanoy City Citizens Fire, Shenandoah Heights Fire and Ringtown Valley Fire.

Engine 751 arrived on scene and tagged a hydrant at Main and Center and took the D side. Frackville Ladder 43-20 was directed into the same parking lot as 751. The stick went to the roof and a crew ascended. Englewood Engine 369 was directed around the scene and establish a water supply from Lloyd and Main Streets. Engine 369 then supplied Squrt 745 and stretched an attack line into the building. An additional RIT from Pottsville was requested into the scene.

Engine 742 and Tanker 759 went to the rear from Lloyd street and crews worked to stretch additional hand lines to the rear.

Heavy smoke continued to poor from the third floor of the original fire building leading to a third alarm be struck. The third alarm brought in Girardville, Saint Clair, Nuremberg-Weston and Ashland fire companies.

Nuremberg Ladder 581 arrived on the scene and sent its personnel to 43-20 were members from both truck companies worked on the roof of the end building to open the walls of the original fire building. Ashland Ladder 38-25 sent their crew to the roof to relieve the 745 companies.

Crews were unable to make any interior progress and smoke conditions continued to deteriorate leading to the Squrt putting the master stream in service through the third story window. At this point, concern was raised that the front of the building may collapse so the Squrt was shut down and pulled down to the end of the row.

After moving, the Squrt was put back in service as an elevated master stream. The roof crew on top of the end building completed everything it could and retreated to the ground. 43-20 set up for master stream operations.

Both master streams began to prove effective in the front of the building. Firefighters continued to use multiple hand lines in the rear to keep the fire under control. Additional crews stayed in the exposure buildings to prevent any further extension.

While the master streams were in use, firefighters were able to rehab in a heated tent provided by Ryan Township EMS. Propane heaters and chairs were provided to the firefighters as well as coffee, water and snacks. The Red Cross was also on scene providing aid to the firefighters.

Throughout this fire the temperature hovered between 0 and -5 degrees leading to a slick situation. Firefighters were seen walking on the scene in stiff, frozen gear. Their ladders and hand lines also froze over and had to be moved in their extended positions.

The Schuylkill County EMA Incident Support Vehicle was also on scene to provide an Inicident Management Team to support Incident Command. Schuylkill County COMM1 was also on scene to aid with the communications on scene. The IMT assisted with getting fuel trucks to the scene to supply apparatus as well as portable heaters to de-ice equipment.

By 10 AM the bulk of fire had been knocked down and third alarm companies were released. At 11 AM all crews were ordered to break down their equipment and regroup. Second alarm companies began to be released at this time.