SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – Just before 7:00 PM on Wednesday, April 13, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched the first alarm assignment to 508 West Mount Vernon Street in Shenandoah for a reported house on fire. The first alarm included the Shenandoah Fire Department, Mahanoy City West End Rescue 993 and Frackville Ladder 43-20. Shenandoah EMS was also due on the response.
As the advisory was given to the police, the West Mahanoy Township police advised County that they could see smoke rising from Shenandoah in the area of the reported fire. Chief 740 went responding and confirmed he had a header. The chief arrived on scene shortly after and confirmed a working fire in a two story attached dwelling with heavy smoke and fire throughout. Chief 740 assumed Shenandoah command.
Photo courtesy Nanette Macleary
Engine 742 secured a water supply and proceeded into the scene from the West end of Mt. Vernon Street. Tanker 759 secured a water supply on Centre Street and positioned at Catherine and Mt. Vernon Streets as did Engine 747. Engine 751 positioned in an alley in the front of the building and Squrt 745 went behind Engine 742. A line was stretched off each rig to the front of the building where crews began an exterior attack. Frackville Ladder 43-20 set up on Catherine Street and flew the stick over the fire building while they also stretched a blitzfire to the rear where heavy fire was present venting from the first floor.
With the heavy amount of fire present throughout the building, Command requested a second alarm to the scene. The second alarm brought units from Mahanoy City, Englewood, Ringtown, Shenandoah Heights and Nuremberg.
After the majority of the fire was knocked down from the street, crews began to enter the building and knock down the bulk of the fire. Second alarm crews arrived on scene and sent their manpower to the front of the building.
The heavy smoke that was quickly rising from the building was getting lighter fifteen minutes after the arrival of the first units and by the thirty minute mark, only small amounts of smoke were visible from the structure.
Fresh crews rotated into the building and continued to find hot spots that they quickly extinguished. As the incident approached one hour in duration second alarm crews began to pick up and return to service.
Shenandoah units remained on scene throughout the evening dousing the remaining hot spots in the building and fire officials began to investigate the cause of the fire. The American Red Cross was also on the scene to help those displaced by the fire.
