SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. – Just after midnight, the Mahanoy City Fire Department was dispatched with Shenandoah Engine 742, Ryan Twp. Tanker 26-30 and Hometown Tanker 25-30 to the 900 Block of West Centre Street in Mahanoy Township for a reported house fire with possible entrapment.
First responding units were advised that police had arrived on scene and confirmed a working fire on the first floor and also confirmed entrapment. Shenandoah ALS was added to the response and a medical helicopter was placed on standby.
As fire crews were gathering at their stations, Mahanoy City police officers kicked in the door of the residence and made their way upstairs where they pulled an infant and an adult to safety.
Assistant Chief 455 arrived on scene and found a fire mostly on the exterior of a two and a half story wood frame middle-of-the-row dwelling. Engine 451 arrived on scene and secured a water supply from a nearby hydrant. Two lines were stretched to the front of the building. Tower 456 arrived and pulled short of the address. The remainder of the units staged on Centre Street behind the first-in crews.
Firefighters quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire and searched the interior for extension. Additional crews ascended to the porch roof and the top roof to check for extension.
After extensive overhaul, the fire was placed under control around 1 AM. EMS evaluated the two that were pulled from the building and found them to have escaped injury. Command held the incident to Mahanoy City units and cancelled the mutual aid while enroute.
