SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. – Around 10:30 PM on Saturday, December 2, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched units to the area of 333 Dietrich Avenue in the Orwin section of Porter Township for a reported house fire. The first alarm included Porter Township fire companies as well as Tower City.
Shortly after dispatch, a portable unit from Orwin relayed that he had a fully involved house fire just a few doors away from the fire company. Crews arrived to find heavy fire showing from 350 Dietrich Avenue with an attached exposure at 348 and another single family dwelling as the “B” exposure which was beginning to catch fire.
Chief 655 arrived on scene and assumed command. The chief requested Truck 22 out of Dauphin County and Ladder 58-25 from Pine Grove along with a tanker task force.
Apparatus began to arrive and positioned in front of the building while Reinerton Engine 659 and Williamstown Tanker 24 were sent to the rear alley where multiple lines were stretched to the building.
Lykens Truck 22 took the address and performed vertical ventilation. Ladder 58 arrived and was given a RIT assignment for the front of the building.
Crews had the bulk of the fire knocked down by 11 PM. Firefighters continued to work on all sides of the building to search for hot spots and extinguished additional fire found in the upper floors.
A State Police Fire Marshal was requested to respond to the scene to help with the investigation. PPL electric was also on the scene to disconnect power.
The fire was placed under control at 11:50 PM and tankers began to be released. Crews remained on scene into the overnight hours.
