SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. – A massive fire ravaged a row of homes in Ashland Thursday afternoon. The first alarm went out just before 3 PM and sent District 38 (Ashland) and District 45 (Girardville) to 1112 Brock Street for a reported house fire.
Initial reports were of multiple calls reporting a house fire at this location. Police arrived on scene and found heavy fire showing from the middle of a row.
Chief 38-02 was given the update and requested a second alarm. Upon arriving on scene, the chief found heavy fire consuming three homes that were attached to roughly 5 additional homes. The chief requested a third alarm and a tanker task force.
The additional alarms brought units from Altamtont, Englewood, Mount Carmel, Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Gordon and Wilburton. Tankers from multiple municipalities in Schuylkill, Columbia and Northumberland Counties responded.
First arriving units had their hands full and reported an explosion shortly after arriving on scene. An additional RIT was added from Pottsville.
Engine 38-15 took the address followed by Ladder 38-25. Engine 45-10 secured a water supply at 11th and Brock and Engines 38-10 and 38-11 went to the rear.
Multiple lines were stretched as additional water sources were secured but firefighters found most of the buildings involved were unable to sustain an interior attack.
Firefighters began to knock down the fire from the street as the majority of the buildings collapsed within twenty minutes of the first alarm.
Aerial devices were positioned to set up for master stream operations and water was secured to each piece.
Mount Carmel Truck 2 worked from behind 45-10 while Tower 48-20 (formerly Tw456) worked the B/C corner further up 11th Street. Shenandoah Ladder 64-25 (formerly L745) began to flow water on the C/D corner while 38-25 opened up their pipe from the front.
While crews were working on extinguishing now what was basically a pile of rubble, a commotion broke out and firefighters began running down Brock Street.
A small fire was discovered on the exterior of a home in the 1000 block of Brock Street. Englewood firefighters quickly threw a ladder to the “D” side while another firefighter hit the fire with a water can. The occupants were seen evacuating with their pets as firefighters stretched a line through the front door.
The second fire was quickly extinguished and crews checked for extension before refocusing on the original fire.
The fire took over two hours to bring under control and firefighters remained on scene well into the evening hitting hot spots.
The American Red Cross was seen on the scene assisting displaced occupants. Local TV stations are reporting nearly two dozen people were displaced by the fire.
A State Police Fire Marshal was on the scene beginning his investigation by documenting the scene.
A rehab unit from Danville was also sent to the scene.
The majority of second and third alarm units were released from the scene by 6 PM and all out of town units were sent home by 10 PM.
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