SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – Firefighters from three counties gathered to battle a blaze in the borough of New Ringgold on Sunday, March 27. At 21:44 hours, Schuylkill County 911 dispatched the first alarm to 301 Hughes Street for a reported house fire. The initial card included Fire Districts 55 (New Ringgold), 37 – Station 1 (West Penn Twp.), 42 (Deer Lake) and 56 (Orwigsburg) along with New Ringgold EMS.
Chief 5501 went responding and was advised it would be across from the address given and communications were receiving multiple calls reporting a fire.
Ambulance 5501 arrived on scene shortly thereafter reporting a fully involved structure fire. At 21:48, Engine 5510 arrived on scene and confirmed a worker with heavy fire from the first floor. Chief 5501 assumed New Ringgold command and requested a tanker task force be dispatched.
The tanker task force was dispatched brining Schuylkill Haven’s Liberty Tanker 738, Walker Twp. Tanker 32-30, Landingville Engine/Tanker 47-10 along with Carbon Districts 3 (East Penn Twp.) and 6 (Mahoning Twp.) and Berks Tanker 44 (Kempton).
Personnel from 55-10 initiated an attack stretching multiple lines. Tanker 5530 set up a dump tank to the rear of 55-10 and supplied the engine.
Engines 56-10 and 56-11 arrived and supported New Ringgold firefighters with opening up the walls and the roof.
The bulk of the fire was knocked down within twenty minutes, but extensive overhaul and mop up would be needed. At this time, command requested the Tamaqua Fire Department be dispatched to the scene for their Rapid Intervention Team.
Crews remained on scene will into the overnight finding hot spots. A State Police Fire Marshal was requested to the scene to assist in determining the origin of the fire.
One person was reported to be in the structure at the time of the fire, but was able to escape without injury.
