6 minute read
Team Equipment
Car Split in Half, Occupants Ejected at Fatal Accident in Reading
Reading, PA - Around 4:30 A.M. on June 13th, dispatchers at the Berks County Department of Emergency Services received a phone call reporting a serious car accident with two people hurt in the 1300 block of Centre Avenue. With companies responding, Chief Moyer (C7) requested an additional medic unit. Engine 7 arrived with a vehicle cut in half and two occupants ejected. As other units were pulling in, the company advised that one person was deceased and the other was in critical condition. Crews began packaging the injured occupant while other members contained a large gas spill alongside the car. Paramedics transported the victim to the Reading Hospital Trauma Center. Companies cleared shortly after. JUMP TO FILE# 061320101
- JASON BATZ
DANIEL WADE Deputy Chief Larry Moyer and members of the Reading PD look over the wreckage of an accident in the 1300 block of Centre Ave. The vehicle struck a pole, causing it to split in two sections and eject both occupants.
BUDDY SHOTS
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Third Vacant Structure Fire in Two Weeks for City of Duquesne
City of Duquense, PA – At 10:33 P.M. on June 9th, firefighters were alerted to the area of Zewe Alley at Kennedy Street for the report of a brush fire. Dispatch then advised units they were now receiving calls of an abandoned house on fire in that area and a full structure assignment was dispatched. Duquense 133 Chief arrived on-scene confirming a working structure fire in an abandoned structure with exposure issues on the 'Delta' side and assumed command. Incoming units were advised to set up a transitional attack to knock down the bulk of the fire and protect the exposure. Once the bulk of the fire was knocked, crews entered the building. At one point, flames began shooting from the roof line above where crews were working, and command requested all units evacuate the structure. Once deemed safe again, crews re-entered and performed overall. The fire was placed under control at 11:29 P.M. No injuries were reported, and the fire is under investigation. This is third abandoned structure to go up in flames in less than two weeks in the City of Duquesne.
JASON BATZ Tom English and Pat Griffin from Reading Engine 3 pose together after completing an air management drill.
FIRST DUE PHOTOGRAPHY Fire destroys Lower Burrell apartment building, 5/21/20.
Lower Burrell, PA – Just after 1:00 P.M. on May 21st, fire crews were dispatched to the Cedar Crest Apartments located along Puckety Church Road for a brush fire endangering a structure.
Arriving crews found a large three-story apartment building with smoke showing from the attic area of the building. Crews quickly began evacuating residents and opening up the attic area to attack the fire. Once crews were able to get into the attic area, they found fire running along the length of the building. Additional fire crews were requested to the scene as crews continued to fight the fire.
Interior crews on the thirdfloor reported fire above every apartment and began opening up
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the apartments before crews were forced to evacuate. Crews then set up a defense attack until the bulk of the fire was knocked down. Crews then began the long task of overhaul and stayed on-scene for several more hours. All residents escaped without injures. Over 25 people lived in the apartments and the American Red Cross are assisting those residents.
The entire third floor was destroyed, and the first and second floors sustained heavy smoke and water damage. The fire is still under investigation.
- ERIC RASMUSSEN
PATRICK MANWILLER Ladder 1 weaves their Seagrave Aerial through several power lines to make the roof during this top floor fire at 239 Greenwich St. Second-Alarm Struck During Wind-Driven Fire in Reading
Reading, PA - Shortly before 4:30 P.M. on Monday, May 11th, dispatchers at the Berks County DES began receiving phone calls reporting a fire in the 200 block of Greenwich Street.
Chief Kemery (C3) arrived at a three-story semi-detached, multiple-dwelling with smoke showing from the rear. Initially, it was believed that a fence was burning in the backyard due to the smoke obscuring the side of the structure. Seconds later, a wind gust displaced the smoke and fire was observed from the third floor.
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Firefighters stretched a line to the rear of the home and accessed the upper floor via a fire escape. With the wind gusting the fire spread rapidly and threatened the attached side. Chief Kemery requested a second-alarm for additional help at 4:46 P.M.
Ladder companies had difficulty accessing the roof due to the number of overhead wires in the area. Crews would eventually reach it after placing a roof ladder perpendicular to the tip of the aerial beam. Additional hose lines were stretched from both Engine 7 and Engine 3 to support firefighting operations.
The fire was placed under control at 5:11 P.M., with a large amount of overhaul following. No injuries were reported, and the Fire Marshal's Office is investigating. Firefighters from West Reading, Wyomissing and Spring Township assisted.
- JASON BATZ
O L D A N D N E W
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PATCH OF THE MONTH
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EUGENE WEBER JR. This patch belongs to the Houtzdale Fire Department, located in Clearfield County, PA.
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Fire Destroys Large Westmoreland County Home
Mt. Pleasant Twp., PA – At 12:36 A.M. on May 21st, Westmoreland County fire crews were dispatched to the 1600 block of Kecksburg Rd. for a reported deck on fire attached to a residence. Additional calls were then received of a reported house on fire. Arriving crews found heavy fire showing from the 'Charlie' side and began to attack the fire. The fire quickly grew as crews had issues with hydrant pressure, so multiple tankers were requested from Westmoreland, Fayette and Somerset Counties. Less than 45 minutes after the first units arrived, all units were evacuated from the building and defensive operations began. Crews remained on-scene for over five hours trying to extinguish the fire. Two people were home at the time of the fire but escaped without injury. The fire is believed to have started from a fire pit that was located on the deck.
