At 10:40 a.m. on June 22, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched the first alarm assignment to the area of 400 East Centre Street in Shenandoah for a working structure fire. The first alarm brought the Shenandoah Fire Department, Frackville Ladder 43-20 and Mahanoy City West End.
Marshal 742 arrived on the scene and reported a working fire with fire showing. The building involved in fire was previously damaged by fire two years ago on a night that Shenandoah fought four fires in one night.
Squrt 745 positioned on North Union Street where fire was rapidly spreading up the block. Engine 751 was directed to make access to the rear from Mount Vernon street and found heavy fire after securing a water supply. Engine 742 secured an additional water supply and pulled past the fire building on Centre Street and began to flow water from the deck gun. Engine 747 pulled into the scene and positioned at Union and Mount Vernon Streets. A second alarm was requested to the scene.
Frackville Ladder 43-20 secured a water supply and positioned next to Engine 747. Mahanoy City Citizens Engine 454 was directed into the parking lot on the "D" side of the building to begin an exterior attack with big lines. Englewood Engine 369 responded on the second alarm and stretched a handline to the "B" side. Ringtown Engine 30-15 staged at Lloyd and Union Streets.
Shenandoah Heights Engine 881 was directed to position behind Engine 369 and begin to set up a dump site for tankers as the local hydrant system was quickly taxed with multiple units using heavy lines on all sides of the building.
A two-alarm tanker task force was requested to the scene. Tankers from Fountain Springs, Ringtown, Sheppton-Oneida, Nuremberg-Weston, Ryan Township, Gordon, Lavelle, Aristes, Llewellyn and Mount Carbon all responded to haul water. Girardville Engine 45-10 filled the tankers at the Shenandoah Valley School Complex on West Centre Street.
A third alarm was issued shortly before 11 a.m.
Saint Clair Engine 702 was directed to Bridge Street and pull a draft from the creek that runs below. After getting water, 702 supplied Engine 454. Ashland Ladder 38-25 responded and sent its crew to the scene while the Ladder staged away. The Rapid Intervention Team out of Pottsville was also dispatched bringing Engine 32 to the scene. Mahanoy City Tower 456 arrived on the scene and after removing a fence, positioned in a parking lot in front of Engine 454 and began master stream operations.
- Submit Now: Share Photos of Incidents In Your Community
Approximately an hour into the incident and smoke and fire could still be seen rising from the row on Mt. Vernon Street while firefighters attempted to the control the fire on the Centre Street side and the Union Street side. Brown smoke began to push from the eves of a detached dwelling at the corner of Union and Mt. Vernon streets and a fourth alarm was issued.
Tamaqua South Ward Engine 784, Schuylkill Haven Engine 63-12 and Mount Carmel Truck 2 were dispatched to the scene on the fourth alarm. Throughout the incident, Tamaqua Ladder 770, Minersville Rescue 518 and Tower 519 and Saint Clair Engine 705 were brought into different stations on a stand by assignment.
At 12:03, communications advised command they were receiving a report of a house on fire at 226 South Ferguson Street. The first alarm was dispatched bringing Engines 705, 784, 63-12, Altamont Engine 367, Ladder 770 and Nuremberg Ladder 581.
- Fornell: The Firefighting Blitz Attack
Engine 784 arrived on the scene of Ferguson Street and found neighbors hitting a fire on the first floor of an abandoned dwelling with fire extinguishers. Engine 784 quickly stretched a line through the front door and knocked down the rest of the fire.
The rest of the assignment for Ferguson Street was recalled as the situation was quickly brought under control. All units were then directed to stage at Main and Centre Streets in Shenandoah.
Around 12:30 PM, command decided to cease all exterior and interior operations as it appeared the fire was coming under control on all three streets. After regrouping, ladder pipes from Squrt 745, 43-20 and Tower 456 were used to pour massive amounts of water onto the scene before sending crews back to overhaul.
The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal office was called into both scenes to help investigate the cause of the fires along with the Shenandoah Borough Police.
Firefighters received rehab from EMS personnel from throughout northern Schuylkill County and also received cold drinks and snacks donated by local businesses. The American Red Cross was on the scene as well.
A Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal has ruled the cause of the Centre Street fire to be arson.
