Liberty Hose Co. No. 2 - Incident Detail #1654

Company 22 was dispatched at 2:21 p.m. after 911 received several calls for smoke coming from the attic at 609-611 Spruce Street in Lykens. Companies 22, 23, 21, 24, and Schuylkill County Fire District 66 were dispatched. The first unit arrived at 2:27 p.m. Chief 22-2 had Command with Chief 22-1 handling fireground operations. Truck 20 replaced Truck 22 due to a manpower shortage. Engine 21 and Engine 26 were added for additional manpower, and Company 27 was placed on stand-by in Station 27. A crew from Tower City Company 66 was the R.I.T. team and Chief 21 was the manpower officer.

609-611 Spruce Street was a duplex home with five residents at 609 Spruce Street and four residents at 611 Spruce Street. Each side was owned by a different landlord. Only 611 Spruce Street was insured. Neither side's tenants had insurance.

There was extensive fire damage to the attic and roof area and the attic contents. There was an approximately 3 x 4 foot area that burned completely through the attic floor on the 609 side of the structure. The first and second floors of both sides suffered smoke and water damage. Tarps were placed over the furniture on both sides in order to reduce water damage. The fire was declared under control at 3:33 p.m.

County Fire Marshal Dennis Woodring and Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Patrick McKenna investigated the fire and determined that the fire was accidental and that it was caused by a overloaded electrical circuit.

The last unit departed the scene at 6:56 p.m.

While at this fire scene another call came in at 3:34 p.m. for a fire alarm activation at 123 South Second Street in Lykens. Engine 26 left the scene with a Company 21 crew to handle that call. (see call #75)