Liberty Hose Co. No. 2 - Incident Detail #2971

Company 22 and Engine 23 dispatched class one to the Rattling Creek Apartments at 15 South Second Street in Lykens for an automatic fire alarm. Initial report from County dispatch was an alarm activated in the second floor lobby by the elevators. Engine 22 responded with 4 and Engine 23 with 5. The Engine arrived on side D of the structure, a 4 story 132 by 63 foot high rise high life building with the majority of the occupants evacuated and standing in front of the entrance on side A. Visible strobes and audible alarms were sounding. Residents on scene advised of a trash can fire on the second floor and that the fire was now out. Interior crews entered side D and used the stairwell to access the second floor where they found a slight smoke condition. One of the residents had removed the trash can from the building and it was sitting on side A by the entrance. Engine 23 initially was assigned to stage at the hydrant at Main and Arlington but was later brought in to side C. Vent fans from both rigs were sent to the second floor to clear out the smoke. It appeared to be residual smoke from careless disposal of smoking materials. Control was marked and Engine 23 released. The residents were allowed back in to their apartments after ventilation was complete and the alarm system reset. Engine 22 returned to station 22 and as they were approaching the station they were advised that the alarm for the Rattling Creek Apartments had come in again from a specific apartment on the second floor. Engine 22 returned to the building and staged on side D. Most of the residents had once again evacuated and were outside on side A. Crews went back to the second floor where they found a smoke condition in one of the apartments which appeared to be smoking material. After venting the building again and silencing the alarm a second time residents were allowed back in the building and the event was cleared.