Liberty Hose Co. No. 2 - Incident Detail #797

A first alarm assignment was dispatched for a structure fire at the corner of Spruce and North Second Streets. Chief 22-1 arrived on scene POV and reported a working structure fire. Engine 22 responded with a crew of five, but went to the 700-Block of North Second Street on the opposite side of the old railroad bank, delaying their arrival. Engine 23 arrived on the scene, taking side-4, to find heavy smoke pushing from all floors. Truck 22 arrived on scene directly behind Engine 23. Engine 22 entered North Second Street from Market Street, laying a 5-inch supply hose into the scene. Engine 24 arrived on scene and staged on Spruce Street near North Street. Tower City Air Light was dispatched and staged behind Engine 24. Crews attacked the fire from side-1 and side-3, going interior. Crews met at the top of the interior cellar stair steps and advanced down to the basement to extinguish the fire. The basement and first floor received heavy damage and smoke damage occurred to the second floor. The fire was caused by clothing laying against the furnace. The clothing ignited and spread fire throughout the basement.