PORT CARBON HOUSE FIRE 11-28-2012 PICTURES AND VIDEOS BY COALREGIONFIRE
PORT CARBON (SCHUYLKILL COUNTY), PA: On November 28, 2012 at 06:30 hours the Port Carbon, Palo Alto, and Pottsville City Fire Department were dispatched to 231 Coal Street for an apartment fire. The initial report had fire and smoke showing with possible entrapment.
Port Carbon Fire Chief arrived to find the right first floor of a duplex well involved with fire. He confirmed he has command and it is a working fire with all occupants out. Fire was venting from the first floor windows on the Charlie and Delta Sides. He then request for the Saint Clair Tower Ladder and a RIT Team out of Pottsville City.
Port Carbon Engine 59-10 arrived on scene first and staged in front of the duplex home. A water supply was established from the hydrant at Coal and North Streets. Port Carbon fire fighters deployed a number of hose lines to the front and rear of the home. The first attack crews darkened the large flames with exterior hose lines. Palo Alto Engine 612 dropped LDH from a hydrant at Coal and Pike Streets. The engine laid into the fire scene and parked behind Engine 59-10. A number of hose lines were then deployed into the exposure building which was showing dense smoke.
Pottsville Ladder 21 staged and went into service to the rear of the home on North Street. The main ladder was sent to the rear second floor roof of the fire building. A ventilation crew was sent to the roof to open it up for an interior attack. Humane Engine 32 established a water supply from a hydrant a few blocks away on North Street. The engine parked behind the ladder and deployed a number of hose lines to the rear of the home. Attack crews then made entries in the front and rear of the homes to stop the spreading fire.
In the matter of 15 minutes intense tall flames vented through the roof of the fire building. The fire then could be seen spreading to the next door home on the second floor and attic. Yorkville and Good Intent Companies arrived on location to be assigned RIT Duties. The fire quickly extended in to the home next door and the RIT Team was sent in to work. The Incident commander then had the Schuylkill Haven RIT Team brought to the scene to stand by.
A half hour into the incident intense flames was seen venting from the fire building’s roof. Exterior hose lines were used again to knock down the venting flames due to the poor interior floor conditions. Truck crews then worked on opening up the exposure’s home roof. In minutes large bright flames were venting from the exposure building’s roof’s vent hole. Interior crews repositioned hose lines and were able regain control the upper floors of the two homes.
Saint Clair Tower-Ladder 701 staged in the alley to the rear of the burning home. Saint Clair fire fighters assisted with throwing additional ground ladders around the fire building. Then they proceeded into the structure to assist with overhaul and salvage. Schuylkill Haven’s RIT Team arrived and stood by on Side Alpha of the fire building. The crew was never activated and remained on the scene for over an hour.
The fire was brought under control in less than two hours without any injuries. The freezing morning temperatures made the firefighting effort extremely challenging and dangerous. Pottsville-Schuylkill Haven EMS and American Red Cross provided rehab to the cold fire fighters. The next door neighbors are thankful to be alive and credited their escape due to their smoke alarms.
Fire fighters then entered the fire building to finally extinguish the flames. They found a startling surprise which proved to be the cause of the fire. Fire fighters found a large Pot growing operation on the second floor of the fire building. A complex growing system made up of special lights, irrigation system and dangerous chemicals where present. A total number of 75 Pot plants where found in the house were the fire started. The Port Carbon Police and Fire Chief worked throughout the day collecting and securing evidence. The State Police Fire Marshal believes the fire caused by an overused electrical system which powered the special growing lamps. The owner of the fire building was found later and was arrested for a number of charges.
Read MorePort Carbon Fire Chief arrived to find the right first floor of a duplex well involved with fire. He confirmed he has command and it is a working fire with all occupants out. Fire was venting from the first floor windows on the Charlie and Delta Sides. He then request for the Saint Clair Tower Ladder and a RIT Team out of Pottsville City.
Port Carbon Engine 59-10 arrived on scene first and staged in front of the duplex home. A water supply was established from the hydrant at Coal and North Streets. Port Carbon fire fighters deployed a number of hose lines to the front and rear of the home. The first attack crews darkened the large flames with exterior hose lines. Palo Alto Engine 612 dropped LDH from a hydrant at Coal and Pike Streets. The engine laid into the fire scene and parked behind Engine 59-10. A number of hose lines were then deployed into the exposure building which was showing dense smoke.
Pottsville Ladder 21 staged and went into service to the rear of the home on North Street. The main ladder was sent to the rear second floor roof of the fire building. A ventilation crew was sent to the roof to open it up for an interior attack. Humane Engine 32 established a water supply from a hydrant a few blocks away on North Street. The engine parked behind the ladder and deployed a number of hose lines to the rear of the home. Attack crews then made entries in the front and rear of the homes to stop the spreading fire.
In the matter of 15 minutes intense tall flames vented through the roof of the fire building. The fire then could be seen spreading to the next door home on the second floor and attic. Yorkville and Good Intent Companies arrived on location to be assigned RIT Duties. The fire quickly extended in to the home next door and the RIT Team was sent in to work. The Incident commander then had the Schuylkill Haven RIT Team brought to the scene to stand by.
A half hour into the incident intense flames was seen venting from the fire building’s roof. Exterior hose lines were used again to knock down the venting flames due to the poor interior floor conditions. Truck crews then worked on opening up the exposure’s home roof. In minutes large bright flames were venting from the exposure building’s roof’s vent hole. Interior crews repositioned hose lines and were able regain control the upper floors of the two homes.
Saint Clair Tower-Ladder 701 staged in the alley to the rear of the burning home. Saint Clair fire fighters assisted with throwing additional ground ladders around the fire building. Then they proceeded into the structure to assist with overhaul and salvage. Schuylkill Haven’s RIT Team arrived and stood by on Side Alpha of the fire building. The crew was never activated and remained on the scene for over an hour.
The fire was brought under control in less than two hours without any injuries. The freezing morning temperatures made the firefighting effort extremely challenging and dangerous. Pottsville-Schuylkill Haven EMS and American Red Cross provided rehab to the cold fire fighters. The next door neighbors are thankful to be alive and credited their escape due to their smoke alarms.
Fire fighters then entered the fire building to finally extinguish the flames. They found a startling surprise which proved to be the cause of the fire. Fire fighters found a large Pot growing operation on the second floor of the fire building. A complex growing system made up of special lights, irrigation system and dangerous chemicals where present. A total number of 75 Pot plants where found in the house were the fire started. The Port Carbon Police and Fire Chief worked throughout the day collecting and securing evidence. The State Police Fire Marshal believes the fire caused by an overused electrical system which powered the special growing lamps. The owner of the fire building was found later and was arrested for a number of charges.
