September 5, 2008- Just before 1 AM the Schuylkill Haven Fire Department was dispatched to the intersection of South Margaretta and East Market Streets, Schuylkill Haven Boro, for a reported structure fire.
On duty Chief 722 (Sattizahn) was first to go responding and County advised him of numerous calls on the fire. As Chief Satty was en route, he could see the column in the sky already and had asked for Pottsville City R.I.T. to be dispatched to assist at the scene. Chief 722 and Schuylkill Haven PD arrived on scene right around the same time and both relayed to County that they were confirming a working fire. Engine 732 was the first truck to arrive on the scene, and pulled a blitzline and pre-connect to knock down the rear of the building. Engine 737 was second in and "hooked" the hydrant at East Market and High Streets, layed up to the scene and then hand-jacked the 5 inch up to the incoming ladder, Ladder 725.
Crews were split up, going to the rear as well as the front of the building. There were some slight difficulties with the crew that had entered the front of the building. As they were making headway toward the fire, a section of the floor in the main fire room, had collapsed causing the interior crew to retreat and look for an alternate way.
As the fire was still going on, Chief 722 had Pine Grove HH&L,as well as Cressona # 1 man the borough of Schuylkill Haven in the event of mulitiple calls. However, do to the heat from the building as well as the outside temperature, Pine Grove was then utilized at the fire scene doing overhaul and hitting hot spots, prompting Chief Satty to have Orwigsburg Fire come into the boro to replace them.
Most of the Schuylkill Haven units were cleared right around 3AM with the exception of Chief 722, and Engine 732 who stood by, waiting for the investigation to take place as well as looking for the remaining hot spots. **MLK PHOTOS**
starter-admin
Add comment