Whitehall, Pa. -At 20:43 Whitehall Engines 2, 12, 1, 3, 13 and Rescue 8 under command of Chief of Department Robert Benner responded to 1177 6th Street, Whitehall Manor Assisted Living for a structural fire.
The center was evacuated while firefighters investigated a smoke condition in the lower level of the complex. Firefighters eventually went to the roof to check the HVAC units for the possible source of the smoke.
Residents were allowed back into the building about 30 minutes later. Officials believe a transformer on the heating unit malfunctioned. 2 residents were transported to a local hospital via EMS 62.
Allentown, Pa. -Saturday: Allentown Box 2261 was transmitted for a house fire for the 500 block of North Jute Street at 02:40 sending Engines 4, 9, 6, Truck 2, Engine 13 (F.A.S.T.) and Battalion 43.
Battalion 43 arrives at 02:42 and reports heavy smoke showing from 542, a 3-story M/O/R and signals a working fire. Engine 4 stretches a hand line to the second floor and darkens down the fire and then advances to the top floor for a search and to check for extension.
Engine 9 already stretched a dry line to the top floor, while Truck 2 checks exposure 2 for extension and a search.
Battalion 43 holds the fire to the 1st alarm assignment.
At 11:38 AM Allentown box 2938 is transmitted for a house fire at 29th and Greenleaf Streets, sending Engines 10, 9, 6, Truck 2, Engine 4 (F.A.S.T.) and Battalion 43. Engine 10 arrives and reports smoke showing from a 2-story S/F/D. Engine 10 stretches in for a kitchen fire.
Battalion 43 arrives and takes command for 917 N. 29th Street. Engine 9 takes the hydrant at 29th and Greenleaf. Engine 10 reports a cooking incident and reports the fire out.
Battalion 43 sends Engine 9 to the second floor for a search. Engine 9 finds fire in the walls on the 2nd floor above the kitchen. 43 reports heavy smoke pushing from the rear.
9C requested a hand line to the second floor for a fire in the closet. 43 signals a working fire. Crews cut the roof to ventilate.
Companies hold this fire to the 1st alarm assignment. Photo by Jayson Wagner.
Catasuaqua Police responded to the 300 block of Church Street for a disturbance. Once on scene, the officer called for a 10-44 - officer needs help. Units from Whitehall and North Catasauqua were sent there for to back-up the officer. The unruly subject was shot with a Taser gun multiple times. EMS was requested to the scene and they transported the person to a local hospital.
Friday: A working fire in a duplex at 1074 Wilkes-Barre Street in Easton was called in at 19:53 hours. The fire tore through 1074 and 1072 Wilkes-Barre Street before the fire was under control two hours later. You can see video, photos and the story by clicking here.
Around 22:10 Hours, Allentown sent Engines 10, 4, 9, Truck 2, Engine 11 (F.A.S.T.) and battalion 43 to 221 N. 22nd Street for a fire. Engine 10 arrived and reported smoke showing and stretched a hand line to the basement for an electrical fire.
Easton, Pa. - Easton station 20 was dispatched at 19:53 hours for a reported house fire with possible entrapment at 1074 W. Wilkes-Barre Street. Arrival of the first due engine reported fire in the eaves of a 2.5-story duplex. A person that was in 1074 escaped the fire before the firefighters arrived.
Wilson Borough 24 was requested for R.I.T. at 20:05 hours. With fire rapidly extending, Wilson Ladder 24 was requested at 20:12. Command also requested an Engine and Ladder from the City of Bethlehem. Bethlehem City was short an engine for the evening so they could only send Ladder 1.
Easton off-duty firefighters were called to the scene. Palmer Township sent apparatus to the city to cover city fire stations.
Wilson Ladder 24 was set-up for an elevated water stream on Wilkes-Barre. Wilson also had an engine in the rear alley with multiple lines stretched. Bethlehem Ladder 1 staged at Berwick and Packer. The supply line to the Wilson engine in the rear alley was delayed due to a dead hydrant on Berwick Street. Companies tied into another hydrant and eventually found a working hydrant.
Easton had two engines positioned in front of the duplex with multiple lines stretched. Command eventually had the evacuation tones sounded and all members were ordered out of the dwellings. The attack went defensive shortly after arrival.
I gathered some good YouTube videos and posted them here of the huge tanker truck fire that closed Interstate 81 at the Route 22/322 interchange. The fire occurred Thursday morning around 6:00 AM.
Whitehall, Pa. - 17:30 hours Whitehall Engines 3, 2, 11 and Rescue 8 responded to a report of a compactor fire to the rear of the Forman Mills at 2159 MacArthur Road.
Chief of Department Robert Benner arrived and reported smoke showing. The first arriving engine, Squrt 3 stretched a trash line to the compactor. Initial reports were leaves burning under the container.
Further investigation revealed that cardboard and other trash got lodged around the motor which resulted in an over-heated motor. The trash around the motor started burning.
Rescue 8 pulled the container away from the compactor. The fire did not extend into the container.
3 Engines and a rescue responded on the box. To convert the Whitehall numbers to Lehigh County Radio numbers, click here.
North Whitehall, Pa. - 16:00 hours North Whitehall Companies 22 & 16 were dispatched for a report of a car fire with exposures at 4136 Mauch Chunk Road at the Ironton Autobody Shop.
Slatington Fire Department Deputy Chief Nicholas was in the area and reported the car fully-involved but not compromising any buildings.
Schnecksville Tanker 22-21 arrived and stretched a trash line. The fire was knocked down within minutes of arrival. Neffs responded with an engine and tanker. A second hand line was stretched as a back-up.
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