CITY OF ALLENTOWN

HOARDING BECOMES PROBLEM FOR FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING HOUSE FIRE IN CENTER CITY

August 29, 2011 at 5:07pm

Allentown, PA - Just after 14:30 hours, box 2265 was transmitted for a house fire at 627 Allen Street, sending engines 4, 9, 6, 13, Truck 2 and Battalion 2 (Lanshe).

On arrival, firefighters found a 2.5-story 15x40 M/O/R with heavy smoke showing. Battalion Chief Lanshe transmitted a working fire. Engine 13 came in as the F.A.S.T. Truck.

Heavy fire was venting from the rear of the house. Crews had access problems to the rear due to a lack of an alley. Companies stretched hand lines through the front door of the dwelling to start their attack.

As they darkened down the fire in the kitchen, they had heavy fire in the basement. A hand line was stretched to the basement, but they couldn't gain access to find the seat of the fire.

Other crews made it to the 2nd floor to conduct a search and found fire on this floor and radioed for a hand line.

As crews tried to find the seat of the fire, it was determined that they were working in a house occupied by hoarders.

At 14:54 hours, Battalion 2 transmitted the second alarm. Engines 10, 14, Air 1, Cars 40, 47, 48 and Engines 5 and 8 responded.

As the hours passed, crews were still trying to access the fire in the basement without success.

Chief 40 special-called North Catasauqua's CAFS (Foam Engine) Engine 18-11 into the scene. By 22:00 hours, that idea had failed too.

The fire department called in a bulldozer to rip the front of the dwelling off. Shortly thereafter, the bulldozer had the front ripped off and started pulling out all the debris that clogged the dwellling. The basement was full of articles, floor to ceiling. By midnight, the fire was out. 6 L/S/O along with deck guns and master streams.

This was one of the most difficult and dangerous fires to fight. Hoarding is a hazard for the dwellers and for the emergency workers who have to go to work in such situations when called upon. Ten hours of hard and dangerous work, finally paid off with the arrival of a bulldozer.

May 18, 2012 at 6:03PM

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