Reading PA Fire Department

A female victim of an early morning fire was treated on the scene and then transported to Reading hospital. Fire gutted the only apartment in the building that was occupied.

At 22:44 hrs, Box 82 was struck for a reported fire at 304 Hollenbach St. Dispatched were E-11 ,3, 9, 1 safety, L-1, T-1, R-1, M-602, C-2 and C-8. Upon arrival E-11 crewman reported fire in the rear outside with extension to inside the middle of row 3 story residence. It was unknown at the time that it was unoccupied and being renovated.

An 1"3/4 handline was stretched to the rear through the bakers alley and the fire was quickly blackened down. Forced entry was made through the front door with heavy smoke throughout the structure as search began on all floors. The structure was vented as well as an exposure and overhaul was done outside the rear porch roof area as well as just inside the Kitchen area 1st floor.

The neighbors at exposure D reported the fire. The Fire Marshall was on scene investigating and assisted by C-24. There were no known injuries and the crews cleared by 23:50 hrs.

At 1842 hrs this evening, Box 352 was struck for smoke coming from the roof of a structure at 624 Buttonwood Street, an end of row 2 1/2 story residence. Dispatched were E-1, 3, 13, 11 safety, T-1, L-1, R-1, M601 C-2, C-8, C-22. Upon arrival, it was initially thought to be a malfunctioning heater as there was only one call. E-13 covering the rear noticed smoke coming out from under the roof ledge all the way across one residence to another. Crews inside the building then discovered fire spreading upward inside a 2nd floor wall.

An 1"3/4 handline was put into service to the second floor rear as well as both aerials going into service on a heavily wired street. Both ladder Co's 4 men and C-8 cut an entire 2 foot back edge off of both dwellings as fire was lapping up and over the roof edge and underneath.the fire was stopped in it's progress by a rapid attack inside as well as opening up the burning roof.

The Fire Marshals office is investigating, C-23 was on scene and there were no reported injuries. Some apparatus cleared the scene around 20:00 to respond to another box alarm which turned out to be minor.