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At 2321, Engine 11, Ladder 1 and Car 6 were dispatched to a report of a smoke detector sounding at 170 West Oley Street. A neighbor called the incident in to dispatch and reported that the building was vacant. During the response dispatch advised that the individual called back and stated that he now could smell smoke.
The apparatus arrived on location and Engine 11 reported light smoke coming from a third floor window off the fire escape. A firefighter took a pump can with him as he went up the fire escape to check for the source of the smoke, which smelled like class A materials burning.
While passing the second floor he noted that he could see heavy smoke through the window on that level. Car 6 ordered the firefighter down the fire escape and called for the box alarm which brought Engines 3, 9, 1 Tower 1, Rescue 1, Medic 603 and Car 3 to the scene to assist.
The back door of the structure was opened and an 1 3/4 handline was stretched into the building. As the crew moved through the smoky first floor apartment looking for the fire, they encountered a window fan burning in a hallway. Embers soon began dropping from above and a six foot hook was called for to open up the ceiling. The ceiling was pulled which exposed the glowing lath. The fire in the ceiling was hit with water and more embers fell. Visible fire was seen burning inside a few of the 2nd floor joists and a saw was taken upstairs. Firefighters had cut open much of the floor above and pulled most of the ceiling in two rooms before it was assured that all of the fire was extinguished.
It was not immediately clear what had caused the fire or if anyone may have been living in the vacant three story apartment building. Police were called to investigate and the Fire Marshal's Office was notified. Crews were on the scene for about eighty minutes.
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