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Written by Administrator
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January 16, 2006 |
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| Thanks to Billy Solderich and Lt. Wentzel for these pictures |
At 1445, box 31 was dispatched for a reported fire at the Rent-A-Center store in the 400 Blk. of Penn Street. Engines 3, 1, 5, 13 safety, Ladder 1, Tower 1, Rescue 1, Medic 603 and Cars 1, 5 and 7 responded to the call. Units arriving on location gave smoke showing from the front of the building.
Crews advanced several handlines into the narrow block long store from the front off Penn Street and the rear from Cherry Street. The fire originated in the basement and traveled upward through the floor to the main level. Although the fire was contained relatively quickly, smoke from the blaze traveled throughout the building and escaped into several other businesses setting off numerous fire alarms. About a half dozen fans were used to clear the buildings.
Met-Ed was called to the scene to cut the underground power to the business, the vault being flooded, firefighters first had to pump the water out before the crew could enter the space. The Fire Marshal responded to investigate. He reported that a number of employees attempted to put the fire out with portable extinguishers prior to the fire department arriving. The Fire Marshal ruled the fire accidental, reportedly investigators are looking at an electrical component as a possible cause. There were no reported injuries, apparatus were on location for more than two and a half hours.
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