Reading PA Fire Department

With daytime temperatures near freezing and the city recovering from a winter storm which had struck in the previous days, B - Platoon members were called to assist the Reading School District with water removal at their recent purchase of the former St. Joseph Medical Center property.

A large pool of water had formed in the area of one of the previous buildings, which was adjacent to an elevator shaft. Flooding inside the building resulted. Several portable pumps were deployed into the basement with the discharge sent to a nearby storm drain.

Water entered the building through the basement formerly housing the radiation therapy unit. EMS crews were very familiar with the unit as patients were still receiving chemotherapy treatment there for months after the hospital had made their official move.

The building is slated to become The Reading School Districts new facility will be named the "Citadel" when completed.

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