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A second alarm was sounded for apartment house fire On Sunday morning, February 17th, at 0203 hours. Box 723 was struck for the reported structure fire at Pear and Walnut Sts.
Dispatch reported smoke showing from the Communications Center with reports of possible people trapped. Engines 3, 2(1), 5, Ladder 1, Tower 1, Rescue 1, Engine 11 (Safety), A604, and Cars 4 and 9 responded. While enroute, additional traffic from Communications reported people pounding on doors to alert residents of the danger.
Companies arrived to find the second and third floors showing fire from all the windows on the Pear St. side and fire extending by radiated heat to several parked vehicles in the 100 block of Pear Street. A preconnect line was stretched to protect the stairs if any resident was still in the building and to attack the fire on the first floor rear. A tenant reported to Chief Mogel that all persons were out of the building. A second line was stretched to be advanced to the second floor for fire attack. Once a water supply was established, the second line was charged and advanced. A ground hugger master stream appliance was set up on Pear Street and operated for several seconds to knock down the bulk of the fire issuing from the first and second floors. The preconnected lines were then advanced into the first and second floors to continue extinguishing the fire.
A second alarm was sounded at 0212 hours bringing Ladder 3, Engines 9 and 8 (13) to the scene. Car 1 and 2 also responded. These companies were used for additional manpower. The fire had extended in the concealed space above the second floor ceiling requiring the roof to be cut open to prevent fire spread into the front 3-story portion of the building.
With the bulk of the fire extinguished, the overhaul phase began. Ceilings and walls needed to be opened to find and extinguish hidden fire. Secondary searches were conducted with negative results. Crews were rehabed as conditions permitted. No injuries to either civilians or fire personnel were reported. The fire was placed under control with extensive overhaul by Chief Rehr at 0328. The FM and Lt. Lessar responded to determine cause and origin of the fire. The companies began to secure equipment and return to station soon after that with the last chief leaving the scene at about 0530 hours.
The Red Cross responded to provide necessary services for seven persons displaced by the fire. It is unknown at this time due to the extensive damage to the rear, if the building can be salvaged and rehabilitated. "D" Platoon members were also busy on the night shifts (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) with a kitchen fire at 619 Weiser St., a suspicious vehicle fire in the 400 block of Johnson St. where two additional vehicles were primed for ignition, a natural gas condition at 1320 N. 13th St., and a kitchen fire at 403 S. 10th St.
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