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 A least four structures were damaged during a third alarm fire this afternoon. Fire in 1022 Oley spread quickly to the exposure and needed numerous handlines to control. Crews on the roof made a trench cut to stop the spread from above.
The were no reports of injuries or number of occupants displaced.
Gallery of images from the fire
At 15:45 this afternoon, Box 65, 11th and Oley, was struck for a working residential fire with multiple calls for 1022 Oley St. Assigned to the box alarm were Engines 9, 1, 11, 13 safety, Ladder 3, Tower 1, Rescue 1, Medic 604 and Cars 2, 8 and 22. Engine 9 arrived first on scene and reported a crowd problem and that the rear of two homes were involved heavily with fire. Police were called to the location to control the large crowd of onlookers from the neighborhood and residents of the dwellings that gathered in the street.
Car 2 arrived and reported the rear of 1022 and 1024 Oley homes heavily involved. A urgent call for the electric company were reported for wires down that were burned through by the flames. It was later reported that electric crews arrived much quicker than their normal one hour estimate for response.
Multiple lines immediately went into service and crews advanced into the buildings. The ladder companies took to the roof. Tower one was operating in the front when fire began showing out the front dormer. With both dwellings involved Car 2 called for a 2nd alarm bringing in additional manpower. Engine 3, 5 and Ladder 1 responded on the 2nd along with Car 9. Car 10 and 24 also responded with the 2nd alarm companies.
All three ladder companies were in service and firefighters on the roof cut various holes to ventilate and made a trench cut between the fourth and fifth structure down the path of the spreading fire to cut the flames off. With all hands operating at the fire Car 2 called for the 3rd alarm which brought Engine 14 to the scene and put some Berks County companies on stand-by until all the reserve apparatus were manned by City crews. Cars 4 and 6 to the scene on the 3rd alarm and Car 7 was assigned to run any other calls that came in during the incident.
The Mayor and Managing Director were notified of the incident. During the operation, Car 600 and Unit 200, the Fire Department Canteen responded. Car 1 also responded to the scene after checking on a possible vehicle fire with Engine 3 on Locust Street near the fire scene.
Firefighters continued to work inside the multiple structures and got much of the visible fire blackened down within 40 minutes. They then began opening up the walls and ceilings on numerous floors damaged by the fire. At least 4 buildings received damage in varying degrees. It was also reported that a portion of the original fire building collapsed. Firefighters needed to do extensive overhaul before the incident was put under control. Apparatus started clearing the scene around 1815 hrs.
There were no known injuries and no word of exactly how many occupants might have been displaced by the fire. The Fire Prevention team remained on the scene well after the apparatus had cleared to continue their investigation. Early reports indicated the fire may have originated in the kitchen of the fire building but an official report will be made by the Fire Marshal.
Many thanks to a number of sources who contributed to this story.
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