Reading PA Fire Department

Sovereign Performing Arts Center (former Rajah Theatre) in the 100 BLK of No. 6th Street received a fire alarm around 1055 which sent Engine 1, Tower 1, and Car7 to the scene. Crews were met at the door with a report of a sprinkler head flowing in an upper floor bathroom.

After making sure there was no fire condition, water was shut off to the system but not before 500+ gallons of water were dumped in one of Reading's biggest venues. Engine 13, Ladder 1, Rescue 1 and Ladder 3 were special called to the scene for salvage operations & water removal while crews from the Sovereign Center were enroute from the 700 BLK of Penn Street.

Eight industrial squeegees, 2 water vacuums, and a prosser pump were in service from the RFD and the major amount of water was flushed from the building within a half hour. Damage estimate not available at this time.

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