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Three separate working fires plagued Reading Firefighters this evening, all the fires occurred along an inner city train route, and all are being called suspicious. The action began around 18:45 in the 500 blk of No. 4th Street. Engines 3, 1, 13, 11 safety, Ladder 1, Tower 1, Rescue 1, Medic 601 and Cars 4 and 9 responded to box 351 for a reported structure fire. Dispatch reported receiving multiple calls. Car 4 arrived on location and reported a working fire. Car 9 then reported heavy fire 2nd floor throughout in a 3 story end of row. Crews began advancing lines into the building. Additional crews checked the exposures and found fire and heavy smoke pushing down the line of structures below the roof line through a common loft. At 18:54, Car 4 called for a 2nd alarm which brought Engines 5, 8 and Snorkel 1(Ladder 3), Cars 1, 8, 22, 23 and the Fire Marshal to the incident. Other reserve apparatus were in the process of being put into service and Engine 14 remained in station.
Shortly after 19:00, Car 4 reported the bulk of the visible fire at 517 No 4th knocked down with heavy overhaul. Crews still worked to extinguish fire in 515 and 513 No 4th and had to open up large sections of all the roofs. The fire continued to smolder and firefighters continued to overhaul and extinguish hidden fire as they made their way through the buildings.
Meanwhile, a box alarm was dispatched for another reported fire, this time with entrapment. The location was in the 400 blk of Tulpehocken Street and the report from dispatch stated that individuals were on the roof of the fire building trying to evacuate. Reserve Engine 2 and Engine 14 responded to the box along with Car 3 and an aerial from West Reading. The fire started outside 461 Tulpehocken and involved the front porches of several dwellings. Residents of the structure escaped out the rear of the building onto a roof and were help down. They were reportedly not injured. Firefighters had the fire extinguished within about 15 minutes but were on the scene for some time overhauling.
 Engine 12 was originally assigned to the Tulpehocken Street fire. While responding, they could see another fire burning in the 400 blk of Miltimore Street. An additional box alarm was then struck for that fire. Apparatus from the Goodwill Fire Company and Greenfield Fire Company responded to the alarm. Car 2 and Engine 5 and Snorkel 1, released from the 4th Street fire, responded as well. Engine 12 arrived on location and found a 2 1/2 story heavily involved middle of the row with heavy fire and smoke visible and extension to the north and south exposures.
The crewman from Engine 12 stretched a line to the front door of the fire building and began an attack while the driver secured a water supply. They were soon assisted by firefighters arriving on Snorkel 1. The snorkel was then supplied and used to knock down as much fire as they could before opening up the roofs of at least 3 of the involved homes. Engine 5 arrived from the 4th St fire and immediately laid in from Buttonwood St. They assisted Ladder 10 with an attack line to the rear of the homes along with an additional supply to supplement Engine 12.
Back at the No. 4th Street fire, crews were hampered by the smoldering remains and after repeated attempts to expose all the hidden flames it once again began to flare up. Firefighters continued to work to put the fires out once and for all, and finally gained the upper hand after going through the buildings with a Thermal Imaging Camera. Units finally began clearing all the scenes, first Tulpehocken Street and then Miltimore Street. Car 8 cleared the scene on No. 4th Street at 22:11. Firefighters didn't get a break after the action was over, in all it was a busy night, fire and ems calls continued to come in well after the fires were out and the Chiefs were in their offices trying to write up all the reports.
The fires were called suspicious and possibly related but the fire marshall is continuing to investigate and has not yet ruled on the causes. There were no reported injuries to citizens or any personnel. We would like to thank all the companies that assisted at the scene and Mt. Penn who covered the rest of the City with Car 7. We also want to thank all those who provided information for this story and to FF T. Swartz and FF/Paramedic B. Mack for sending us the photos.
Red Cross was been called to the scene of the 4th Street fire to assist 7 of the residents from those buildings but they instead went to stay with relatives. It is unknown if the family on Tulpehocken Street required assistance. The Salvation Army from Boyertown was on the scene at Miltimore St. serving food and refreshments to firefighters. Their services were greatly appreciated. The Reading Fire Department Canteen was also on scene and we thank them for assisting.
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