The Wiconisco First Baptist Church, located at the northwest corner of Pottsville and Spring Streets, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday, March 14, 1906. The fire started in the basement and was noticed around 5 p.m. A brisk east wind prevailed at the time, and residents feared a repeat of the conflagration which struck a couple of blocks away at the knitting mill on September 27, 1904. It was impossible to save the building and all efforts were made to prevent the fire from spreading to the row of homes to the west of the church. The only thing saved from the church was the pulpit Bible. Liberty Hose Company No. 2 responded from Lykens with both service carriages. There was little that could be done, as the force of the water was barely enough to push it through the nozzles. Bucket brigades were formed. The firemen took the carpets from Thomas Cole's residence, which was a short distance away, and placed them on the roof and sides of his home, saving it by keeping the carpets saturated with water. Superintendent Hood McKay also put a force of men at work running a line from one of the colliery pumps, which would have given sufficient force to fight a fire. But, the fire did not spread beyond the church, and work on the line was stopped as it neared the ruins. The loss of the building, furniture, organ, etc. was $7,000, which was only covered by insurance of $1,000. Rev. H.E. Hildt, pastor of the church of the Evangelical Association, offered the use of their house of worship to the Baptist congregation until their church was rebuilt. The First Baptist Church was built in 1869 and was dedicated on January 1, 1870. In 1902, the building was completely renovated at a cost of $2,100. The mortgage for that work was paid off and a mortgage burning ceremony was held on December 31, 1905.
1993
Set-up Landing Zone, Reiff & Nestor Lot (Box 22-39)
Following a 28-inch snowfall the previous day, a pregnant young lady was taken by ambulance overnight to Dr. Lentz's office at 517 South Street where she went into labor. Shortly after 7:00 AM, she delivered a baby girl. But, there were complications associated with the birth and the mother and new baby needed to be taken to a hospital in Harrisburg. Because of impassable local roads, EMS requested a helicopter for the transport. Company-22 was dispatched, and Engine-22 responded with a crew of six to the Reiff and Nestor parking lot to set up a landing zone. After hearing a request transmitted over the radio for all available people with plows and shovels to report to the parking lot, about fifty citizens arrived and assisted the engine crew with snow removal from a 150-foot square portion of the parking lot. After the snow was removed, a handline was used to wet down and freeze the surrounding snow so that it would not blow up into the helicopter upon arrival. Life Lion arrived and the patients were successfully transported to the Hershey Medical Center ER. Engine-22 went available.
2006
Structure Fire, 325-327 East Grand Avenue (Box S.C.)
Truck-22 was dispatched to Schuylkill County, Borough of Tower City, for a structure fire. The truck responded with a crew of 7. Upon arrival at the scene, the truck took side-1 and its crew began venting the roof of structure number-1. Members forced entry into the adjacent structure to check for extensions and do a primary search. The primary search was negative, but fire extension into the second structure was already underway. The truck crew continued with venting and assisted other companies on the scene with suppression and control. In addition to the many Schuylkill County companies on the scene, other Dauphin County companies included Millersburg, Elizabethville, Wiconisco, and Williamstown. Fisherville's Engine-216 was placed on standby in Station-22. A second crew with Engine-22 stood by with them, covering for all companies operating at the scene. The truck crew continued with suppression activity and, eventually, overhaul until released by command.
2010
Smoke in a Basement, 511 Pottsville Street (Box 23-1)
Company 23 and Engine and Truck 22 dispatched to 511 Pottsville Street in Wiconisco for a report of smoke in a basement. Truck 22 responded with 6, Engine 22 with 3, and Chief 22 POV. The Truck arrived from the East side and staged in front of Engine 23, and Engine 22 staged on the West side behind Rescue 23. On arrival, Chief 23 reported that there was a trash bag burning in the basement and it had been extinguished with a PW. The Truck crew set up PPV on side A and ventilated the structure, and then monitored CO levels in the home, finding none. Command then placed the box in service.
Originally dispatched as a 24-1 box and moments later corrected to a 216-8 box, a mountain fire was reported near the intersection of Berry Mountain Road and Chestnut Road in Jackson Township. Companies 22, 23, and 24 were first dispatched. A smoke header was visible from Station 24, and additional brush units and tankers were then requested. Engine 22 responded with 3 and Utility 22 with 1, Tanker 24 with 4, and Tanker 23 with 2 and Brush 23 with 2. On arrival, Captain 22 on Utility 22 observed several acres on fire. Command was established, with Chief 22-2 taking command and Chief 23-2 taking operations, with Captain 24 handling accountability. Several units from DCNR responded to the scene and co-ordinated the suppression efforts. Brush, Utility, and Tanker 650 (Muir) arrived on scene, along with Tanker and Brush 26 (Berrysburg)and Brush 19 (Carsonville). Additional manpower was requested from Sheridan Engine 647, who responded with 10, and Utility 20 (Millersburg) who responded with 5. Schuylkill Engine 66-10 out of Tower City was placed on stand by, and Gratz Engine 27 was relocated to Station 22. Medic 6-6 was on scene providing rehab. Crews worked a containment line around the fire, and were successful and marked control at 16:43. Crews then worked on extinguishing the fire. Crews continued working the scene until the fire was declared out by DCNR, and command released all units.
2020
Cardiac Arrest AED, 438 South Second Street (Box 22-1)
Company 22 dispatched class one to 438 South Second Street in Lykens for a cardiac arrest AED response. Chief 22 responded POV and Utility 22 went enroute with two. Medic 6 placed Company 22 available during response.
Around noon on Thursday, March 14, 1906, the cabinetmaking shop of Jacob Reiff, on Market Street in Lykens, was totally destroyed by fire, together with all his tools, furniture, and belongings. Jacob built a new shop at the same location after the fire.
The section of calls we've responded to has been compiled from fire company records, newspapers, and other sources. Listings for years prior to 1981 might be incomplete.
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The listing of local incidents is for incidents that happened around our local area, including some from Lykens for which the fire company was not dispatched. It is certainly not a complete listing, and is not intended to be. It is included here for your entertainment. Incidents listed here have been gathered from public sources.
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The listing of other noteworthy incidents includes incidents from anywhere outside our local area (for which we were not dispatched). Also included in this section are historical events from our fire company, Lykens, or around the world. It is certainly not a complete listing, and is not intended to be. It is included here for your entertainment. Incidents and events listed here have been gathered from public sources.
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