Early Thursday afternoon, July 6, 1944, the step-daughter of Michael Hutzell of Wiconisco, who was approximately eleven years old, became unconscious while swimming in the West Borough Park Swimming Pool. She was revived by a crew from Liberty Hose Company using a new resuscitator. The crew, along with Dr. Herrold, worked on the girl for almost fifteen minutes before she became near normal. She was then taken to the Polyclinic Hospital in Harrisburg by the Reiff and Helt Ambulance.
A first alarm assignment was dispatched for a structure fire at 647 North Second Street in Lykens. This house had been the scene of a structure fire that had caused extensive damage a few years before this. Engine 22 responded, along with Engine and Squad 23. Chief 22 arrived on scene via POV to find smoke and flames coming from the side-4 second floor balcony. Engine 22 arrived on scene, laying in a supply line from the hydrant at the corner of Market and North Second Streets. The crew advanced a hand line up a ladder onto the second floor balcony to extinguish the fire. Damage was mostly confined to the exterior of the residence, with some vinyl siding and soffet melted and the underlying wood scorched. The cause of the fire was determined to be a birds nest which had been built underneath the rain gutter above the balcony. The bird had picked up a smoldering cigarette butt and used it in the lining of the nest. It continued to burn and spread from the nest material to the siding and soffet.
A first alarm assignment was dispatched to Don's Food Rite for a reported structure fire, bringing Companies 22, 23, 24, 21, 66 and Truck 20. Chief 22 responded to the scene POV and established command. Engine and Truck 22 responded. On arrival, the crews found an electrical fire in a refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit was unplugged, and the store was ventilated. Command held the box to Companies 22 and 23.
Companies 22, 23, 24, 66, 21 and Truck 20 were re-dispatched to Don's Food Rite, where there was an incident a couple hours before this one for an electrical fire in a refrigeration unit. Chief 23-2 responded to the scene POV and assumed command. The caller advised that a burning smell and smoke was coming from the refrigeration unit that burned earlier. Engine 22 and Truck 22 responded and arrived on the scene. Chief 22 arrived on the scene, assumed command, and held the box to Companies 22 and 23, non-emergency.
Company 22 was dispatched class three to assist EMS with moving a patient from a residence to an ambulance. Captain 22 and Chief 22 responded to the scene, and Truck 22 responded class three with a crew of four. On arrival, the truck staged at the front of the structure and the crew walked to the rear entrance of the home where they assisted with moving the patient. The patient was moved from a middle first floor room, out the rear door, to the EMS transport unit, which was waiting in the alley behind the residence. After the patient transfer, the crew went available.
Engine 19-1 and Truck 22 dispatched class one to 4045 Back Road in Jefferson Township for an automatic fire alarm. Engine 19-1 responded with 4, Truck 22 with 7, and Chief 19-1 POV. Chief 19-1 arrived on scene and found no problem, and placed the Truck in service.
Engine 22 dispatched class one to the area of Pine and North Second Streets in Lykens for a report of a small child starting a fire outside an abandoned building. Chief 22-1 responded POV to the scene, and on his arrival had Engine 22 downgraded to a class three response. Engine 22 responded with 3, and on arrival, extinguished a small fire next to 518 North Second Street with a PW. Crew pulled a trash line and wet down the rest of the area because of brush and debris being dry. PSP was requested to the scene and arrived in about 5 minutes. After the investigation was concluded the Engine was placed available by command.
2016
Medical Assist, 391 North Spruce Street (Box 27-1)
Company 27 and Truck 22 dispatched to assist EMS with a laceration victim on the roof of a ranch home at 391 North Spruce Street in Gratz. Truck 22 responded with 6 including Chief 27-2 on board. On arrival, the Truck was directed to set up on the A/B corner of the home, set up the stokes and rigging, and extricate a victim off the roof of the home. Crew assisted EMS and Rescue 27 personnel with packaging and transferring the patient from the roof to the EMS litter for a trip to the hospital. After completing the task, command placed the box in service.
Truck 22 dispatched class one to 609 Second Street in Sacramento Schuylkill County for an automatic fire alarm. The Truck was canceled before response.
2019
Traffic Obstruction, 800 Chestnut Street (Box 22-1)
Chief 22-2 on location requested Utility 22 class three for traffic control at the intersection of Main and Chestnut Streets in Lykens Boro for a delivery truck that was hung up trying to travel up the hill on Chestnut Street. Chiefs 22 and 22-1 responded POV to the scene along with 3 other members and Utility 22 went enroute with 2. A local tow truck driver passed the scene and assisted with getting the truck out of the intersection. The Utility was placed available and the box cleared.
Company 21 and Truck 22 dispatched class one to 1305 North Second Street in Washington Township for an automatic fire alarm. Truck 22 responded with 3 and arrived on scene side A of a one story 70 foot by 30 foot ranch home with normal conditions from the exterior. Investigation determined that a faulty detector caused the alarm system to trigger. Command 21 placed the box in service.
Truck 22 and Rescue and Tanker 23 dispatched class one to Porter Township in the village of Sheridan to 134 West Wiconisco street for a working structure fire. Truck 22 responded with 4 and one additional member came POV. Engine 22 remained on standby in station with 3. On arrival at a well involved double wide modular home, the crew split and worked aerial operations as well as fire suppression with the truck being supplied by Engine 24. They continued until released by command.
The Hartford Circus Fire, which occurred on July 6, 1944, in Hartford, Connecticut, was one of the worst fire disasters in the history of the United States. A small flame started on the southwest sidewall of the world's largest circus tent (520'x220'), about twenty minutes into the show, while the Great Wallendas were performing. It is reported that the circus band leader, Merle Evans, was the first to notice the flames. He gave the traditional circus signal of distress by having the band play Starts and Stripes Forever. The Ringmaster, Fred Bradna, unsuccessfully attempted to have the audience leave the tent in an orderly fashion. The crowd of 7,500 to 8,700 people panicked as they tried to flee. The big top tent had been coated with 1,800 pounds of paraffin and 6,000 gallons of gasoline, a common waterproofing method of the time, and the flames spread rapidly. Many people were badly burned by the melting paraffin, which rained down from the roof. The burning tent collapsed in about eight minutes, trapping hundreds of spectators beneath it. While many people were burned to death by the fire, many others died as a result of the ensuing chaos. The official death toll is 168, with 450 injuries. It is estimated that the death toll is probably higher, with 700 injuries. Some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition. One blond eight-year-old girl, who had no burns and no damage to her face, was never identified, despite national publication of her photo. Various theories exist on how the fire started. Officially it is ruled accidental, but arson is suspected.
The Piper Alpha was a North Sea oil production platform. On July 6, 1988, a leakage of natural gas condensate, which had built up beneath the platform, ignited, causing a massive explosion. The explosion ignited secondary oil fires, melting the riser of an upstream gas pipeline. The released gas caused a second, larger explosion which engulfed the entire platform. Only 62 crewmembers out of 229 on board that day survived; 167 died.
2007
Unused Factory Fire - Hanley, England
2007
Milford Flat Fire - Milford, UT
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