Fire which started in the kitchen of the South Second Street home of Mrs. Lydia Kirschner around 3:15PM on August 27, 1925, practically destroyed the entire three-story frame structure. Mrs. Kirschner was about to get her supper and intended lighting an oil stove, when the oil exploded setting fire to the kitchen. Fortunately, Mrs. Kirschner, who was 88 years of age, escaped without being burned. The home was the property of Mrs. Jacob Matter, also an aged lady, residing at the corner of North Second and West Streets. The blaze started in the kitchen, crept along a grape arbor to the roof, and through the partition of the roof to the second floor of the dwelling, eating its way to the top of the house. All the furnishings of the home were in the dwelling and were soaked with water, making nearly all a total loss. The fire gained great headway, and the structure was enveloped in flames before the arrival of the fire department. Liberty Hose Company on its arrival connected to the fire plugs and were pumping a pressure of 150 pounds. Orders were given to cut the pressure, after which the pump refused to work. The company was almost helpless in their efforts because of the low water pressure. Wiconisco Fire Engine Company was on the scene. They threw a hose into Rattling Creek and pumped two heavy streams to the blazing structure. The good work of the fire companies confined the flames to the dwelling. For a time, it was feared the home of Hayden Stuppy, located directly west of the Kirschner home with but eight feet between, would also be ignited. Mrs. Kirschner was taken to the home of her sister, Mrs. Jacob Matter, where she remained until her home was repaired for her. Addition Notes: Mrs. Kirschner died on February 6, 1926, almost six months after this fire. She was 89 years old at the time of her death. It sounds as though she suffered a stroke; the report at the time was that she "had an illness of 18 days from paralysis which afflicted her left side." It was though that the fire might have hastened her death. It is reported that at the time of the fire, "she suffered a collapse of the nervous system when she witnessed her home in flames." Of genealogical interest: She was the daughter of Phillip and Elizabeth Maurer, born in Pottsville on December 2, 1837. Her husband was Jeremiah Kirschner, who preceded her in death. She was survived by a son, Phillip Gaskill, of McKees Rocks; two sisters, Mrs. Jacob Matter and Mrs. Ella Minnich, both of Lykens.
Company 22 was dispatched to assist EMS with a cardiac arrest call at 374 Railroad Street. All three chiefs responded POV to the scene, and Truck 22 responded class one with six crew members. On arrival, the truck staged and the crew assisted EMS with CPR, packaging, and transfer of the patient to a transport unit. After EMS went enroute to the hospital, the Truck went available.
Box 22-2 was struck at 6:04 a.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2008, for a tree on fire at the Glen Park. A passing motorist notified a clerk at the Tower Sales mini-mart who in turn called Dauphin County 911. Dispatched was Company 22 and Brush 23. Chiefs 22 and 22-2 responded to the scene and Engine 22 responded with a crew of six. Brush 23 was canceled by Command. An approximately 90-foot tall elm tree was burning from ground level to about four feet up the interior of the tree. Mulch around the base of the tree was also burned. 100 feet of 1?-inch hose and about 15 gallons of water was used to extinguish the fire. Dauphin County Parks and Recreation was later notified by a borough employee to have the tree taken down due to the amount of fire damage at its base.
Engine 22 dispatched class one to Porter Township Schuylkill County to 609 South Second Street for an automatic fire alarm. The Engine was placed available by command before response.
Companies 27, 26, 28, 21, 22, 23 and Medic 6 dispatched to 900 Specktown Road in Lykens Township for a structure fire. Truck 22 responded with 7 and Utility 22 with 1. On arrival, the Truck and Utility staged on Specktown Road until released by command.
Truck 22 dispatched class one on the 19-3 box for a reported structure fire at 349 Small Valley Road in Wayne Township. This brought companies 19 and 29 on the initial dispatch. Multiple calls reported a fully involved residence and the box was upgraded to the first alarm, bringing additional resources from companies 216, 29, 21, 20, 35, Perry 2, Perry 9. Truck 22 responded with 7, and on arrival was advised to park the rig and send manpower forward. The crew assisted with suppression and overhaul activities until released by command.
Truck 22 dispatched class one to return to the address of the previous nights fire for a rekindle at 349 Small Valley Road in Wayne Township. As the Truck was responding with 7, Chief 19-1 held the box to companies 19 and 29 and canceled the truck.
Truck 22 dispatched class one to 131 West Market Street in Gratz for a rekindle of a previous fire. Truck 22 responded with 7 and was canceled by Command shortly after response.
Truck 22 dispatched class one to the 20-7 box in Upper Paxton Township at 933 Route 25 for a working structure fire. Truck 22 went enroute with 7 and on arrival at a 2 story 25 by 40 two story wood frame structure, they were to stage behind Tanker 29 and send manpower forward to the manpower pool. Crew were assigned suppression and overhaul duties and continued work inside the structure until released by Command 20.
Companies 23 and 24 and Truck 22 dispatched class one to 821 East Market Street in Williamstown for an automatic fire alarm. Truck 22 was canceled before response, false trip.
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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