A hand pull of the Station-22 house siren alerted Captain-22 (Richie Klinger) and he responded to the station where he was met by someone who advised him of a fire at Mortenson's Garage in Wiconisco Township on Route-209 West of Lykens. Captain-22 notified the Communications center by radio and requested full company responses from stations 22 and 23. Engine-22 responded with a crew of eleven personnel. Engine-22 arrived on scene and the crew found a one-story concrete block 50ft x 100ft gas station fully involved, with flames and fire shooting out all portions of the structure and horizontal flames impinging on the guard rails of Route-209 approximately 100 feet in front of the building. Numerous cars located in the parking lot in front of the garage were also on fire. Engine-22 was set up in the front, with Engine-23 set up on side 4 of the structure. The crew began suppression activities, pulling multiple hand lines to place in operation. Tanker-22 responded with two personnel, and set up a porta-tank for water supply to Engine-22. At this time, the pump on Engine-22 failed and no water could be applied to the fire from any Engine-22 handlines. Command had previously requested an upgraded dispatch assignment, which then had Company-21 (Elizabethville) and Company-24 (Williamstown) dispatched to the scene. Engine-21 responded and was directed to a pond located a few hundred feet West of the fire building to begin draft operations. Engine-24 responded and, after leaving Williamstown Borough on Route-209, the crew discovered another garage fire at Shomper's gas station. Company-24 stopped to fight that fire. When command was notified that Company-24 was unable to continue their response to this fire, a request was made for Company-26 (Berrysburg) to be dispatched. Engine-26 and Tanker-26 responded and arrived on scene to assist in suppression activities. An engine from Company-20 (Millersburg) was relocated to Company-21's quarters. After completing the extinguishing of the fire at Shompers garage, which was minor in nature, Engine-24 continued in to this call. All handlines from Engine-22 were disconnected, and Engine-24 assumed Engine-22's position and charged all the previously used handlines. Water was once again applied to the fire building from Company-22's hoses. Suppression activities continued, with the garage being a total loss. Numerous vehicles, both inside and outside the garage, were destroyed. But a mobile home located about ten feet behind the garage was saved with only exterior damage to the siding. After the fire was extinguished, extensive salvage and overhaul was performed. Engine-21 had become stuck in the soft mud around the pond they were drafting from. Chief-22 (Forrest Knorr) went to the property next door to secure the use of a large track loader to assist Company-21 with the removal of their engine. All units left the scene around daybreak. Engine-22 was placed out of service and was returned to Station-22 for repair. It was determined by the company engineers that a bubble of super-heated air had passed through the pump housing and "air-bound" the pump. When the pump was cooled down and water pushed through it, it was operable again. The engine was then put back in service.
Engine 22 was dispatched to set up a landing zone for an incoming helicopter at the Reiff and Nestor parking lot. EMS had requested aero-medical transport for a victim in the 600 block of South Second Street who had fallen on ice and had a severe head injury. Chief 22 responded to the parking lot POV and assumed LZ command, and Engine 22 responded with a crew of six. Upon arrival, the crew set up the LZ, and assisted EMS with transfer of the patient to the Life Lion helicopter.
Company-22 was dispatched for an odor of smoke outside 542 Main Street. Responding personell were met by the caller who stated there was a strong odor of smoke outside and he thought someone should check it out so he summoned the Fire Company. The crew split up to search for a cause, with an initial heavy odor of wood smoke which quickly dissipated. Chief-22 placed the box in service after a search turned up no fire.
Box 26-2 dispatched to 275 Kocher Road in Mifflin Township for multiple calls reporting a fully involved turkey barn. This sent companies 26, 21, 20, 27, and 28. Chief 26 went responding from Elizabethville and reported a large column of smoke visible from there. On his arrival on scene, he found a 500 foot long by 75 foot wide turkey barn that was well involved, and he requested a second Truck and 3 additional Tankers. Truck 22 was dispatched, along with Northumberland Tankers 62 and 65, and Millersburg's Tanker 20. Truck 22 responded with 7, and Chief 22-1 responded POV from Gratz. On arrival, the Truck set up on the south side at the east end of the fire building, and was supplied by Rescue 27 through a 5 inch line. The Truck went in service flowing both deck guns to the eastern section of the building, with Rescue 27 being supplied by Tankers 27, 28, 26, 62, and 65. Companies 26, 21, and 20 were working the west end of the building with Company 28 handling the fill site at Reitz Road and Route 25. After extinguishment of the eastern section, the Truck repositioned several times, working their way towards the western end of the building and extinguishing visible fire from above while crews worked the sides and interior. This continued until all visible fire was darkened down. After completing their task, the Truck was placed available by command.
Companies 24, 23, 22, 21, and Schuylkill 647 dispatched class one to the area of East Market Street and Cemetery Road for a reported shed fire. Truck 22 responded with 7 and Engine 22 held in quarters with 6. Chief 24 was in the area and could not find anything and had units go to level one staging. Engine 23 discovered the shed fire and found the correct address which actually made it a Schuylkill box 647. The Truck arrived on scene and sent manpower forward. Companies 23 and 24 and 647 had the fire extinguished and were doing overhaul. Command then released the Truck which returned available.
Engine 22 dispatched class three to 25 Main Street in front of Chief 22-1s residence for a wire down. Engine 22 responded with 6 and Chief 22-1 was all ready on location. On arrival the Engine crew removed a downed cable line from the roadway and re opened Main Street. The box was placed available.
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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These lists can be filtered. Use the control section above to activate or de-activate filtering. Filtering will not affect the list of incidents we've responded to. But, it will be applied to both the other lists.
