At 1 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, January 2, 1934, fire was discovered by five boys playing at the rear of the Main Street buildings owned by Harry Forman, Dr. J. N. Baker, and Guy Klinger. The fire seems to have been centered midway between the three buildings. The boys, Harry Collier, Jack Messner, Bobbie Kosier, James Nutt, and Bobby Mucher ran around the corner to the Lykens hosehouse, where Harper Dunlap was on duty. He sounded the alarm. The fire soon spread under the tin and slate roofs to the three buildings, and threatened the entire business block. The Lykens firemen immediately answered the alarm and upon arrival started their difficult battle to locate and extinguish the blaze. Because of the difficult building construction, the fire was believed to be spreading, and a call for assistance was sent to nearby towns. To this call, firemen and apparatus came from Millersburg, Elizabethville, Wiconisco, and Williamstown. The four out-of-town companies set to work laying hose lines and soon had their pumpers at work, which labored considerably more than two hours throwing water on the three structures from eight hoses. In the Forman Building, the first floor occupied by the clothing store of Mr. Harry Forman, the bulk of the stock and fixtures were removed. Mr. Forman, who resided in the second floor of the building, was unable to remove any of his furniture. The greatest damage to the house furnishings was done by water. The next building in the block, owned by Dr. J. Nevin Baker, the first floor was occupied by the furniture store of Mr. Mayers Forman. The bulk of the stock was saved. On the second floor, all of the dental equipment of Dr. Baker, including a recently purchase X-Ray device, was destroyed. In the same building on the second floor, the office of Assistant District Attorney, E. LeRoy Keen, furniture, and a valuable law library were also destroyed. The Texas Restaurant, also on the first floor of the Baker building was damaged by water. In the Klinger building, the post office was housed on the first floor. All the mail and equipment was saved, and temporary quarters was established in the Leo Building on East Main Street. The bulk of the fire damage was suffered in the second floor apartment, tenanted by Mr. Harry Sitlinger, who was successful in removing part of the house furnishings. The furnishings of Mr. Klinger, who also lived in the building, were removed. Main Street was crowded with spectators, who, before the fire became dangerous, helped residents and business people in saving merchandise and personal property. The fire was fought for more than three hours, and the loss was estimated at $100,000.
Company 22 was dispatched class three to 637 Main Street for a report of an odor inside the building. The owner of the property called Chief 22-2 to report the problem, and the chief called County dispatch to have the company dispatched. Chiefs 22 and 22-1 responded POV, Engine 22 responded with a crew of six, and Truck 22 responded with a crew of four. The Engine and Truck arrived on side-A, and crews were sent inside with the heat gun, thermal imaging camera, and CO monitor to investigate the odor. After an investigation, nothing was found, and the company cleared the scene.
Truck 22 dispatched class one on the 27-1 box for a report of sparks from a cable box at 413 East Market Street in Gratz. Truck 22 responded with 7 and Utility 22 with 4, and were canceled by command 27 shortly after leaving the Boro.
Company 22 and 23 dispatched class one to the Alfa Laval Thermal Corp plant at 300 Chestnut Street in Lykens for an automatic fire alarm. Chief 22 responded POV and Engine 22 with 4 and Engine 23 with 3. On arrival, the Chief observed strobes going off and an audible alarm coming from the main plant, a 100 by 500 foot steel one story industrial manufacturing building. A crew from Engine 22 went interior after gaining access with the Knox key, while Engine 23 stood by the hydrant at Chestnut and Hanna Streets. A thorough search of the interior found no problems. The alarm panel was silenced and command placed the box available.
Company 22 dispatched class one to 601 Main Street in Lykens for a medical assist for a cardiac arrest AED response. Chief 22 and 7 other members responded POV to the scene. Utility 22 responded with 2 and Truck 22 with 4. On arrival the crew assisted Ambulance 24 and Medic 621 with removing the patient from their second floor apartment to their transport unit for a trip to the hospital. Command then placed the Company available.
Company 22 dispatched class one to 330 Main Street in Lykens for a cardiac arrest. Chief 22 responded POV to the scene and Utility 22 went enroute with 2. On arrival Command called a signal 12 and the Company 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.
2.
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.
3.
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.
4.
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.
