Crews Respond to Accident Under Allentown City Hall

 

Around 1900 hrs Allentown Communications Dispatches Engine 4 to the Parking Garage at Allentown City Hall for an accident reportedly vehicle into the building. Shortly after Battalion 43, Engine 9 and Truck 2 were dispatched to City Hall for an automatic alarm. Crews arrived for the alarm and reported an odor of something burning near council chambers, with that report E4 locates the accident in the garage under City Hall with a smoke condition inside do to a small fire. EMS was dispatched for one male with a head injury after the accident, AFD Cleared the smoke from the lower level and first floor of CIty Hall and also handled a spill from the vehicle and two APD Motorcycles that were damaged. Allentown Police are investigating the circumstances behind the accident and towing removed the damaged vehicles...

Allentown Strikes a 2nd Alarm on the West End

Allentown Firefighters responded to the 200 blk of West St Early Monday morning for a reported house fire, as crews were responding they were advised of possible entrapment. Engine 10 and the Battalion Chief arrived on location and reported heavy fire 1st floor of a middle of row. Crews stretched in and started to make a hit while additional units went in for search and rescue. A 2nd alarm was transmitted as smoke continued to come from the top floors of the home, all searches were negative and no injuries were reported..

Philadelphia Fire: 1 Saturday Afternoon, 3 Jobs Working the Front Lines in the City of Brotherly Love

 Our day of Philadelphia started to pick up about an hour and a half after our arrival, just after our crew grabbed some lunch we responded to North Philly to 7th and Luray St for a well off Middle of Row. PFD Arrived and engine crews quickly went to work with two lines putting a hit on the fire while the truck companies opened up. With in 20 minutes the under control was given and the All Hands Box was downgraded to a 1 & 1 and crews remained on location for overhaul and investigative work.

 The next fire Kept us North in Battalion 2 district with the address of fire being 7638 Thouron Av, Crews arrived to heavy smoke throughout and Put the 2 & 2 in service with all hands working. The fire was located in the basement of the middle of the row, engine crews stretched in and made a hit while the truck companies prepped to go to the roof before opening up the home. Again Crews had the fire under control in about 20 minutes and dropped the run to a 1 & 1 for overhaul and investigation.

 As crews were picking up from Thouron St another Tactical Box was put out a couple blocks away at 1825 Plymouth for a fire in another middle of the row. Battalion 2 quickly responds over and transmits the All Hands on Arrival with heavy fire on the first floor. Engine crews arrive and stretch a line to the front door and put on knock on the fire, an additional line was stretched to the rear but not put into service. Truck companies opened up the house and check for extension and the fire marshal was requested for the investigation. This was another fire that went to a 2 & 2 and was quickly downgraded to a 1 & 1 with the fire under control, this was the third and final fire for our crews while in Philadelphia.

Quakertown Puts All hands In Service for Top Floor Job

Around 2130 hours Quakertown units were dispatched to the 300 Blk of Franklin St for a dwelling fire, Crews arrived on location to find heavy fire in the third floor of the residence. Crews stretched 2 lines into the fire building to put a knock on the fire while truck crews opened up, all units were in service for about an hour and no injuries were reported..

Allentown Shooting Inside Lehigh Valley Hospital 17th Street Ruled Murder - Suicide

Around 1300 hrs on Tuesday Allentown Police and EMS were sent to Lehigh Valley Hospital 17th and Chew Street Campus for a report of a shooting.  The call came after shots were heard on the 4th floor of the hospital in the Hospice Unit.  Police arrived on location to find hospital staff were already tending to and confirming that there were 2 gunshot victims and both were deceased.  As the investigation went along it was determined that an elderly male walked into his wife's room in the hospice wing Shot and Killed her, he then turned the gun on himself while still in the room killing himself.  In a press conference it was announced that at the time of the incident no other individuals were injured and the incident was confined to the single room.

Media Response to Incident:

Local News Media were the first to break the story and sent crews of photographers and reporters to the scene.  As the word got out about the incident the attention grew to the national level, Media agencies from Philadelphia quickly converged on location and the story was rapidly making it National Broadcasts like CNN.  The parking lot across from the entrance to the facility was filled with microwave and satellite trucks broadcasting live transmissions of the story to all their viewers.  Multiple press conferences were held by officials and reports and cameras filled the streets all trying to get the story from the people who lived it.  As the days go on the story will be surrounded in various ways the question why was answered almost right away, but the question as to how will most likely be asked at some point and will eventually revolve around hospital security.  By the time this story is over both locally and national every possible angle will be covered from this tragic event.

4 Dead at Emmaus,PA 2nd Alarm Apartment Fire

Just before noon time on St. Patrick's Day Emmaus Firefighters are dispatched to the area of 5th and Jubilee for a reported apartment fire with entrapment. Crews arrive on location to heavy fire on the top floors and immediately stretch lines to attempt to make a fire attack and attempt search and rescue. As crews made the attack conditions rapidly deteriorated and the evacuation order was given putting units into a defensive mode. several lines and a ladder pipe were placed in service making a hit on the fire, at least one person was taken to the hospital and the coroners office was requested to the scene, the fire is currently under investigation.

Allentown Police Investigate Chew St Shooting

On Scene as Allentown Police investigate a reported shooting in the 1300 Blk of Chew St in the City, Police and EMS were called out around 0100 hrs for an individual that was shot. Allentown EMS Transported the victim to a local trauma center in serious condition and Police search the scene for evidence and witnesses...

Allentown Stretches for Southside Apartment

 Just after midnight Engine 11, 14, 9, 4 (FAST) Truck 2 and Battalion 43 were dispatched to 2060 Vine St for a reported apartment building fire. Engine 11 first on location has smoke showing from the D side roof area of the building, crews start to pull ceiling and find fire running the attic area of the building. One line is stretched into the building and crews put a quick knock on the fire, all searches were negative and crews opened up checking for extension. The cause is under investigation by the fire marshal's office and companies were back in service in about an hour and a half..

Allentown Stretches on Early Morning Storefront Job

Early Thursday Morning Allentown Comm Dispatched Engines 6, 13, 10 Battalion 43 and Truck 2 along with Unit 53 (E4) to the area of 9th and Allen for a reported structure fire. Crews arrived on location with smoke showing from the mixed use structure and started to search the building. Crews went to the 2nd and 3rd floors and reported heavy smoke with high heat Engine 6 stretched a line into the first floor store section of the building where the fire was located. All searches for residents were negative and the attack crew had the fire knocked down. FM45 and E14 (FAST) were added to the box, no injuries were reported and the fire is under investigation..

Allentown Firefighters Arrive to Heavy Fire in M/O/R

Allentown Firefighters are dispatched to the 400 Blk of Chestnut St Wednesday Evening for a reported house fire. When responding they are advised of multiple calls and the Battalion Chief reports smoke showing a few blocks out. Crews arrive to heavy fire venting from the 2nd floor of the home with a report of people trapped, crews make an aggressive entry into the home with stretching 3 lines to darken down the fire. Crews open up trying to stop extensions while others conduct a search of the home. The Children thought to be in the home were not there at the time of the fire no injuries were reported and the fire is under investigation, the Red Cross is providing assistance to the families affected..

Bethlehem Twp Arrives to Fully Involved Home

A little after Midnight Friday Fire Crews from Bethlehem Township were dispatched to the 3100 Blk of Prescott Rd for a dwelling fire. Police arrive on location and report a fully involved home first arriving crews from stations 14 and 17 arrive and go right to work stretching multiple lines. The truck company from St14 was put into service with master stream to knock down the fire. The home suffered extensive damage collapsing in some areas, no injuries were reported and the fire is under investigation.

Allen Twp Firefighters Tackle Commercial Structure Fire

Wednesday night Northampton County 911 dispatch Fire Crews from Allen Twp and surrounding areas to Protocam on Cherryville Rd in Allen Twp. Crews arrive on location with heavy smoke showing and reported explosions inside the building, as units prepare for an attack flames erupt from the building. Crews go in service with multiple hand lines knocking down the fire before making entry to hit hot spots, a truck crew from Station 46 goes in service checking for any fire in the roof area. Crews have the fire under control in about an hour with no reported injuries, the fire is currently under investigation..

Forks Twp Battles Fire in Building Under Contruction

Around 1930 hrs this evening crews were alerted to a structure fire in the 1400 Blk of Fox Run Rd in Forks Twp. When crews went responding they were advised of numerous calls for a building under construction burning. First arriving officers confirms a home under construction well off and orders the 1st alarm Working Fire assignment dispatched. Crews immediately went defensive with hand lines and a ladder pipe in service, crews also checked a neighboring home which suffered heat and fire damage to the siding of the home. The fire was brought under control fairly quickly and additional personnel checked the neighborhood due to embers from the fire flying through the air. The fire is currently under investigation by the fire marshals office..

Allentown 2nd Floor Fire Discovered After Walk-in Complaint

Right around Noon time EMS at the Hibernia Station receive a walk-in complaint for a house fire in the 100 Blk of Allen St in the Ward. Allentown Comm sends out a full box along with the reports of possible entrapment, Truck 2 Arrives first on location with smoke showing from the 2nd floor and call the worker. Crews immediately determine all occupants are out and a line from Engine 13 is stretched into the building. Crews quickly put water on the fire and hold it to the fire floor. No injuries were reported and crews remained on location for overhaul and the investigation before clearing..

North Whitehall Makes Quick Work of Mobile Home Job

Early Sunday Morning Crews from North Whitehall, Whitehall, and Lehigh Twp Went to work with a working fire at a Mobile Home. Crews arrived to find fire in a bedroom and underneath the structure, 2 lines were stretched only one was put into service to make the hit. The fire was originally reported with entrapment but it was determined the homeowner was not home at the time of the fire..