Abandon Factory Burns In Hamburg

March 13, 2005

Story & Photo’s By Will Heffner

On Sunday March 13, 2005 at approx. 1440 hours, Berks County Company 61 was dispatched to a reported structure fire at the intersection of 3rd & Pine Streets in the Boro. Hamburg Chief 61-10 was informed this was an abandon factory. Chief 61-10 arrived on scene to find heavy smoke & fire coming from the 2nd floor, and requested the second alarm be dispatched, which brought out Berks Companies 40 (Shoemakersville), 37 (Leesport), 38 (Central Berks), 33 (Virginville), and 41 (Shartlesville). Aerial 61 arrived on scene to the side of the building and put hand lines in service. Firefighters did a quick knock down of the flames so it would not spread into any other parts of the building. Chief 61-10 requested another alarm be struck, which brought Berks Company 44 (Kempton), 45 (Fleetwood), Schuylkill County District 42 (Deer Lake), 39 (Auburn), Station 1, for Ladder 725 (Schuylkill Haven). Aerial 33 arrived on scene and was placed on Pine St. in front of the building, and LDH was laid into the two aerials that were on scene. Ladder 725 and Aerial 45 arrived on scene and were placed on the west side of the building in the alley. District 39 requested District 34 Station 2 be moved up to their station for stand by. Schuylkill County District 56 (Orwigsburg) was requested to respond as a R.I.T. and requested that a station from Schuylkill Haven be moved up into their station. Firefighters from Company 45 and Station 1 assisted in ventilation operations. District 56 firefighters were placed in service to relieve the ventilation crews on the roof.

 

Some Companies on scene were released and placed back in service. A State Police Fire Marshal was called to the scene to investigate.

 

Assisting at the scene were EMS, North Penn Goodwill Services from Souderton, PA, Fire Police and Hamburg Police Dept.

 

North Penn Goodwill Services provided drinks and food for Firefighters. A local church was having a dinner for the new Pastor, which was only two blocks away, also provided a meal for the firefighters.