SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. – At 12:03 PM on Tuesday, December 21, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched Fire District 68 (Pottsville) to the 500 Block of West Market Street for a house fire.


Chief 68 was advised of multiple calls reporting a house fire near Garfield Square. Chief 68 stated he had a column visible and requested a Rapid Intervention Team from Schuylkill Haven.


Chief 68 arrived on scene to find a working fire in a three story brick home with one exposure on the “D” side. Command was established with smoke from the front door and fire showing from the “B” side.


Ladder 68-25 and Engine 68-13 arrived simultaneously and took the address. A line was stretched from the Ladder while 68-13 secured a water supply. Engine 68-16 established a water supply from 6th Street and fed the ladder. Engine 68-14 and Ladder 68-21 were directed to come in off Arch Street and operate in the rear of the building.


Command advised all crews that he was now receiving a report of possible entrapment on the second floor. Interiors performed a primary search of the first and second and radio’d the search was negative.


Multiple additional lines were stretched to the “B” side where crews knocked down fire on the second floor from the exterior and then stretched an additional line up an exterior stairwell.


An engine and ladder were requested from Minersville Fire-Rescue who sent their crews to the front of the building. An engine from Port Carbon and Tower from Saint Clair were moved in to cover the City.

Multiple units from Schuylkill EMS were on-scene standing by and providing rehab.


A State Police Fire Marshal was requested to the scene to investigate. PPL was also notified to disconnect the electric service to the house.

Crews were able to bring the fire under control in about 20 minutes and the fire was placed under control at 1:19PM.

Pottsville firefighters remained on-scene throughout the afternoon.