Allentown 3rd Alarm Multi-House Fire

On Tuesday November 11, 2008 Allentown 911 dispatched Engines 11, 14, 9 Truck 1 and Battalion 3 to the 1900 Blk of Delaware St for the reported Dwelling fire. On arrival heavy fire was showing from the rear and a Second Alarm was struck. As crews attempted to make an interior attack the fire quickly moved through multiple homes via a back porch and common roof. Fire command hit out the third alarm bringing in every available piece of fire apparatus in the city. The fire was brought under control in about an hour and a half, damaged 5 homes, and several firefighters suffered minor injuries.

One of the homes destroyed belonged to an Allentown firefighter who was off duty and home at the time of the fire. Efforts are under way to raise Funds.

Those wondering how they may help after Tuesdays devastating fire, a relief fund has been established to help Rick and his family. Donations may be made payable to: * Ricky Ensley Relief Fund * C/O IAFF Local 302 * 723 W. Chew St. Suite 302 * Allentown, PA 18102


The fire was ruled accidental and started in faulty wiring in the basement of the one home.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Allentown
• fire
• AFD
• working
• 3rd
• alarm
• lehigh
• county
• pennsylvania
• structure
• house
• dwelling
• firefighters

[tdluvs]

Hello. I have a few question. I am not a fire fighter so I don't know. 1) How come they cut a hole in the roof? I thought fire needs oxygen to burn hotter and stronger which would be adding fuel to the fire? 2) If you pause the video at 5:15 mark, you can see a cross on the wall. I know God is good but can someone explain to me how a fire this big doesn't burn a cross without using God as the answer because that is my answer. thank you for teaching me.

[firtog]

@tdluvs Putting a hole in the roof serves the purpose of releasing heat and smoke from a building it is used to relieve those two things for firefighters inside, it can also be used as a way to access the fire like in this type of situation where it is unsafe to enter the building. As far as the Cross Your guess is as good as mine

[farouk02382]

Great video, firtog!

Why are there breaks in the video? Thanks!

[firtog]

no breaks just dissolves had to shorten for youtube length rules

[bloodngut]

noticed the guy using the ventsaw on the roof didnt have his SCBA waist strap on!

[chevyboyjimmy]

good video, sorry to hear it was a members house, and my support goes out to the other homeowners aswell, and no he wasnt wearing his waist strap, but thats how we do it on the east coast, get over it.

[mrstevebournias]

@tdluvs ....as fire increases inside a house or building it gives off heat, poisonous explosive gases in the form of smoke and these all rise upward as heat and smoke do till they reach the highest point inside the place which is just under the roof.If these are not given a way out by a hole in the roof they will eventually explode suddenly and the fire will worsen inside exponentially wreaking destruction and death. Trucks with the big ladders on top are the units assigned to open up the roof.

[JTACIJ]

why was he putting water in the vent hole at the end,thats not cool

[JTACIJ]

no straps , no gloves, no safety man to back him up , safety first

[UJustR4pedMe]

i got a question. when are you going to put vids up of you responding i like those more. and just a request if you do put on up of you responding can you put it with you guys/girls in station get suited up to or part of it. if you can thank you. if you cant i dont see a prob...