09.18.11 - 2nd Alarm; Whitehall, PA

At 0332 hours, Lehigh County Fire Dispatch transmitted the box for a house fire at 3018 N. Front Street. The fire dispatcher advised they received one call. Shortly after dispatch, the dispatcher told units that multiple calls were now being received.

Assistant Chief Bilder (3A) transmitted a working fire while he was enroute to the station. As he passed the house, he could see heavy fire from the 1st floor. Police officers gained access to the dwelling from the rear to conduct a search but were driven back by intense heat and smoke.

Engine 3 arrived and brought a supply line to the scene. They found a 2-story duplex at 3019 N. Front St. with heavy fire venting from the first floor. The engine crew stretched a hand line to the side of the dwelling and made their initial attack through a window half way back to try and make a stop of the fire.

It appeared the fire was working in the living room. Engine 13 arrived and stretched another hand line from engine 3. As more firefighters arrived from other stations, an interior attack was commenced through the front door of the dwelling, at which time the bulk of the fire was knocked down.

Three ground ladders were set-up on the delta side of the building. Crews from engine 4 went to the second floor to check for extension and to ventilate.

All searches came up negative. Crews were on the scene for more than 3 hours.

1st Alarm: Engines 3, 13, 2, 12, 6 Truck, Rescue 8
2nd Alarm: Engine 4, Catasauqua Ladder 2, Coplay Air 5

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• wfd
• dwelling
• second alarm
• whitehall
• heavy fire
• house
• engine
• ladder
• structure
• structural
• smoke
• smoking
• emergency
• newsworking

[thefunnyprankguy]

gotta love the side line commentators

[solidstream13]

This is criminal. No wonder their gear and hose is so clean. No SCBA on the nozzle and no line went inside. An exterior wide fog attack will not save any victim that may be in a adjoining room, in the basement or upper floor. This old style attack will only push around the problem.

[cm12385]

Who is the nitwit who has an scba mask bag on his coat and is doing and initial attack without an SCBA? Stupid.

[SlideDownSlow]

I bet that nozzle guy's favorite move is Ladder 49...He's the same guy that will get the big settlement for having cancer from the job in 15 to 20 years

[marcelrotgans]

they made short work of this fire only on 4:05 i guess they had some trouble getting that fire out and i did see some spraks from e live electicity line inside the dwelling well done guys

[jsnasselin]

Why is the lead guy on the hose not wearing a mask? I know this was in the "heat" of the moment but SAFETY needs to be the #1 rule to go to. To see his back up right behind him and wearing his mask, makes me wonder why he wasn't up front. Any Firemen wanna answer this?

[FirstDue]

Scary........! Fire Attack Tactics is very much needed for this FD!

[kicktd22]

wow so glad I don't live in their fire protection district! Surprised they haven't had any serious injuries or deaths. Approaching the fire and being nozzle man WITHOUT wearing FULL PPE (That means SCBA folks!) and a lot of people milling around the fire without full PPE (no SCBA) wow...just wow I wonder who their training officer/safety officer is because whoever it is needs to be let go and a new one needs to come in. They need to be retrained big time, especially on proper PPE.

[commackfm]

NO INTERIOR ATTACK?