Mid Atlantic Rescue

THOMAS MCCLAFFERTY One Rescued from Early Morning Fire in Reading

a home.

Reading, PA - Early on the morning of May 31st a box alarm was transmitted for 903A North 9th Street. With companies responding, Berks County DES dispatchers reported additional phone calls advising that there was still someone inside the building. Ladder 3 arrived with smoke showing from a three-story tax-payer. Seconds later, firefighters observed someone hanging from the second-floor window through the smoke. Firefighters immediately placed a portable ladder to the window to effect a rescue. The victim was removed and handed off to paramedics for treatment and transport. With the ladder rescue in progress, crews stretched a line into the first floor of the structure. With fire extending up the rear, an additional line was stretched. Firefighters were told by neighbors there was another person in the building. All searches proved to be clear with the other occupant escaping prior to the fire department arriving. Deputy Chief Stoudt (C4) placed the fire under control 45 minutes later at 5:31 A.M. The building housed a hair salon on the first floor with apartments on the second and third. No injuries were reported, and the Fire

FIRST DUE PHOTOGRAPHY 87-Year-Old Woman Killed in Fast-Moving Munhall Fire

Munhall, PA – At 12:54 P.M. on May 27th, fire units were dispatched to the 1200 block of Ravine Street for a report of flames coming from

Marshal's Office is investigating.

Police arrived on-scene first with smoke showing and attempted to enter the home to search for any possible residents, but were unable to make it past the front room due to heat and smoke.

Fire units quickly arrived and 204 Chief advised dispatch that it was assumed entrapment due to a car in the driveway. Crews made

JUMP TO FILE #052720112

entry into the home to conduct a search and found high heat and heavy smoke. 204 Lieutenant soon found a victim and requested EMS to report to the 'Charlie' side of the structure.

Soon after the victim was removed, the front of the home flashed and command requested all units evacuate the home. Once crews were out, a defensive attack was set up until the bulk of the fire was knocked down. Crews re-entered the home and continued to chase fire throughout the home before it was finally brought under control over an hour later.

The victim, an 87-year-old woman, was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. One other firefighter was transported to the hospital for heat exhaustion. The fire is now under investigation.

- ERIC RASMUSSEN

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