Hazleton City Fire Department was kept busy on Monday January 3, 2011 with three small fires and two fluids down calls.
12:28 hr 1st dispatch fluids down from a MVA Spruce and Locust St. no injuries crews used oil dry to soak up fluids and assisted HPD with traffic control.
Units on the box Eng. 3 Chief 3
14:43 hr 2nd dispatch fluids down Vine & Broad St. Crews arrived to find about 3 gallons of gasoline spilled on the roadway from a ruptured fuel line on a passenger van. Crews used oil dry to soak up the gasoline that was swept up by the tow company that crews helped the vehicle owner call.
Units on the box Eng. 3 Chief 3
15:57 hr 3rd Dispatch reported heating unit on fire with people evacuating at 198 S. Poplar St. Urania Engineering. Crews arrived to find a slight smoke condition in the machine shop and the building occupants pointing toward the heater that was hanging from the ceiling. Crews secured the utilities to the heater and used A frame ladders to dismantle the still smoldering heater blower unit. The building was vented by opening the garage doors. The burnt heater blower unit was removed to the outside of the building were it could not cause any more harm or damage. There were no injuries at the time of the fire. Members all five city companies responded.
Units on the box Engines 3, 5, ladder 1 Chiefs 1, 2, 3 and Medic 11
16:43 hr 4th dispatch reported smoke pouring from the front of a house at 560 N. Laurel St. Crews arrived to find a light smoke condition inside the basement and a unusual amount of smoke coming from a direct vent pipe on the side of the home near the porch.
Crews checked for CO as they entered the basement to check the light smoke condition. Crews found a blocked smoldering vent pipe on the outside of the home. The blocked vent pipe was not allowing the proper draft and smoke was backing up through the pellet stove. Crews removed the smoldering blocked vent hood outside and placed the stove in shut down mode. The smoke in the basement dissipated through an opened cellar door. There was no extension into the home and the fire was contained to the vent hood. There were no injuries at the time of the fire.
Units on the box Engines 2, 5 Ladder 1 Chiefs 1, 2, 3 and Medic 11
23:10 hrs 5th Dispatch reported structure fire with smoke in the building at 236 E. Beech St. Crews arrived to find three of the 12 unit row home 234, 236, 238 with a light smoke haze in the basement. Crews noticed that the 234 home was now getting a smoke haze on the first floor. The Crew’s searched with three Tics’ and was able to locate a hot section of wall in the basement by the cellar door. The outside basement door was opened and a small smoldering fire was located in the corner of the wall. As crews opened up the wall and door sill the fire was exposed and extinguished with a PW. A carelessly tossed cigarette had fallen down between the brick wall of the house and the door header. This was enough to start the sill plate smoldering. There were no injuries at the time of the fire and no families had to be displaced.
Units on the box Engines 3, 5, Ladder 1 Chief 3 and Medic 11