Two Monday evening fires not only exhausted the resources of the Russellville Fire Department, but also required the response of auto aid fire departments after the two fires ignited within minutes of each other.
At approximately 7:40 p.m. on Monday, June 26, the Russellville Fire Department was dispatched to an industrial fire at a pallet company on Bernice Avenue. Upon the arrival of firefighters they found a working fire in one of the bins at the location. Firefighters began fighting the fire and within minutes, a second fire was reported.
At 7:43 p.m., RFD Engine 3 was dispatched to 1805 West Main Street to a reported structure fire. At the time of the call, RFD only had one unit available, (Engine 3, Medic 3) and due to the limited resources, the Pottsville Fire Department and Dover City Fire Department were also dispatched per auto aid to the fire.
Upon the arrival of firefighters, they found a working fire in a vacant two story residential structure and began to fight the fire.
After entering the structure to initiate an offensive fight, the fire gained strength and began exiting the roof of the structure. As flames burned through the roof, command on scene radioed firefighters fighting the fire from the interior of the structure, and advised them to exit the home as the fight transitioned to a defensive fight.
Upon the arrival of RFD Ladder 1, West Main Street was closed to traffic as heavy smoke reduced visibility in the area and as firefighters made access to a hydrant located across the roadway.
Through the use of RFD Ladder 1, firefighters extended its ladder and began to knock down the flames that exited the structure.
In the meantime, firefighters worked to extinguish the fire on Bernice Avenue and once the industrial fire was extinguished, additional RFD firefighters responded to the West Main fire to join the fight.
During the incident, RFD was also assisted by officers with the Russellville Police Department.
After the fire was determined to be under control, the Pottsville and Dover City Fire Departments were released from the scene. RFD firefighters remained on scene working to extinguish the blaze until just after 11 p.m. Monday night.
No injuries reported in the incident.
At the time of this story, the cause of the fire is under investigation and no further information has been released by the Russellville Fire Department.
The attached photos and following video were captured from the scene of the fire on West Main Street Monday night.