On Saturday December 10, 2005 at 0326 hours Milton Fire Department Company 15 was dispatched to 196 Ridge Avenue for a reported structure fire.
Chief 1502(Ulrich) arrived with heavy fire showing from the B and C sides all floors.
There were also victims present: one male on the front porch and a female trapped on the front porch roof. Chief 1502 and Milton Fire Police Captain (Mabus) utilized a ladder already at the structure to remove the female on the roof. Another female victim was still unaccounted for inside.
A second alarm was requested bringing mutual aid from Lewisburg, Warrior Run, and White Deer Township.
Upon arrival of Truck 15-1, the crew began to effect a rescue from the front porch roof. Captain Dave Martin made entry into a rapidly deteriorating second floor to begin the search. The entire second floor began to light off as Martin found the victim and made his way to the window. Assistant Chief Brad Gaugler then entered through the same window to remove the victim to the roof where Firefighter "Butch" Whitenight was on the roof to assist the getting the victim down.
Crews began an interior attack from both floors until fire conditions began to compromise the structural integrity. Shortly after backing out, the attic and second floor on the south side collapsed into the first floor.
Defensive operations were set up to bring the fire under control.
Unfortunately, the victim rescued from the interior of the structure succumbed to her injuries.
Two firefighters received minor burns to their hands making the initial rescue from the roof, and another received minor burns to his face making the interior rescue.
Extensive overhaul was performed and crews remained on scene to assist the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal. All units were available at 1023 hours. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Units on scene: Milton Chief 1502, Chief 1503, Truck 15-1, Engine 15-1, Rescue 15-1 William Cameron Engine Company(Lewisburg) Rescue 2-1, BLS, Warrior Run Fire Dept(Watsontown) Truck 9-1, Engine 9-1, White Deer Twp. Engine 5-1, BLS, Milton Fire Police, Milton EMS, Evangelical Paramedics, Milton P.D., Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal.
