On Monday, Feb. 8, fire destroyed a garage and damaged a house in Bradford Township, PA.
The Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a garage fire with exposures at 219 Rutherford Run at 12:13 p.m.
Engines 151 and 153, both 1,500-gpm pumpers and Engine 155, a 1,250-gpm pumper responded with 26 firefighters under the command of Chief Dan Burkhouse.
A Bradford Township police officer reported a fully involved garage with fire spreading to the exposed residential structure. Knowing that the location of the fire was on a rural road quite some distance from the nearest hydrant, Burkhouse requested a tanker from the Lewis Run Volunteer Fire Department.
He assumed command. One crew was assigned to interior operations and advanced one line through the front door of the residence and into a bedroom and started pulling the ceiling.
Fire had spread to the attic area of the house. Another crew advanced the second line to the side of the residence and knocked the exterior fire on the house. Fire had burned through the electric service into the house and was arcing.
Penelec was notified to respond to the scene to shut off power to the structure. Engine 151's crew established a three inch supply line to Engine 153. Water supply was established, another one and three-quarter-inch attack line was placed into operation on the garage.
Lewis Run Tanker 62, a 3,500 gallon tanker with a 1,000-gpm pump supplied Engine 155. Interior crews contained the fire to one bedroom and the attic area above it.
Extensive exterior overhaul was needed to remove aluminum siding, backing and soffit to extinguish hotspots. The garage also required extensive overhaul as the metal roof had completely collapsed.
The last Bradford Township unit left the scene at 4 p.m. Firefighters used approximately 4,000 gallons of water to extinguish the fire. Also, 650-feet of one-and-three quarter-inch as well as 150 fet of three-inch lines were used.
The fire destroyed the garage, a 2002 pickup truck, an ATV and a four-wheeler. Damage to the house was limited to two exterior walls, one bedroom and a portion of the attic.
The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation by a Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal and Bradford Township authorities.
