Hoses Freeze, Then Breaks While Pennsylvania Firefighters Battle House Blaze

    Jan. 19, 2005
    Bitterly cold weather hampered firefighters' efforts Tuesday morning to put out a fire that destroyed a garage and two cars and seven motorcycles housed inside, a fire official said
    KINGSTON, Pen (AP) -- Bitterly cold weather hampered firefighters' efforts Tuesday morning to put out a fire that destroyed a garage and two cars and seven motorcycles housed inside, a fire official said.

    Trucksville Fire Chief Bill Eck said single-digit temperatures caused two fire hoses to freeze and shatter as firefighters fought the blaze, which was reported at 9:26 a.m. at the Joseph Yagloski property at 1567 W. Eighth St.

    "It was terrible," Eck said. "Pumps froze up. Gauges froze up. Hoses froze up. ... As soon as we'd move a hose it would just shatter like a piece of glass."

    Eck said firefighters also had difficulty driving up Yagloski's driveway, which he said was about 1,200 feet long and covered with snow and ice. One of the company's trucks sustained minor damage after it slid and struck a guide rail while trying to traverse the driveway, he said.

    The hoses that shattered were smaller diameter hoses that firefighters hold when attempting to extinguish a fire. The other, larger diameter transport hoses were not affected. He said firefighters had multiple hoses on the fire and quickly replaced the ones that shattered.

    Despite the problems, Eck said firefighters got the blaze under control within 30 minutes and prevented it from spreading to a barn, which was less than 15 feet away. The fire was completely extinguished within about two hours, he said.

    The garage was heated by a wood burner, but Eck said he could not determine if it caused the blaze. A state police fire marshal has been called in to investigate, he said.

    In addition to the cars and motorcycles, the garage housed a tractor and multiple carpenter and mechanic tools, Eck said.

    Yagloski suffered burns to his face while trying to retrieve some of the items. He refused treatment at the scene by ambulance crews, Eck said.

    In addition to Trucksville, fire departments from Shavertown, Dallas, Franklin Township and Mount Zion responded to the call, as well as the Kingston Township Ambulance and Rescue.

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