FRACKVILLE-- More than 100 area firefighters battled a stubborn fire Saturday afternoon at the Gilberton Power Station coal generation plant in West Mahanoy Township.
The fire at the John B. Rich Memorial Power Station was discovered around 4 p.m. in a building that houses the turbines and boilers used in the cogeneration process, said James Hampford of the Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency.
Hampford was on scene in the event firefighters needed any specialized equipment or assistance from specialized agencies outside Schuylkill County.
Fire officials said thick pads of insulation between the roof and inner roof caught fire and were smouldering.
Firefighters had difficulty accessing the flames from the inside because of the heavy metal barrier below the insulation. They also had difficulty accessing the flames from the roof because of stones laid on top.
The height of the building also made their task more difficult because of the exertion it took to reach the roof area.
"A lot of the guys were too tired to work when they reached the top," said Frackville EMA Coordinator Steve Barrett, who is also a member of Frackville's Goodwill Fire Company, which was one of the first companies called to the scene.
Barrett said heat from the cogeneration process, both inside the building and on the roof, added to the firefighters' problems.
A firefighter said they had to cut a hole in the southwest corner of the roof, and were able to extinguish the fire in the insulation with minimal damage.
Two firefighters suffered heat-related symptoms and were treated at the scene by emergency medical technicians from the Saint Clair EMS Rehabilitation Unit.
No serious injuries were reported, fire officials said.
Firefighters responding to the scene were from West Mahanoy Township, Butler Township, Frackville, Saint Clair, Ashland, Mahanoy City, and other surrounding communities.
EMS units from Frackville and Saint Clair also responded.
It was a busy afternoon for several of the companies called to the scene.
Goodwill firefighters were in the midst of their annual block party when the alarm sounded, while Shenandoah Heights firefighters were just cleaning up after a serious accident on the Raven Run Road.
In addition, firefighters from Mahanoy City had just finished a day of training at the Schuylkill County Fire School nearby and had just returned to their community when the call for help came in.
