Two civilians were injured when a two-alarm fire swept through a four-story balloon frame dwelling located Trenton Avenue at the bay on March 24.
A patrolman spotted a heavy column of smoke while on patrol and tracked it to the dwelling, which was fully involved. At 15:00 hours the ACFD 911 center dispatched two engines and two ladders for an alarm of fire for that address with a report of civilians trapped. Battalion 2 arrived two minutes later and requested a second alarm, bringing an additional engine, ladder, air unit, and the Deputy Chief.
The patrolman that discovered the fire also discovered an unresponsive female civilian lying on the roof of the first floor patio, who was removed with the assistance of a neighbor and arriving firefighters by using a ladder that was laying in the alley adjacent to the structure. The second civilian that was injured was the landlord who ran through the building alerting other occupants. He was flown via Medivac to the Crozier-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania for treatment of severe burns.
Due to the area having dead end hydrants, a large diameter hose task force was brought in to assist with supplying water to the fire, forcing the closure of two main arteries into the City; Ventnor Avenue and Albany Avenue, which is the terminus of Rt. 40-322.
Firefighters originally believed there were 20 people inside the building, but only 9 were removed, all uninjured. The fire is believed to have started in a bedroom, but the cause is ongoing.
