Crews battle multiple fires in area over July 4 holiday

Carbon County fire departments were kept busy over the Fourth of July holiday with multiple fires being reported throughout the area.

Crews were called to dwelling fires in Jim Thorpe, East Penn Township, Towamensing Township throughout the day Thursday; three dumpster fires in the Lehighton area Thursday night and a hotel fire early this morning.

The first two-alarm Jim Thorpe fire was reported at 12:20 a.m. at a home at 305 Oak St. Fire departments from Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Nesquehoning, Penn Forest Township, Summit Hill and Lansford, as well as Lehighton ALS were called.

Borough fire Chief Vince Yaich said upon arrival, firefighters encountered a working dwelling fire, as the entire back of the dwelling was completely involved and extending into the attic and roof area.

“We had one or two more mutual aids than normal because of the heat, humidity,” Yaich said. “The guys were getting knocked down pretty quick, so we brought in extra manpower, rotated guys.”

Yaich said the property owner, along with her son and his girlfriend, were home at the time of the fire but were all able to escape with no injuries; however, two cats died in the blaze, and three vehicles were lost. Another cat reportedly escaped the fire, Yaich said.

The home sustained heavy damage and is currently unlivable.

Yaich said the Red Cross provided assistance to the family, and that the mother is staying with her parents.

The fire was brought under control at around 2:30 a.m., and the last Jim Thorpe unit didn’t leave the scene until around 5:30 a.m.

He said a fire marshal is ruling the fire undetermined, pending the completion of his report and investigation.

A neighboring residence at 301 Oak St. sustained minor melting of the siding.

“Our guys did a real good job doing an initial knockdown and keeping it from extending any further,” he said. “Mutual aid companies came over to give our guys a break, and as usual, did a great job giving our guys a break and helping with overhaul and overall cleanup of the scene.”

A second quick-moving fire destroyed a garage and damaged two neighboring homes in East Penn Township.

The fire was first reported just before 2:30 a.m. as a garage fire in the 100 block of Ashley Lane, feet away from two homes.

East Penn Township fire Chief Robert Kleintop said that when crews arrived, the garage was fully engulfed and was spreading to the two modular homes next to it.

Crews from Mahoning Township, Aquashicola, East Penn Township, Lehighton, Bowmanstown, Mahoning Township and West Penn Township were dispatched to the two-alarm fire.

Kleintop said the garage was destroyed, while one of the homes was about 50% destroyed and the other, 25%. Two families were displaced as a result, but no injuries were reported.

“It was a great job by everyone on scene,” he said.

The cause of the fire was ruled undetermined by a state police fire marshal, Kleintop said.

A third fire in the Towamensing Township area was reported just after 1 p.m. in the 7600 block of Pohopoco Drive.

Franklin Township fire Chief Lynn Diehl said it was a three-car detached garage fully involved and was endangering a building. Crews from Franklin Township, Trachsville, Palmerton, Aquashicola, Polk, Kunkletown, West End fire companies were called to the scene.

Diehl said that the garage was destroyed and there was some damage to the home, but no one was displaced in the fire.

He added that the cause of the fire was said to be a wood stove that was being used.

Later that evening and early this morning, dumpster fires that were quickly extinguished were reported in the parking lot at Beltzville Lake, and at the 300 block of Iron Street and the 200 block of North Main Lane, near Dunbar Bottling in Lehighton.

Just after 3 a.m. today, visitors staying in the Country Inn and Suites by Radisson hotel in Franklin Township were evacuated due to a reported fire on the third floor of the hotel.

Diehl said that the call first came in as an automatic fire alarm, but he was told by hotel staff that there was heavy smoke being reported on the third floor.

Crews responded and found that someone had lit something on fire in their room and then extinguished in it with a fire extinguisher. Hotel guests were evacuated as a precaution for a few hours until everything was resolved.

Diehl said that there was no damage and no injuries during the incident.