11/16/19 - Harrisburg, PA - Briggs St

At 2156 hours, Harrisburg City “D” platoon members were sent to 2022 Briggs Street for a structure fire. Wagon 4, Squad 8, Tower 1, Truck 2, and Battalion Chief 7 (Bastinelli) made up the initial box alarm assignment. Responding units were advised the caller reported that the second floor is on fire, they are banging on the door, and no one is answering. PD on scene confirming a working fire. Reports of 3 occupants who reside in the residence and unknown if they are trapped. Chief 7 requested the first alarm enroute bringing Wagon 3, Rescue 69, and Air 13 to the scene. Chief 7 arrived on scene with a 2.5 story, wood frame, row of 5, fire on the first floor middle of the row. Companies stretched a 250 foot line to the front door for an aggressive interior attack as companies were now getting reports of entrapment. Chief 7 requested the second alarm at 2202 hours and advised he has fire in at least 3 houses. The second alarm consisted of Engine 30, 37, Trucks 32, 50, and Rescue 91. Engine and Truck 91 who were picking up from a kitchen fire in Swatara Township also responded in on the second alarm. Wagon 3 stretched a line to the rear as heavy fire was consuming the rear of 3 dwellings. Chief 1 took command of the rear and advised of a porch collapse and a power line down. Numerous lines were stretched into the affected dwellings and companies were hampered by the layout as additional rooms made accessing the fire difficult. At 2230 hours all members were removed from the building and companies prepared for defensive operations. 1 firefighter fell from the first floor porch and transported by EMS with non-life threatening injuries. Truck 32 set up in the rear and flowed water into the fire building darkening down the bulk of the fire. Companies resumed interior attack and started to make progress in all the affected dwellings. Extensive overhaul and opening up of the roof and walls were needed to extinguish all visible fire. The fire was placed under control in about 2 hours with the last city units leaving the scene around 0130 hours. In all 5 dwellings were involved and all primary and secondary searches proved to be negative.