2022 Year in Review: Firefighters battled several large fires in Schuylkill County

Dec. 29—Schuylkill County firefighters responded to several noteworthy fires in 2022.

Ringtown

A Valentine's Day fire destroyed a well-known business and an attached home on the borough's main street.

It was around 5:30 a.m. Feb. 14 when firefighters were called to 117 W. Main St. for a report of a commercial fire with possible entrapment.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a large amount of flames at that address spreading to an attached building that housed Rentschler's Ice Cream Shop.

Crews managed to bring the fire under control in three hours, but the home and business were in ruins.

State police fire marshals believe the fire started inside the unoccupied home that was being renovated.

The magnitude of the blaze prompted officials to call in tanker trucks from nearby counties to help supply the large amount of water needed to combat the flames.

Ringtown Fire & Rescue Company Chief Joseph Gilbert Jr. said the fire left one person homeless.

A cat emerged from the rubble about six hours after the blaze began, he added.

No firefighter injuries were reported.

Orwigsburg

A family of six was left homeless after a June 17 fire destroyed their home in the borough.

Orwigsburg Fire Chief Scott Rarick said firefighters were called to 117 E. Tammany St. around 9:20 p.m. and found heavy fire to the rear of the home.

He said it took firefighters from Orwigsburg and surrounding communities about two hours to bring the blaze under control.

Due to the heat and humidity, Rarick called for a third alarm for manpower.

Crews remained at the scene into the early morning hours June 18 to ensure the flames were completely extinguished.

The chief said two firefighters were injured battling the fire; one with heat exhaustion, the other with a leg injury.

"They were treated and then released pretty quickly," Rarick said.

Left homeless by the fire were Howard Ash, his wife, Victoria, and their children, William, Howard IV, Kay Kay and Killian.

Although he did not have details, Rarick said that the residence was the scene of a fire in August of 2021.

The building was damaged at the time, but the latest blaze destroyed the structure, the chief said.

Pottsville

A fire in a city apartment building on July 21 left around a dozen people homeless.

The fire has been ruled accidental.

Pottsville Assistant Fire Chief Daniel Kleeman said he could see a column of smoke while responding down Market Street just after receiving the 5:42 a.m. alarm.

When Kleeman got to the scene, the entire back of the building at 639 N. Second St. was engulfed in flames.

He said no injuries were reported and people living in the building were able to exit on their own before firefighters arrived.

Pottsville Fire Chief James Misstishin Sr. said the investigation determined the fire originated in an apartment to the rear of the building.

Without providing further details, he said said the blaze was accidental.

The chief said heat and humidity played a role in fighting the fire.

To help firefighters cool off, a Schuylkill Transportation System bus was called in for its air conditioning. Bottles of water were also provided.

The Salvation Army Disaster Unit from Boyertown was at the scene to assist both victims of the fire and volunteers battling the blaze.

Misstishin said there were no firefighter injuries or injuries to occupants of the apartment building.

After the fire, Pottsville code officials posted the building as being uninhabitable.

Mahanoy City

A raging fire on Oct. 7 gutted two homes and severely damaged the top floors of an apartment building in the 100 block of East Mahanoy Avenue.

Firefighters were called around 7:50 p.m. for a report of a house on fire at 132 E. Mahanoy Ave. and found the home engulfed in flames that were spreading to 134 E. Mahanoy Ave.

In addition to the two homes, fire damaged a three-floor apartment building at 136-138 E. Mahanoy Ave., sending tenants into the street.

Mahanoy City Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz said Mahanoy City EMS, Mahanoy City police and borough firefighters worked quickly to evacuate residents of the apartment building, which had at least a half-dozen units.

Arriving on the scene, firefighters were initially overwhelmed at the magnitude of the flames but quickly began battling, Markiewicz said.

No firefighter or civilian injuries were reported.

Delano

On Oct. 10, fire destroyed the former Trenton Speed Shop in the Delano Twp. village of Trenton.

Firefighters from Delano, Ryan Twp. and surrounding communities were called to the three-bay garage at 81 Trenton Road around 1:30 p.m. and were met by a large amount of fire when they arrived within minutes of the call.

Owner John Leaswitch said his garage was a total loss.

Matt Morgan of the Ryan Twp. Fire Company said that when he arrived, there were flames shooting from the roof and from all three garage bays.

State police fire marshal Trooper Joseph Hall of the Reading station investigated and determined the point of origin was in the area of the wood-burning fireplace.

Morgan said although the point of origin had been determined, an exact cause has yet to be found.

Tamaqua

On Oct. 29, Tamaqua firefighters were called to the 100 block of West Broad Street for a report of an apartment building on fire and found smoke and flames coming from 117 and 119 W. Broad St.

Despite the efforts of firefighters, flames spread to the east to 115 W. Broad St., a building that had apartments on the second and third floors and was home to Dn'A Bikes on the first floor.

Fire also spread to the west to the upper floors of the Mila Buffet restaurant at 121-123 W. Broad St.

Several tenants of the apartment buildings were treated at the scene by EMS units from Tamaqua, Lehighton and Penn Mahoning. Some reportedly were taken to nearby at St. Luke's Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale.

Shenandoah

A fire late night in the borough on Nov. 27 damaged five homes and left 14 people homeless.

Firefighters were called just after 11:30 p.m. to the 200 block of East Coal Street for a report of a structure fire and were met by flames shooting from the second-floor front windows at 213 E. Coal St.

After battling the flames for about 90 minutes, firefighters brought the blaze under control, but not before it destroyed that home and a home at 211 E. Coal St.

Also severely damaged was a home at 215 E. Coal St., with lesser amounts of damage reported to 209 and 217 E. Coal St.

Shenandoah Fire Chief Rick Examitas said the fire is believed to have started in the front second floor room at 213 E. Coal St.

Patty Daley, disaster captain of the American Red Cross Tri-County Chapter, said her organization assisted those displaced by the blaze.

The fire initially brought crews from Shenandoah and surrounding communities.

A second alarm struck a short time later brought more resources from other areas of the county.

(A review of the Tamaqua area fire that claimed the lives of two firefighters will be part of the Republican Herald's Top 10 stories of 2022 this weekend.)