Three displaced in Mahanoy City fire

Sep. 1—MAHANOY CITY — Three people are displaced after four homes were damaged Friday after an early morning fire.

"It's a total loss," Mahanoy City Fire Chief Daniel J. Markiewicz said of the homes at 12, 14, 16 and 18 S. A St.

He did not have a damage estimate, but the structure will need to be torn down.

A supervisor with the Schuylkill County Communications Center said the fire was called in at 6:40 a.m.

One person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the communications center. No additional information was provided.

The borough police, fire department and state police fire marshal Trooper Joseph Hall are investigating the blaze.

The fire started at 16 S. A, which Markiewicz believed was vacant. However, a homeowner at 18 S. A said he heard people in the building the last couple days.

Markiewicz said both buildings at 12 and 14 were blighted and that firefighters were prohibited from entering due to structural conditions. The home closest to the street, 18 S. A, had people living in it, he said.

Ricardo Vasquez, 63, lived at 18 S. A with his wife, Erica Gomez, 47, and daughter, Laura Gomez, 21, who were not home at the time. Vasquez said when he left for work at 5:32 a.m., he knocked on the door because he had earlier heard arguing but received no response.

Food, clothing and shelter were provided to the family, according to Patty Daley, disaster captain of the American Red Cross Tri-County Chapter.

Firefighter first

Ryan Fisher, 18, of Mahanoy City, a firefighter with Humane Fire Company No. 1, was among the first on scene as smoke alarms sounded.

"As soon as we arrived, it was already blowing out the second- and third-floor windows," he said of 16 S. A.

Upon entry to the building, Fisher said he saw heavy fire on the first floor and exited after part of the floor collapsed, leading them to fight it from the exterior.

Friday's fire was the first one that Fisher has actively fought.

"The adrenaline is crazy, that's for sure," he said.

Responding were the Mahanoy City Fire Department, and firefighters from Frackville, Shenandoah, Girardville, Ryan Twp., Hometown, Englewood Fire Company of Butler Twp. and the Tamaqua Rescue Squad, as well as EMS from Ryan Twp. Emergency and Rescue Unit, Ashland and Shenandoah.

Contact the writer: amarchiano@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023