SCRANTON, Pa. — A massive inferno ripped through the roof of a double block home on East Gibson Street after a two-alarm fire broke out.
The Scranton Fire Chief says the first call came in around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, and when crews arrived, they were greeted with a street filled with heavy smoke causing nearly zero visibility, but at that point, no flames were showing.
The chief says there are several apartments inside the house, and more than a dozen people were forced out of their homes.
They were taken to Regional Hospital as they waited for Red Cross to arrive.
“We have the residents in the chapel up the street. I think we have 13 to 15 residents that are displaced right now, and we're just working with licensing and inspection and Red Cross,” said Scranton Fire Chief John Judge.
The chief says the fire was burning inside the walls and as firefighters fought to get in, it burned through walls and shot out through the windows and rooftop.
The other major concern for fire crews was the wintry weather, which could cause water to freeze on the road and lead to slipping and falls.
The chief says they have a protocol in place to get the city's Department of Public Works to bring out salt trucks to fire scenes whenever the temperature is near or below freezing.
“We have coordination with DPW, they're immediately called to the scene, they respond out, and they assist us with making sure that we're safe on the roadways,” said Judge.
Commonwealth Health also provides a mobile rehab unit for fire crews with drinks for hydration and heated tents to keep them warm.
“We've developed those relationships over the years with the ambulance services that they can come out, provided a little bit of heat. They'll bring coffee and water for our people to rehab. It's a great asset to have. We're fortunate to have a relationship with Commonwealth,” added Judge.
The chief says no residents or firefighters were injured.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.