Structure fire with entrapment

On January 7, shortly before 11p.m. Mt. Penn was dispatched along with units from Lower Alsace, Exeter, Oley, Birdsboro and the City of Reading to 2709 Perkiomen Ave. for a reported structure fire with possible entrapment.  First arriving units quickly confirmed a working fire on the 1st floor with one person trapped on the second floor.  As a line was advanced to the door, additional crews made their way to the second floor and found the owner in the front bedroom.  They were removed through the second floor window and down via ground ladders to the EMS crew who transported them to Reading Hospital.  A second occupant had been found in the front yard and was also transported for treatment.

As all of this was going on, other crews continued with ventilation efforts, securing utilities and also made entry to the adjacent, vacant home at 2711 Perkiomen Ave. to check for extension with none being found.  The fire was placed under control at 11:30p.m. with most units being released by midnight.  Birdsboro units relocated to the Mt. Penn station to help cover any additional calls while Mt. Penn units remained on scene until the Fire Marshall arrived to begin their investigation.  All units cleared the scene shortly after 1a.m.