Fire destroys house in Meadville

At 9:35AM on Tuesday, February 26, Station 4-9, along with units from the Blue Ball, Intercourse, Liberty-New Holland fire companies, and Ephrata Medic 9 were dispatched to the 5600 block of Meadville Road in the Meadville section of Salisbury Township for a reported dwelling fire with possibly persons trapped.\
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Units responded almost immediately, and were advised of a report of fire from the house, with possibly people trapped inside. Engine 4-9-1 reported a large column of smoke visible from 1.5 miles out. First arriving Safety 4-9 (C. Eno) confirmed a working fire. Engine 4-9-1 arrived seconds afterward and began an aggressive interior attack until fire conditions inside the home rapidly deteriorated and the crew was forced back outside. Deputy 4-9 (J. Beyer) arrived on the scene and assumed command, while Lieutenant 4-9-2 (E. King) assumed the operations sector. Deputy Beyer then requested two additional tankers, and a second ambulance to the scene. This brought tankers from Caernarvon-Churchtown and Honey Brook to the scene as well as an ambulance from New Holland. Engine 3-2-2 from Blue Ball was sent to the pond on Red Hill and Meadville Roads to fill the tankers as needed. Fire Police from White Horse and Blue Ball detoured traffic around the scene.\
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The search for the persons inside the residence fortunately found no one inside; the residents were not home at the time the fire started. Crews exercised caution due to the large amount of ammunition and weaponry that was inside the residence.\
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After the main body of fire was extinguished, crews overhauled the home to extinguish any remaining hot spots and began to assist in removing the ammunition, weaponry and the family’s remaining possessions from the home.\
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The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of the fire. The last remaining units cleared the scene at 1:20PM\
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Our sincere condolences are with the family on the loss of their home and possessions.\
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Thanks to Gap Engine 4-2-2 & Kinzer Tanker 4-5 for standing by in our station.\
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