Shortly before 1:00 P.M. on the afternoone of Friday, December 18th, Hope Fire Company was alerted to a working vehicle fire inside an attached garage. Immediately after dispatch, Reliance Captain 1204 (Bloom) advised he was in the area with a working fire. Given the report by 1204 and the smoke column visible from the down town area, Chief 1100 (Butterworth) requested two additional engines be added to the box for manpower due to the time of day. Engine 11-10, with a crew of five, arrived on scene of the working fire and hit a hydrant laying 500' of LDH supply line. Truck 12-16 arrived on scene with 11-10, took the address, and set up to go to the roof for ventilation of the split level house. The engine crew streched two 1 3/4" handlines and entered the "A" side of the structure to begin an interrior attack. Engine 13-10 (Sandy Ridge) arrived and established a secondary water supply. An aggressive interrior attack was made with the assistance from the crews of Mountain Top fire Company of Sandy Ridge, Chester Hill Hose Company, Columbia Fire Company of Osceola Mills, and Houtzdale Fire Company. Medic 23-51 was standing by on scene and provided firefighters with refreshments. The fire was contained to the garage and upstairs bedrooms that were well involved upon arrival. While not considered suspicious in nature, the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal was called to determine the cause of the blaze. No injuries were reported and the house, which is considered to be a total loss, was insured. Crews from the Philipsburg Fire Department and surrounding companies were on scene for approximately four hours. Engine Rescue 17 (Morris Township) was on stand-by in their station for Philipsburg.

Units operating on scene: Engines 11-10, 12-10, 13-10, Clfd 14 and Clfd 22-2. Truck 12-16, Rescue 11-18, Clfd Squad 23, Medic 23-51, and 23-52.

Command: Chief 1100 (Butterworth)          Operations: Deputy 1101 (Huber)