Pa. fire station burns, firefighter shocked during battle

A firefighter operating an aerial device was shocked when it touched a power line during the battle

October 04, 2013 08:44 AM

The Morning Call

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. — An early morning fire Friday destroyed a Schuylkill County fire station and two houses in Mount Carbon just south of Pottsville.

The Mount Carbon / North Manheim Township Fire Company No. 1 station house in the 100 block of North Main Street caught fire about 4:30 a.m., according to emergency radio dispatches.

The fire reportedly started in a neighboring house and spread to another house and the station. Firefighters were able to remove apparatus parked in the two-bay fire station to keep them from being damaged in the fire.

Fire officials at the scene said one firefighter was injured and taken to Schuylkill Medical Center South Jackson Street, Pottsville, for treatment, according to the Republican Hearld.

The station house included a banquet hall, which also was destroyed in the fire.

Mount Carbon is the smallest borough in Schuylkill County with a population of about 80 residents.

The current mayor, Jeffrey Dunkel, brought international attention to the borough in 2001 when he was elected to become of the youngest mayors in the world at age 18.

The borough is located about just south Pottsville and the junction of Routes 61 and 209.