COAL TOWNSHIP — An emergency situation occurred at Thursday evening’s fire at 1620-1624 Mohawk St. when a firefighter working on the roof collapsed likely due to heat exhaustion.
A “mayday” was transmitted, leading to a rapid intervention team from Kulpmont and others to tend to the firefighter, who was laying across the ridge of the roof, but appeared conscious.
Members of the rapid intervention team secured a harness around the firefighter and assisted him down a ladder, where emergency medical technicians began treatment.
The mayday was cleared at about 8 p.m., a little more than an hour after the fire was dispatched.
Coal Township Fire Chief Russ Fesse said an order was given for all firefighters to evacuate the structures.
Firefighter Austin Zimmerman spotted a black cat walking on the porch roof of one of the homes. He climbed a ladder to rescue the animal, which was then cared for by firefighter Emily Wheary.
Firefighters broke apart a portion of a wooden porch to douse the flames in the basement. Once most of the fire was out, crews reentered the homes and began pulling apart interior walls to look for pockets of fire.
Feese said the fire likely started in the basement of 1620 Mohawk St., though the cause was undetermined late Thursday.
The chief said the fire left two adults and three children from 1624 Mohawk St. and four adults from 1620 Mohawk St. homeless.
In addition to all Coal Township units, firefighters from Kulpmont, Shamokin, Elysburg, Overlook were among companies to respond. All units had cleared the scene by 10:10 p.m.
