12 minutes into the new year, our members responded to their first call in Spring Garden Township. Engine 893 was around the corner and arrived on the scene to find a working structure fire with entrapment. Engine 893 had only two personnel. A driver and a firefighter are riding in the seat. On arrival, they found multiple victims hanging out of windows with turbulent smoke pushing from the home. As they exited the apparatus, they heard desperate screams for help. They did not have enough personnel to conduct victim rescue and fire extinguishment, allowing the fire to grow.
The second engine arrived and assisted with ladder rescues and pulling a handline to attack the fire. They removed four victims using ground ladders, and one victim jumped. One victim was transported to the hospital, and one firefighter received burns.
