A homeowner was taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation after a predawn Wednesday home fire in Bechtelsville that went to a second alarm and left two firefighters with minor burns, fire officials said.
An occupant of the home in the 1800 block of North Main Street called 911 at 4:48 a.m. to report the second floor was on fire, according to Trooper Corey Heimbach of the Troop L fire marshal unit.
Eastern Berks Fire Department and neighboring fire companies responded.
According to Heimbach:
The first arriving firefighters located a fire in the rear second-floor bedroom. The fire was quickly extinguished but not before it extended into the wall and roof of the structure.
A second alarm was requested to draw additional manpower from Montgomery County crews to assist in pulling apart roofing materials to locate and extinguish hidden fire.
The fire was brought under control within an hour.
A resident was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest near Allentown for smoke inhalation. Two firefighters who suffered burns while battling the fire were treated at the scene by medics.
The fire originated on a desk in the bedroom as a result of improper clearance of combustible materials around a space heater, Heimbach said.
Investigators said no working smoke detectors were found in the home. The occupants were awakened by the fire, and all managed to get out on their own.
One occupant tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire using an extinguisher.
The home sustained significant smoke and water damage. The fire marshal estimated damage at more than $200,000.