SCRANTON, Pa. — The flames went out in just minutes, according to Scranton Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Hallowich. “Discovered a large concentration of fire on the exterior back porch of the home. We had that fire under control in about 10 minutes,” he said.
But the damage left after a fire broke out at this duplex along the 1500 block of Lafayette Street in Scranton’s west side left several people without a home.
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“There were also reports upon dispatch that there are people still inside, but when we got here, all of our searches were negative. There are seven people displaced right now as a result of the fire,” said Dep. Chief Hallowich.
But extinguishing the blaze wasn’t all these first responders had to deal with.
Firefighters are battling the heat inside and outside as temperatures continue to climb this week.
With a Weather Impact Alert issued for the second half of our week and temperatures on Tuesday sitting around the 90-degree mark, these firefighters broke more than just a sweat.
“You know it’s compounded by the heat, but it’s not something that we’re completely ignorant to,” said Hallowich.
While the weather does make the job a bit tougher, the heat is nothing new; that’s why Deputy Chief Hallowich says crews prepare year-round for whatever Mother Nature throws their way. “Preparation starts long before the call is dispatched. We’re, you know, constantly maintaining good levels of hydration, cooling, rotating crews,” he said.
As coolers of ice-cold water made their way around, the scene was eventually cleared.
The cause of the house fire is still under investigation.