A two-alarm blaze destroyed a truck-repair garage in Temple over the weekend.
Muhlenberg Township Fire & Rescue crews were initially dispatched about 10:30 p.m. Saturday to the 4700 block of 10th Avenue for a miscellaneous fire. A 911 caller reported hearing an explosion and seeing smoke in the area.
According to the fire department:
Upon arrival, a fire officer saw a smoke column and visible fire and directed arriving crews to Commerce Street.
In the meantime, the Berks County 911 center was receiving additional calls reporting a structure fire in the 4800 block of Commerce Street.
Muhlenberg crews located the main fire at a 100-foot-by-60-foot commercial building. Flames were visible through the roof, and several trucks parked around the building were on fire.
Crews on the scene took a defensive posture, knocking back the flames with the available water supply while striking a second alarm to draw additional crews from other Berks fire companies.
A truck-repair garage in the 4800 block of Commerce Street in Temple is destroyed in a two-alarm fire on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (COURTESY OF MUHLENBERG TWP. FIRE & RESCUE)
Crews from as far as Kenhorst, Fleetwood, Mount Penn and Wernersville responded.
Multiple hydrants were tapped on Commerce Street and Hay Road.
Crews were on the scene for about four hours, putting out hot spots and mopping up.
An excavator was summoned to assist with the overhaul efforts.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.