As colder weather seems to be here for a while it’s a great time to check through your home as you spend more time indoors and prepare for the holiday season. Clean out clutter and look for overloaded outlets and surge protectors, have your heating system checked for proper operation and make sure your chimney is clean and solid before firing up the woodstove or fireplace.
On November 12th shortly before 5p.m. Mt. Penn and several mutual aid companies went to Redwood Drive in Alsace Township for a reported structure fire. Arriving units found a well involved bedroom fire that caused extensive damage to the home. Several lines were used for extinguishment and units were able to clear about 6:30p.m. This fire was most likely caused by an overloaded surge protector/electrical short.
On November 15 just before 10p.m. Mt. Penn and mutual aid companies were dispatched to Hill Avenue in Mt. Penn for a possible chimney fire which the owner believed was out. On further investigation it was discovered that the wall framing, covering and sill plate adjacent to the fireplace were burning due to an design/construction fault. One line was used for extinguishment although units were on scene until about 11:30p.m. performing extensive overhaul to ensure the fire was out. A working smoke detector alerted the occupants to this fire.
