On May 9th shortly before 11:30a.m. Mt. Penn was dispatched along with Lower Alsace, Oley, Exeter, Reading City and Birdsboro units to the 100 block of S. 20th St. for a reported structure fire. PD reported smoke showing and arriving units found a large pile of construction debris next to the front porch on fire with fire beginning to spread. The fire was knocked down and reported under control within 5 minutes of arrival due to a neighbor who helped keep it in check with a garden hose as apparatus was arriving. Crews vented light smoke from the home, which was under renovation, and checked for extension with none found. Fortunately, the workers on site were able to safely evacuate. It seems that a carelessly discarded cigarette is what ignited the debris. Units were able to clear by 12:15p.m.
