On April 23rd at 6:30p.m. Engine 1 was dispatched, along with other county units, to 1000 block of N. 11th Street in the City of Reading to assist with manpower on the 4th alarm structure fire. The initial alarm had been struck about an hour earlier for a reported basement fire. The first arriving Reading City units found a well involved basement fire with extension to the other floors of the home at 1013 N. 11th St. The fire rapidly spread to several other homes in the row with 2nd and 3rd alarms being quickly struck. Fortunately, everybody was able to safely escape. Multiple lines from several different engines were used along with extensive truck work to get everything opened up to stop the fire. In the end, 4 homes were heavily damaged and unlivable. The Red Cross is providing assistance to those displaced. Units from the 4th alarm were able to clear shortly after 8p.m. with remaining companies being on the scene for several more hours to ensure the fire was out. The cause of this fire remains under investigation.
