06/01/2026
Just before 5:00 a.m. this morning, Company 5 was dispatched to the 300 block of Matilda Avenue in College Township for reports of a vacant house on fire. Prior to the arrival of responding units, a working fire was confirmed by a member on the scene and Chief 5-2 struck the 2nd alarm. Crews arrived on scene, confirming the report with smoke showing from the residence. Initially, the crews of Engine 5-1 and Truck 5-1 attempted to make access through the front door. However, after multiple unsuccessful attempts at entry, crews reassessed, stretching a 300’ “Stinger Line” to a side basement door for fire attack. Truck 5-1 conducted a primary search of the building, finding no occupants and locating the fire in a basement room, directing the engine company, who quickly extinguished the fire. The truck crew cut multiple ventilation holes in the roof to locate and stop running fire and ventilate smoke and superheated gases from the structure. Given hoarding conditions throughout the home, crews worked for a prolonged period of time to ensure all fire was extinguished. Crews operated for just over 3 hours, Chief 5-2 (S. Pederson) held command. Engines 5-1, Engine 5-2, Truck 5-1, Quint 5, Rescue 5, Engine Rescue 3, and Quint 2 operated at the scene while Engine 8 maintained coverage at the Borough Fire Station. Thank you to Centre LifeLink EMS for providing medical standby throughout the incident. The fire remains under investigation by the Centre Region Fire Marshal.
In the fire service, hoarding conditions involves objects throughout the home that impede and prolong operations. Crews worked diligently to sift through stacked materials to ensure the fire was fully extinguished. Conditions like these are not common in many of the incidents firefighters run each day and require special consideration and extra caution.
Videos depict the stretch and conditions upon entering the basement of the Engine 5-1 K**b and Backup, who encountered heavy smoke conditions in the basement while locating and extinguishing the fire. Crew photos depict images of the first arriving crews (first image) of Engine 5-1 and Truck 5-1 and the second due engine (second image), Engine 5-2.
