Sipesville Volunteer Fire Company

On March 5, at 23:09 hours, Stations 606, 605, 607, 608, and 640 were dispatched for a structure fire with possible entrapment at the Coal Miners Cafe along Route 30 in Jennerstown. 606 Asst. Chief arrived on scene and advised of heavy fire conditions. Stations 601 and 643 were dispatched and their towers were requested to the scene by 606 IC. Tanker 3, Engine 4, and Squad 5 responded to the scene and recieved orders to stage in the alley behind the structure and prepare to attack the fire from that side. Upon arrival at the scene, 607 firefighters found flames shooting through the roof on the charlie/delta corner of division 3 of the structure. Firefighters from 607 and 608 made entry into an appartment on division 2, below the fire, and were met with moderate smoke and heat. A primary search of the appartment was conducted at which point firefighter Trent rescued a cat and took it outside to its owner. Other interior crew members continued the search and began to knock down fire near the alpha side of the structure. An all-out order was given due to the increasing fire intensity on division 3, and all firefighters exited the structure and confirmed that par was met. Engine 607-4 staged on Route 985 and fed Engine 608-1 via LDH. Crews used 1.5" and 2.5" hoselines from the ground to try and contain the fire and protect exposures until Tower 601-3 arrived on scene. The truck company began an aerial attack on the fire with assistance from Engine 607-4 supplying water. Crews later performed salvage and overhaul in the appartments on divisions 1 and 2, and checked for hot spots in the ceiling using the TIC. All crews cleared the scene and returned in service within five hours.