Vacant House Burns in Southeast Reading

Photo by Jordan BankertHeavy smoke could be seen coming from the rear of a vacant row house.

Photo by Brett Buskirk

Photo by Brett BuskirkA Firefighter from Ladder 3 goes to do work in the roof after getting the truck to the Rear of the structure.

Photo by Rainman14Engine 7 takes the rear of building.
At 1503 Hours Companies were dispatched to Box 103 for a report of a house on fire at 125 S 12th st in the Southeast part of the city. Berks DES advised units that they had smoke showing from the courthouse cameras. Engine 1 arrived to find smoke showing from the roof of a 2 1/2 Story middle of the row. Car 7 declared a working fire. Firefighters forced entry into the apparent vacant dwelling and stretch a 1 3/4” handline to the 2nd floor where they encountered fire involving the rear most room of the house. Once the line was charged crews quickly got water on the fire. With a bulk of the fire knocked down searches were conducted and turned up negative. Both exposure buildings were checked and no extension to either was found. The fire was placed under control with overhaul at 15:24 hours. Once overhaul was completed companies were released. The scene was turned over to the Fire Marshal’s Office for investigation.