Kitchen Fire Spreads on North 9th St. in Reading

By JASON BATZ, Correspondent | July 17, 2020 | PENNSYLVANIA

Story No. 071820109

Photo by Caleb SummersReading Firefighters arrived at this corner apartment building with smoke showing from the second floor on Friday, July 17. Crews working on the roof had difficulty accessing the fire due to several layers of older roof coverings.

Reading, PA - With B platoon firefighters two hours into their first day shift on July 17th, a box alarm was transmitted for 352 North 9th Street. As companies responded dispatchers advised that there was a kitchen fire on the second floor. Engine 1 arrived at a two-and-a-half story EOR multiple dwelling with smoke showing from a second floor window. Firefighters stretched a line into the structure and located the fire in a rear kitchen. The fire had extended into a void above the ceiling and traveled around a rain roof. Ladder crews had difficult work tunneling through several layers of old roof coverings to expose and extinguish the fire. All searches of the building were clear. No injuries were reported. The fire was placed under control nearly 45 minutes later. The Fire Marshal's Office is investigating.