Altoona, PA - Department 300 was dispatched to 3956 5th Avenue for a working structure fire in a row home. Engine 314 arrived within one minute of dispatch to find heavy fire throughout the structure and immediately secured a hydrant. A second alarm was requested, and arriving units began conducting searches and stretching hose lines to multiple floors.

Minutes into the incident, a water loss occurred, prompting Engine 312 to secure a secondary hydrant across 6th Avenue at Station 340. The issue was quickly resolved at both hydrant locations, ensuring a reliable water supply for crews on scene.

At 02:41 hours, a structural collapse occurred when the first floor dropped into the basement, resulting in a Mayday for a firefighter down. Engine 312’s crew, who had just exited the basement, quickly removed debris and created an exit route for the trapped firefighter, who was able to crawl out to safety and was evaluated by EMS on scene.

Crews continued operations throughout the night, successfully containing the majority of the fire damage to the house of origin, with moderate extension to the Delta exposure and minor extension to the Alpha exposure.

The incident was managed by the initial 11 on-duty members and supported by 8 second-alarm callbacks. No serious injuries were reported.

Units on Scene:

AC301, FI391, E314, E311, E312, L351

Second Alarm: AC303, E315, R332, L352

Assisting Agencies:

The Altoona Salvation Army Church

Altoona Police Department – Altoona, PA