At 2:04 a.m. on November 2, the Trappe Fire Company, along with the Collegeville Fire Company, Perkiomen Fire Company, Royersford Fire Department, Upper Providence Fire Department, Skippack Fire Company, and Limerick Fire Department, were dispatched to a reported building fire on the 600 block of Muhlenberg Drive. Initial reports indicated a fire in the basement of the residence, and occupants were in the process of evacuating.

Assistant 77 arrived on scene approximately seven minutes after dispatch and reported heavy fire showing from a multi-unit townhome complex. A second-alarm working fire dispatch was immediately requested, bringing additional resources from the Lower Frederick Fire Company, Black Rock Fire Company, Lower Providence Fire Department, and Phoenixville Fire Department (Chester County). Fire Police from Limerick, Perkiomen, and Lower Providence were also dispatched to assist with road closures.

As additional fire crews arrived, assignments were made for evacuations, primary searches, ground ladder deployments, water supply operations, and fire suppression tactics. Lower Providence Tower 53 was positioned on the “A” side to provide elevated master stream operations once all residents and firefighters had been cleared from the structure. Ground crews deployed additional master streams on the “B” side to increase water flow and suppress the main body of fire.

At approximately 45 minutes into operations, Command requested additional companies to stand by at their stations to cover the region for other emergency calls. By that time, the bulk of the fire had been knocked down, though occasional flare-ups continued. Crews operating on the “D” side roof checked for fire extension and deployed a hoseline to extinguish remaining hot spots. Special Service 51 provided scene lighting and air cylinder refills for operating crews.

The fire was declared under control at 4:15 a.m., approximately two hours after the initial dispatch. Three units within the complex were deemed uninhabitable due to extensive fire damage. No injuries were reported among residents or fire personnel. A total of 60 firefighters were operating on the scene. The Regional Fire Investigation Task Force is investigating the cause of the fire. The last fire units cleared the scene at 8:09 a.m., and Fire Marshals were made available at 11:00 a.m.

Overnight 2-Alarm Building Fire in Trappe - Florian Fire Photography