8-13-2008 PA Conshohocken 203 Washington St.-8 Alarm Building

At4:53 p.m. a building fire was dispatched in Conshohocken on Washington Street. First arriving units found a 4 story wood frame apartment building under construction with heavy fire conditions. Command started striking additional alarms. Access was limited into the area. Crews needed to cut fences down to allow additional fire apparatus to gain access into the area. Command reported Engine Companies were going to have performed long lays to gain access to hydrants throughout the area. Additional crews were also dispatched to draft out of the Schuylkill River. At 5:03 the building was fully involved. Crews set up in defensive mode to try and protect the exposures consisting of an Apartment building and a Warehouse type structure. At 5:05 p.m the original fire building had totally collapsed. At 5:09 the fire was spreading to the exposures. Residents were evacuating the building as smoke started to be visible from the attic area. At 5:49 p.m thick black smoke was showing from the occupied apartment building. 1 hour later companies battled heavy fire conditions throughout the apartment building and through the roof. A total of 3 buildings were destroyed and 2 additional building were damaged. Command reported a total of 30 Fire Companies were on location operating at the 8 alarm blaze. An early report of 400 total people was left homeless. Residents were bussed to the White Marsh Fire Company where the Red Cross provided food, water and shelter for the displaced. Additional Engines were placed on ember patrol for as far away as 12 blocks. The Chief described the original apartment building which was under construction as a lumberyard that put off and a large amount of heat which caused radiant heat to ignite the exposures. One resident stated her friend’s infant was still inside the apartment building and returned for her. She stated was able to rescue her as her shirt started burning on her back as she exited the structure. 1 firefighter was treated and transported to an area hospital for heat exhaustion. 1 occupant of the building was treated and transported when she collapsed on scene. The occupied building had fire walls and was equipped with a sprinkler system. An early estimate of damage was in the 10’s of millions of dollars.

--Photos NJFG Ted Aurig