Two residents and their pet are staying somewhere else tonight (Monday, February 16, 2015) after smoke filled their row home and neighbor’s homes on Penn Street in Tamaqua.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to 155 Penn Street at 8:40 PM after residents called 911 and someone pulled a box alarm for a home filling with smoke. Firefighters arrived to see light smoke in 153, 153.5, and 155 Penn Street. In addition, residents living at 159 Penn Street said they called 911 after smelling a strong odor of something burning. There is no 157 Penn Street.
A man and woman living at 155 Penn Street said they, and their dog, will be staying with friends tonight until the strong smoke odor goes away.
Tamaqua Fire Chief Tom Hartz Jr. said the smoke resulted after the landlord of 155 Penn Street broke into an adjacent condemned property at 153.5 Penn Street earlier and used a blow torch to thaw frozen water pipes that connected both properties. After the landlord left, wood remained smoldering, causing smoke to fill the basement and neighbor’s homes. A borough notice taped on the front door of 153.5 Penn Street shows that the building has been condemned since 2012.
Firefighters used large exhaust fans to expel the smoke from the properties.
Comments on Facebook praised the quick response from all the emergency personnel.
Responding in 14 degree weather were South Ward Fire Company, Citizen’s Fire Company, American Hose Company, East End Fire Company, Tamaqua Rescue Squad, Tamaqua Ambulance, Tamaqua Police and others.
Tamaqua Fire Police volunteers detoured traffic during the incident.
No serious injuries were reported.