Around 19:33 hrs, West Hazleton Fire, Hazle Twp. Fire Rescue, APTS and West Hazleton ems were alerted to respond for a possible structure fire at 227 Ridge Ave in the Boro.

Engine Co. 242 responded and arrived on scene to find a single and double homes with fire showing from each  227 and 225 Ridge Ave.  Both vacant at the time of the fire.  WHPD verified that everyone was out of 223 Ridge Ave.

242 hit the fire via deck gun initially.  West Hazleton Crews along with members from Hazle Twp. made an interior attack before being forced from the builidings. 

Engine 241 and Ladder 244 arrived and set up for defensive operations on the A-side. Thirteen minutes into the incident Deputy Chief 242- Ward (who had command) called for a second alarm assignment. He later called a third for manpower.

Hazle Twp. and Freeland Units had the c-side of the structures. 

Exposure D which was 225 Ridge was under control. 227 took approximately 1 hour to bring the fire under control.

This fire is under investigation.

Crews operating on this fire included units from West Hazleton, Hazle Twp., Freeland, Sheppton-Onieda, Mahanoy City RIT, Valley Regional, Beaver Meadows, Weatherly, Sugarloaf, Harwood and McAdoo.