Fire crews in Schuylkill County were dispatched to the 100 block or West Center Str. in Ashland around 3:40 a.m. Sunday. The first in units the and found the “C” (back) side of several homes buildings engulfed in flames and spreading.

The fire was quickly upgraded though 4th alarm with special call as area firefighters attempted a surgical strike to gain control only to be forced back and assume a defensive attack until additional units could arrive.
The fire fighters were also hampered by a broken fire hydrant forcing command to call for a tanker task force within the first 20 minutes of the fire.

Several firefighters were injured at this blaze including one fire fighter who fell thru the floor and declared a MayDay!

Officials said a sandwich shop and homes at four addresses were destroyed. Several injuries have been reported .
The cause of the blaze fire will be investigated in the coming days by the State Police Fire Marshall.
The American Red Cross is assisting four families totaling five people after the fire.

By the time the control was marked 4 homes and 1 commercial (M & M sandwich shop) building had been lost.

Radio Communications were also interesting as units responded from 3 counties using 3 separate radio systems. It is unknown if interoperability issues in Schuylkill County played any role in delaying care to those in need. Schuylkill county is known for refusing to let out of county units use their fire and police radio frequencies.

Firefighters from Ashland, Girardville, Shenandoah, Ringtown, Mahanoy City, Mount Carmel, Gordon, Beaverdale, Aristes, Minersville, and more responded to the fire. Shenandoah and Ashland Police assisted with traffic control.