The Twin Spruce Boarding Home was located at 20 Monastery Road in Elysburg, PA and was home to around 48 residents.
On August 14th 2004 at 0222 hours, Northumberland County Communications transmitted a 170-01 box for a reported Structure Fire with entrapment.
While enroute, Chiefs reported a working Structure Fire with flames visible through the roof, the alarm assignment was immediately upgraded to a third alarm response prior to their arrival on scene.
Upon arrival of Chiefs and 170 ALS crew, the Ralpho Township Police along with Twin Spruce staff were assisting the residents in evacuating the structure. The Police along with staff were also attempting to verify the accountability of the residents.
First arriving Fire / EMS units were Elysburg MICU 171, along with the Department Chiefs. Initial reports were from 1-8 residents unaccounted for.
Without the protection of a hose line, an initial entry / rescue was attempted by the ALS crew, a FF-EMT and a FF-EMTP along with a Fire Chief. However due to heavy fire involvement and rapidly deteriorating conditions the 3 were forced back out of the structure
Additional entries / searches were made throughout the buildings by incoming Fire - Rescue personnel until conditions deteriorated that crews had to remove themselves.
Unfortunately, despite heroic efforts to locate the missing, 3 residents perished in the fire. Firefighters were on scene until around 1330 hours.
On August 16th, Fire Personnel, Fire Chiefs, Police and the State Police Fire Marshal returned to the scene to determine the cause and to salvage any personal belongings and records that could be saved.
THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO ASSISTED THE ELYSBURG FIRE COMPANY #1 AND AMBULANCE DURING THIS DEVASTATING FIRE !!
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