A fire at 824 Kern St., Salisbury Township, went to two alarms Nov. 20, destroying a vehicle, heavily damaging an attached garage and spreading to the residence before firefighters knocked down flames and saved the home.

Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company Chief Joshua Wells was the first senior officer on the scene and assumed incident command. Wells said the car and garage were fully involved and fire was spreading to the attached residence as he arrived. He immediately called a second alarm to bring a number of additional engines and manpower from the area’s mutual aid companies.

Wells said firefighters on the first arriving Eastern Salisbury Fire Department engine attacked the fire with hose lines using the engine’s water supply to bring the fire under control. Eastern Salisbury Fire Chief Ian Dodson commended firefighters for their quick save and for keeping fire damage to a minimum in the residence.

With no hydrants near the residence, Wells said additional mutual aid companies were called to assure enough water and manpower would be available.

In addition to the Eastern Salisbury, Western Salisbury and Fountain Hill units called on the first alarm, additional firefighters and equipment were dispatched from Lower Saucon Fire Department, Upper Saucon, Allentown City, Emmaus and Lower Macungie. The county air cascade unit from Woodlawn Fire Department aided at the scene by filling firefighter’s empty personal air tanks.

A rapid intervention team came from Lower Macungie’s Alburtis fire station. A RIT crew has no firefighting responsibilities, but the crew is suited up in full gear with specialized rescue equipment in the event they are called upon to rescue interior firefighters who might get into trouble inside a structure.

An ambulance and medics from St. Luke’s University Health Network were on scene, and the Macungie Ambulance Corps set up a rehab area to check the vital signs of heavily laboring firefighters and to provide hydration and energy snacks for the volunteer firefighters.

Fire police from Eastern Salisbury Fire Department controlled access to the area.

Salisbury Township Police Department Sgt. Donald Sabo, the township’s fire marshal, was at the scene and is leading the investigation into the source of the fire. Patrol officers from the Salisbury Township Police Department were on the scene to assist where needed.

Lehigh County tax assessment records indicate the home is owned by Edward and Sandra Driesbach.