Published June 03. 2021 04:57PM
By Susan Bryant
sbryant@tnonline.com
Volunteer firefighters from Lehigh, Berks and Schuylkill counties responded around 5:27 p.m. May 23 for a two-alarm house fire at 7209 Decatur St., New Tripoli.
According to New Tripoli Fire Chief Gary Kuntz Jr., emergency service units from the three counties included New Tripoli, Germansville, Lynnport, Weisenberg, Neffs, Greenawalds Rapid Intervention Team, Woodlawn’s Cascade Unit, Fogelsville, Slatedale, Kempton, West Penn, Cetronia EMS and North Penn Goodwill.
Trexlertown, Tri-Clover and Schnecksville were on standby, he emailed.
“It was a working fire when units arrived and the heat was a challenge for firefighters,” he said. “The fire was contained to the house involved and all crews worked together very well.
“One person was home at the time and they managed to get out,” he stated.
According to Lehigh County Assessment records, the house is owned by Kelly L. Higgins.
According to a gofundme page Stacey Lenhart of New Tripoli organized, a gofundme fundraiser titled “Help Kelly Rebuild” on behalf of Higgins.
To donate, go to gofundme.com/f/h6r4bh-help-kelly-rebuild?qid=8f36a286d794ba754ec8f2dc535629b2.
PRESS PHOTO BY DENNIS WETHERHOLD Volunteer firefighters work to extinguish flames shooting through the roof from a two-alarm house fire at 7209 Decatur St., New Tripoli. Additional photos appear on page A12.
PRESS PHOTOS BY DENNIS WETHERHOLD Volunteer firefighters spray water on a house fire May 23 at 7209 Decatur St., New Tripoli.
A volunteer firefighter cuts a hole through the side of a home during a two-alarm fire at 7209 Decatur St., New Tripoli. Another firefighter watches from behind on the aerial ladder.
PRESS PHOTO BY MIKE NESTER (NESTER VIDEO PRODUCTION) Two volunteer firefighters on the Germansville aerial unit spray water on a working house fire in New Tripoli on May 23.
