Smoke Condition, Penn Ave, Spring Twp

 
By Public Information Officer Rick Schartel
August 27, 2026
 

Early in the morning of Thursday August 27, an automatic alarm assignment for a smoke detector activation sent TSFRS Engine 85, Wyomissing Ladder 79 and Western Berks FD Engine 18-2 to a seafood establishment in the 3400 block of Penn Avenue in Spring Township. Rescue Engine 85, already enroute to another incident, was redirected in place of E85. They arrived on location and found the employees evacuated in the parking lot.

E85s crew met with the employees who stated there was smoke in the office area of the building. On entry, members confirmed a smoke condition in the offices at which time the assignment was upgraded to a full structure fire response. As RE85's members began investigating, L79's crew went to the roof to check the HVAC units. A burned motor on an HVAC unit was found and its power secured at the rooftop breaker. L79's crewman then went to the breaker panels in the utility room and secured a breaker for the rooftop unit.

Once the source was confirmed, the assignment was reduced to E85, L79 and L18 for ventilation. The crews set up fans to ventilate the office and protect the food area of the building from smoke infiltration. As such no food was exposed to smoke during the incident. When ventilation was completed, units were returned.