SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – A multiple-alarm structure fire broke out in the 1100 block of Clamtown Road (Route 443) in West Penn Township near Tamaqua, with many mutual aid agencies responding from the area, including several surrounding Counties.

The fire broke out at 1545 hours EST on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, from an undetermined cause.

Photo Courtesy: Slatedale FD

About one hour into the incident, according to media outlets – two maydays were called stating they were entrapped inside the structure. A RIT team was urgently deployed to go interior to locate the two missing New Tripoli Community Fire Company (Lehigh County, PA) firefighters on the interior of the building.

A tanker Task Force was put into action to help with egressing and cooling down the fire.

They were transported to St. Luke’s Miners Hospital in nearby Coaldale.

Unfortunately, both of their injuries were life-threatening and they succumbed to their injuries. Their passing was confirmed by the Schuylkill County Coroner’s Office. No names of the Fallen have been released as of yet and we won’t be publishing their names until Officials do first and give the authority to do so.

A third person, a civilian’s body was located near the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

This is still an active investigation being conducted by Fire and Law Enforcement Officials.

These deaths come after another LODD Firefighter (Mapleton FD) was struck and killed by a car while conducting traffic control during a traffic collision that occurred in Huntingdon County, PA.

We send our sincere condolences to the firefighters’ families, fellow first responders (including Dispatcher(s)), their friends, and the communities they both served. – Ed.

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