The time was 20:34 Thursday evening when box 602 was transmitted for a fire at South 10th and Laurel Streets for a building fire sending Engines 1, 5, 3, 9 (F.A.S.T.), Trucks 1 & 2, Rescue 1, Cars 3 & 6, Medic 3. Fire Radio advised responding companies that 1 call was received for a building on fire in the area. Car 3 arrived reporting a working fire at 601 South 9th Street in a 50×75 3-story factory with heavy fire on the 3rd floor and initiated command.
Car 3 had fire radio hit the evacuation tones and told everyone this will be defensive operation due to the amount of fire in the roof.
This is the second time this week that this building had a fire in it.
This time though, the fire went to 2-alarms and severely damaged the 137-year-old vacant factory. The building started out as a brewery. Recently it was used by a chemical company.
The fire burned throughout the night and well into Friday. The building is set for partial demolition.
The Reading Eagle article: https://www.readingeagle.com/2023/11/03/firefighters-battle-2nd-blaze-at-former-chemical-plant-in-reading/
