North Catasauqua's Charotin Hose Company responded to the following calls recently.

Carbon monoxide alarm

Jan. 26, 11:44 p.m.

North Catasauqua personnel responded to the 1000 block of Fourth Street for a carbon monoxide alarm in a residence with victims. The caller had stated a carbon monoxide alarm went off in the dwelling and someone was feeling ill. Firefighters arrived on the scene and searched for a source of the carbon monoxide. They located a malfunctioning oil furnace as the problem.

Carbon monoxide alarm

Jan. 29, 10:44 a.m.

Charotin personnel responded to a report of a carbon monoxide alarm sounding in a dwelling in the 1000 block of Third Street. Firefighters donned packs and entered the residence. Several readings were taken with a carbon monoxide detector. The monitor failed to show the presence of carbon monoxide. The problem was traced back to a malfunctioning detector. The detector was over 10 years old and in need of replacement.

EMS assist

Jan. 31, 7 p .m.

North Catasauqua fire firefighters were dispatched to the 1000 block of Front Street for an EMS assist with Northampton Regional EMS for a reported cardiac arrest. Firefighters were recalled shortly after leaving the station and returned to station.

Fire alarm

Jan. 31, 10:15 a.m.

Charotin personnel responded along with the Catasauqua Fire Department for an automatic fire alarm at 534 Third St., Catasauqua. Firefighters found dust from construction in an apartment on the fourth floor of the high rise. There was no fire and companies cleared the scene.

Mutual aid

Feb. 7, 10:45 a.m.

Firefighters from the North Catasauqua Fire Department assisted the Northampton Fire Department on a working dwelling fire. Also responding to the alarm were Allen Township Fire Company, Lehigh Township Fire Company, East Allen Township Fire Company, and the Whitehall Fire Department Cementon Station. Northampton Regional EMS and East Allen Ambulance Corps assisted at the scene.

Responding units were advised by the communications center that it was believed the fire was in the basement and smoke was showing from the roof line.

Members of Northampton and North Catasauqua crews stretched an 1 3/4-inch pre-connected attack line from the engine via the interior stairs to the basement. Crews encountered heavy smoke and heat as they opened the basement door and made a push down the stairs. A second line was stretched around the back of the house to attack the fire through a rear door that led directly to the basement.

The Assistant Northampton Fire Chief forced entry through this rear door and found heavy smoke but was unable to locate the seat of the fire.With the location of the fire in question, and smoke and heat conditions worsening, the second line was repositioned to the first floor in an attempt to locate any hidden fire. With the assistance of a thermal imaging camera, the quickly extending fire was located in a side wall. The crew opened the wall and extinguished the fire.

Simultaneously, the crew of the first line reported it had located the fire in the basement and knocked it down. Additional crews arrived on the scene to check for further extension as well as ventilate the home and the attached exposure and to perform salvage and overhaul. A minor extension was found in a wall on the second floor.

The members of the various departments worked together flawlessly to extinguish this blaze that was minutes from becoming an inferno. All hands should be commended for their excellent work.