Approximately 50 residents were displaced Thursday night after a fire heavily damaged an apartment building at the Oak Forest Apartment Complex in Muhlenberg Township.
Muhlenberg Township Fire & Rescue and mutual aid companies were dispatched at approximately 8:50 p.m. on June 11 to the 2200 block of Hampden Boulevard following reports of a structure fire. Berks County emergency dispatchers advised that multiple callers reported smoke and flames coming from windows on the upper floor of an apartment building.
Upon arrival, firefighters found fire showing from the rear of a 20-unit apartment building, with flames extending into the roofline. Crews stretched multiple handlines to the fire floor, encountering significant fire conditions in both the apartment where the fire originated and the roof area.
@berksweekly Firefighters responded Thursday evening to a large apartment building fire at Oak Forest Apartments in Muhlenberg Township. The fire was reported shortly before 9 p.m. at Building G, located at 2271 Hampden Blvd. Initial reports indicated black smoke coming from an apartment. No information on injuries or the cause of the fire was immediately available.
Due to advanced fire conditions and partial roof collapses, firefighters were briefly evacuated from the building while master stream operations were established to knock down the large volume of fire in the roof. Multiple hydrants throughout the area were used to maintain an adequate water supply during suppression efforts.
As conditions improved, crews re-entered the building and additional resources were systematically requested to assist with fire suppression, extensive overhaul operations, and staffing of Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) crews.
The fire ultimately affected 20 apartment units in Buildings G and H at the Oak Forest Apartment Complex, located at 2251 and 2271 Hampden Boulevard. Approximately 75 firefighters from 12 fire companies responded to the incident, including Muhlenberg Township Fire & Rescue, the Reading Fire Department, Central Fire Company, and mutual aid companies from Wyomissing, Western Berks and Mount Penn. Additional support resources, including Salvation Army Canteen units, also responded.
Authorities said all residents were accounted for and no injuries were reported among civilians or emergency responders. Approximately 50 occupants were displaced by the fire and are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.
Several pets died in the fire, according to Muhlenberg Township Fire & Rescue.
Firefighters remained on scene until approximately 2 a.m. Friday completing overhaul operations and extinguishing remaining hot spots.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal’s Office.
