On Thursday April 17, firefighters from Berks County fought a garage fire on Merkle Road in District Township on Thursday afternoon. The first call came in at 1:18 p.m.
Three miles from Bechtelsville on rural roads, the structure was consumed by the time the first firefighters reached remote location.
The building housed an oversized garage and workshop, and upon dispatch, smoke was visible more than five miles away. Additional tankers were called to the scene to supply water.
Apparatus responded from all three Eastern Berks stations (Bally, Barto, and Bechtelsville), both Boyertown stations, New Berlinville, Earl Township, Gilbertsville, Hereford, Pennsburg, Topton and Seisholtsville. Bally Ambulance also was on scene in case of injuries, although none were reported.