08/25/2025
Bear Creek Twp Vol Fire / Rescue along with Laurel Run VFD, Kingston/FF Rescue, Thornhurst VFD, the Luzerne County Back Mountain Tanker Task Force, Laflin Rescue and Plains Township EMS responded to a well involved house fire in Laurel Brook Estates on Monday Afternoon. A large black column of smoke was visible on the mountain from across the valley just after the call was dispatched, and when crews arrived on scene the roof had already collapsed into the second floor, with propane cylinders going off and heavy fire conditions throughout making it very dangerous to make any sort of interior attack due to the lightweight and fast burning nature of newer construction homes.
If you live in a town protected by a volunteer fire department—or even in communities like Hanover, Hazleton, Kingston/Forty Fort, or Nanticoke, which rely on a combination of career and volunteer firefighters—please consider getting involved. Even helping with fundraisers or lending a hand around the station makes a difference.
In Luzerne County, Wilkes-Barre City and Plains Township are the only municipalities without some form of volunteer department. In Lackawanna County, the only exceptions are Scranton and Dunmore. Everywhere else, it’s your neighbors, friends, and co-workers who answer the call when emergencies strike. Unfortunately, the number of volunteer firefighters continues to dwindle every year.
Contact your local fire department today and ask how you can help—whether it’s by joining the ranks or supporting their efforts in other ways. Your involvement matters.
