Smoke odor triggers false alarms at apartment building, Reading PA

Fire & Arson

Reported: 11/10/2025 12:17 PM

Near Washington St, Reading, PA 19601

Fire and emergency teams responded to repeated fire alarms at an apartment on Washington Street caused by a smoke odor. The residents changed the locks preventing entry. The smoke was likely from marijuana use inside, causing false alarms. Building maintenance is trying to evict the occupants.

Audio|Source: City of Reading Fire/EMS

03:7

Transcript:

00:00

Outside apartment 209.

00:02

It smells like smoking in the apartment.

00:04

Nobody's answering the door and the key we have doesn't work.

00:07

Yeah,

00:10

something tells me this has been an ongoing problem with that apartment.

00:13

Is that accurate?

00:15

From what I heard, yeah.

00:19

There's another key coming up.

00:25

Checking key also does not work.

00:31

I believe this is the apartment where the occupants change the lock.

00:36

My understanding is the fire marshal office was supposed to be following up on this.

00:40

I don't know if they have yet or not.

00:44

Let's try to see if it restores.

00:47

What happens?

00:49

Yeah, it's a totally different doorknob on the door than now the rest of the apartments.

00:55

And again, in your best judgment, it is cigarette smoke or something similar?

01:02

Something similar.

01:04

Turn it to the town.

01:07

Right.

01:13

Are we able to restore?

01:17

It looks like we have retellate trouble.

01:21

We're out of running.

01:24

Sonetic 3 is route running 1523.

01:41

That has a Genetic 7, covering station 650, Burm Township,

01:47

201 Wellness Way at the Tower Behavioral Health.

01:50

Cross streets of Burdenville Road, ALS.

01:52

Medical, 1523.

01:58

Let's get a ladder.

01:59

What was that, just to get her in the apartment number again?

02:03

209.

02:06

Copy.

02:11

Hey, Graham.

02:16

Hurry.

02:23

501 Washington Street Department 209.

02:26

This has been an ongoing issue.

02:29

The occupants have been smoking marijuana in their apartments, setting the alarms off.

02:36

We are unable to gain access due to the occupants changing the locks on the door.

02:43

Allegedly building maintenance is in the process of trying to evict the system successfully.

02:52

Let's see if we get back.

02:54

All you end's clear.

02:55

Carry copy of Department 2.09 and ongoing issue with the occupants of marijuana which activates the alarms.

03:01

You're unable to be in access verified due to the change locks.

03:04

The system has restored,

03:06

so it will be available 1526.

Disclaimer:
This transcript was automatically generated and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify the information independently.

Location mentioned:

Near Washington St, Reading, PA 19601

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