At 9:16 on July 9th the WGFC stations 12, 22 and 32 were alerted along with Station 23 for E23-1 and 23-2 and Station 21 for Tanker 21 for a barn fire on London Tract Rd in London Britain Township in West Groves local. Within the next few minutes Deputy 22, Brush 12, E23-2, Tanker 22, E12, E21-2, Tanker 23, Tanker 21, E22, R12 and L22 all made the response. The location was very rural in the White Clay State Park with limited access. As the units were en-route the location was updated to be in Avondale's local (Station 23). Additional information continued to be received that there was a barn with exposures to two additional barns. E23-2 was the first piece of arriving apparatus with Chief 23 on board. The initial report was of a barn fully involved and the barn had collapsed with the contents of some farm equipment and a volume of hay was on fire upon arrival. There were two exposures within 50 feet of the fire building. Chief 23 called for a tanker task force adding New Castle County Station 19 (Hockessin), Chester County stations 24 (Kennett Square), Station 36 (Po-Mar-Lin), Station 27 (Cochranville) tankers and engines. E23-2 placed 2 - 1 ¾ hand lines into service for fire suppression as well as exposure protection. E12 reverse laid a 5 inch supply line down the driveway and to a nearby stream for water. While the water supply was being established E23-2 used its tank water to protect the exposures. The initial tankers and engines provided their water to the scene while water supply initiated two operations. A draft was established at the nearby creek but due to access and the height of the draft it was not a reliable flow. The second operation used Tanker 21 as a tender with R12 as the pump engine sending water to E23-2. When that water source was established E-21 was able to establish a flow from the stream which became available to supplement the water supply. At the scene command had requested heavy equipment to help with tearing down the structure and spreading out the burning hay. It was determined that it was a better strategy to let the hay burn as opposed to putting it out due to amount of water required. This operation continued for several hours and units were released starting about 11:30. West Grove units starting packing up the 900 feet of 5 inch hose around 12:30 with the help of on scene personnel as well as Cecil County Station 8, 18 and 28 (Rising Sun). West Grove units cleared the scene at 1:12 AM. Special thanks to all units that assisted on scene as well as Lancaster County Station's 4-2 and 5-2 for covering the district while we were committed.
