| The West Grove Fire Company was called to assist Oxford's Station 21 at a house fire house fire in the 200 block of old Limestone road. Chester Fire Board reported smoke coming from the house and possible visible fire inside. The original dispatch at 0643 was for Oxford 21 and Cochranville 27.
Assistant 21 and Engine 27-2 made the response at 0649 hours. Engine 27-2 arrived on scene with smoke showing and Assistant 21 arrived a couple minutes later, establishing Old Limestone Command. With heavy smoke conditions, command upgraded to the working fire dispatch; that added 2 engines and a tanker from Lancaster County, and the West Grove Fire Company.
The house was full of debris in different rooms and caused difficulties for the crews to operate within. Crews operating inside of the dwelling soon tired from moving items, trying to gain entry into different rooms, and locating the fire. With limited man power, the inability to access the whole dwelling, and crew exhaustion, command upgraded the assignment to a second alarm. This added West Grove full company, multiple apparatus from Lancaster County, and an engine from Cecil County.
Crews from the tri-county area worked inside and outside of the dwelling cutting ventilation holes, removing debris from within the dwelling, trying to gain access to the second story, and trying to maneuver hand lines throughout the structure. After several cuts in the roof and holes in the floor, water was successfully put onto the fire, the bulk of which was on the on the second floor. Due to obstructions, crews were unable to access the second floor from within the dwelling, and had to cut holes in the floor and roof, and widen window access to allow crews to access and extinguish the second floor fires.
On arrival, West Grove's Ladder 22 positioned on the B side of the dwelling to allow crews to ventilate the roof from the main ladder. West Grove Tanker 22 shuttled water to supply the fire scene. Both crew's from West Grove Rescue 22 and Ladder 22 joined up to do interior firefighting and also served as the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) while fire suppression operations were still on going.
With several ventilation holes in the roof, window openings widened, and with fire extinguished in the eves, and, after a final soak down, command placed the fire under control at 0856 hours.
Firefighters worked for a couple more hours to hit hot spots, do massive amount of overhaul, and clean up equipment and repack hose. All units cleared the scene at 1051 hours.
Thank you to Union Fire Company of Oxford for supplying food and refreshments. Good job by all the fire companies who helped out. Thank you Modena Fire Company for covering the 12-22-32 Fire local. |
