Busy Day Leads up to WGFC'S Annual Emergency Services Dinner
 
By Deputy Chief Justin Gattorno
December 16, 2016
 

The West Grove Fire Company members had a busy day leading into our annual emergency service dinner. At 07:27, as the prep for the dinner was beginning, the company was dispatched for the ladder truck to assist Kennett Fire Company (Station 24) on a building fire at Sam's Sub Shop at 329 E. State Street in downtown Kennett Square. The ladder truck arrived and placed ground ladders to the front of the building and the main to the roof. The crew went to the roof and assisted Longwood Fire company crews with roof operations already in progress. Two holes were cut through a double roof for vertical ventilation. Initial arriving crews had a quick knock on the fire with relatively little damage done to the building. While operating at the building fire in Kennett the crews back at the station handled a Carbon Monoxide alarm response in New London Township.

At 3:15pm the company was alerted to assist Union Fire Company (Station 21) on a building fire on Reedville road in Lower Oxford Township. The initial arriving Union Fire crews quickly knocked the fire holding the extensive damage to only about 25% of the structure. However, due to the location of the fire gas lines from 2 propane tanks ruptured allowing for a fuel fed fire that could not be quickly extinguished. Crews remained on scene for hours assisting with the cooling of the propane tanks. Once the propane tanks cooled down and finished venting, crews on scene were able to completely overhaul the building. After assisting with an extensive overhaul West Grove crews cleared the scene around 7:30pm.

While on scene at the building fire, New Castle County Engine 143 (Cranston Heights) covered our local. They handled an appliance fire on Paschal Mill Road along with Squad 22(Lieutenant 22). The homeowner reported the oven was on fire . Upon arrival the crews found the fire was out. The stove was pulled away from the wall and the surrounding area was checked for heat. Crews quickly cleared the scene and returned to the station.

Once the West Grove units returned from Lower Oxford the crews cleaned up their equipment and gear and put the units back in service and enjoyed a good meal with fellow first responders.

It should also be noted that our EMS crews handled 11 calls for service throughout the busy day; at one point utilizing all three ambulances simultaneously.

 
Units: (24's Building - Ladder 22, Chief 22) (21's Building - Engine 22-1, Rescue 22, Ladder 22, Tanker 22, Brush 22, Chief 22)