6 Incidents Including 3 Fires over the Weekend
100 Block of Main Street
100 Block of Main Street
 
100 Block of Penn Avenue Oxford Borough - Engine 22-1's crew standing by Photo by: Career FF/EMT DeMarco
100 Block of Penn Avenue Oxford Borough - Engine 22-1's crew standing by Photo by: Career FF/EMT DeMarco
 
Ladder 22 onscene of the fire on Main Street
Ladder 22 onscene of the fire on Main Street
 
Toughkenamen fire
Toughkenamen fire
 
Ladder 22 crew opens up the roof.
Ladder 22 crew opens up the roof.
 
WGFC Ladder 22 on arrival of a working fire in Toughkenamon assisting Avondale. Intial reports of subjects trapped proved unfounded.
WGFC Ladder 22 on arrival of a working fire in Toughkenamon assisting Avondale. Intial reports of subjects trapped proved unfounded.
 
First arriving units stretch the fire line.
First arriving units stretch the fire line.
 
This working fire was on Main Street.
This working fire was on Main Street.
 
Ladder 21 has the roof in Oxford Borough
Ladder 21 has the roof in Oxford Borough
 
Scene of a fire between the second and third floors in Oxford.
Scene of a fire between the second and third floors in Oxford.
 
 
By WGFC FF Tyler Simpson, Danny O'Connell and Bill Wohl
November 14, 2018
 

On Saturday, November 10 at 12:03 PM, the West Grove Fire Company, along with other Southern Chester County companies, was dispatched to assist Station 23 (Avondale) in the 100 Block of Main Street in Toughkenamon for a reported building fire. Within four minutes of dispatch, Ladder 22 went responding with five firefighters. While en-route, Chief 23, advised fireboard that he had a large column of smoke coming from the area of the call - he soon went on location with a working fire in a mixed occupancy dwelling. A significant upgrade in urgency came with reports of a possible subject trapped in the fire.

A short time later, Ladder 22 arrived and assumed the “First Due Truck Assignment” - positioning the truck on the “A” (front) side of the building and beginning to search for any potential victims inside the building. After ensuring there were no victims trapped in the building, the ladder crew assisted 23's engine crews with fire suppression and overhaul. Engines 22-1 and 22-2 also made the response and reported to the manpower pool. They were later placed into service assisting with overhaul operations. The Ladder crew's final assignment was opening up the roof for final fire suppression.

While still on scene of the Main Street Assignment, a second fire was dispatched in the 100 Block of Cambridge Road in New Garden Township for a report of “smoke in a building”. Engine 22-1 responded from the Main Street Assignment. Deputy 23 arrived on scene and assumed “Cambridge Command”. A small fire was found inside the residence, quickly handled by arriving companies. The assignment was placed under control holding units on scene. Engine 22-1's crew staged in manpower before assisting in repacking a hand line that was deployed. Additional WGFC units responded, including Rescue 22 and Engine 22-3.

On Sunday, November 11, the WGFC and local fire companies were again dispatched for a reported structure fire, this time in the 100 Block of Penn Avenue in Oxford Borough. The caller reported smoke on the third floor of a house. Chief 21 arrived with a working fire between the second and third floors. Engine 22-1 made the response with four volunteers. While enroute to Oxford, fireboard notified Engine 1 of a second call for a fire alarm at Luther House 1. Engine 22-2 and Deputy 22 handled that incident along with Engine 22-3, while Engine 22-1 and the Ladder continued to Oxford. The source of the fire alarm was determined to be burnt food in one of the apartments.

Engine 22-1 arrived on scene at Penn Avenue and assumed the "Third Due Engine" assignment, securing a secondary water supply. Engine 1's crew staged in the manpower pool before later being released. Ladder 22 was recalled shortly after arriving.

A total of six fire incidents were handled over the weekend.

Thanks to Chester County Working Fires (Facebook) and Firefighter DeMarco for photos.
 
Units: Engine 22-1, Engine 22-2, Ladder 22, Deputy 22