New Year's Eve Fire - East Nottingham Township
 
By Secretary Bill Wohl
January 1, 2020
 

The call came into the Chester County 911 Center at 9:25pm on New Year's Eve -- "My house is on fire in the bedroom, we are evacuating," and then the caller disconnected.

Dispatch alerts were issued for the Union Fire Company of Oxford for Little Elk Creek Road, south of Oxford Road for the dwelling fire. Also dispatched were assisting companies, including the West Grove Fire Company, Rising Sun, Cochranville, and Quarryville. A Union Fire Company officer arrived with fire showing, and the call was re-dispatched using the County's "working fire dispatch." This brings additional units, including Medic 94, a RIT (rapid intervention team) and Fire Marshals.

WGFC Engine 22-2 from New London arrived entering the driveway to leave room for the first arriving ladder truck. Crews stretched a 200' attack line along with the crew from Engine 21-1, which laid a supply line from the street, and deployed three additional attack lines to the structure. Ladder 21 came into the main driveway and raised it’s aerial to the roof, with crews throwing ground ladders to all sides of the structure.

Tanker 21 arrived and deployed it’s portable water tank out on the road and delivered the first supply water to the Engines, with additional Tankers from West Grove and Cochranville supplying water to the portable tank. Engine 21-4 drafted from the portable tank and supplied the fire scene. Engine 22-3 from London Britain arrived, leaving it’s crew at the fire scene and then departed, establishing a tanker fill site at the hydrant at Oxford and Mt. Hope Roads, about 3/4 of a mile from the fire scene.

EMS crews evaluated the residents of the home, and handled re-hab on scene. Fire police closed Little Elk Creek road for the duration of the incident.

Fire crews worked for about three hours at the incident, with extensive overhaul required to assure the fire was completely out. Fire foam was used as a final step. There were no injuries and the Chester County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating. West Grove crews cleared the call at about midnight. Various crews handled standby assignments at Oxford, Cochranville and West Grove fire stations.

 
Units: WGFC: Engine 22-2, Tanker 22, Engine 22-3, Squad 22
 
Mutual Aid: Oxford: Engines 21-1 and 21-4, Tanker 21, Ladder 21, Ambulance 21; Cochranville: Tanker 27, Rescue 27; Medic 94-1; PA State Police; Chester County Fire Marshal's Office; Fire Police 21