Just before 10-00pm last evening, fire companies were alerted for a house fire near Auburn Road and Lookout Circle in Landenberg.
Numerous calls to the Chester County 911 Center reported a house on fire with fire in the area of the garage and spreading. Alerted were the Avondale, West Grove, and Hockessin Fire Companies. Avondale's ambulance arrived first to report heavy fire conditions, with fire through the roof. Chief 23 arrived and established Command, requested the first in Engine lay a supply line, and declared a "working fire dispatch" to add additional units to the situation.
Engine 23-1 arrived, laying a five inch supply line from the corner at Auburn Road, parking past the residence to leave room for Ladder 22. The Ladder was positioned on the front lawn and raised it's aerial to the roof. Initial fire crews stretched attack lines into the residence, where a large volume of fire was found in the rooms above the garage, extending through the roof and across the attic spaces. Ladder 22's crew advanced to the roof to vent the fire in support of the work happening on the second floor.
The second arriving Engine picked up the hydrant to supply the fire scene, with numerous units arriving to support the aggressive fire attack on all levels of the home. The multi-line attack knocked down the large volume of fire, with crews then spending the next two hours opening up walls and in overhaul to find pockets of fire and assure the fire had been completely knocked down. Crews also gathered furniture and belongings on the first floor and basement level and covered them with salvage tarps to try to minimize water damage on those levels.
Ambulance crews from Avondale and West Grove and Medic 94 units were on scene to evaluate firefighters as they rotated through the fire fighting evolutions. No injuries were reported. The fire was declared under control in 50 minutes, with units finally clear of the scene at 1:33am.
This firefight involved units from 12 different emergency services organizations across four counties and two states (see list below). West Grove units included three Engines, Ladder, Tanker, and Ambulance. |