WGFC Crews Handle House Fire in Penn Township
 
February 28, 2021
 

Fast work by the first-in crews from the West Grove Fire Company quickly knocked down a fire in a Penn Township home Saturday evening. First dispatched at 8:43pm, the WGFC was dispatched to the Leedum Run Road neighborhood, located between Routes 796 and 896 for a house fire.

Chief 22 arrived on location to report a smoke condition from the roof area and established command. Dispatched along with the WGFC were units from Oxford, Avondale, and Cochranville.

Rescue 22 responded from the New London station and arrived quickly on the 796 side of the community. The Rescue laid a 5" supply line from the hydrant at 796 and proceeded about 800 feet down to the residence. Crews from the rescue stretched an 1-3/4" handline to the residence as the ladder crew began to ladder the roof. Crews used roof ladders across a snowy roof to gain safe access to the fire location which was around the base of a metal chimney at the roof peak on the west end of the house.

Crews on the roof were assisted by firefighters from the Union Fire Company of Oxford, who arrived with Engine 21-4 and Ladder 21. Engine 21-4 came in from the west side at 896, dropping a second large diameter supply line at the hydrant on Leedum Run Road near 896 and laid 400 feet into the fire location. Oxford crews laddered the rear of the house and began to assist the WGFC, while also entering the attic area to look for fire spread from the inside. A second attack line was stretched to the residence.

Engine 23-1 (Avondale) arrived on 796 along with Tanker 22. Those units picked up the supply line from Rescue 22 and established a water supply from the fire's east side. WGFC Engine 22-1, arriving from the London Britain station, picked up the line laid by Oxford, connecting to the hydrant on the west side of the fire (this line was not charged). Tanker 21 stood by with Engine 22-1 as a secondary water supply. Rescue 27 (Cochranville) arrived and the 27 crews established a RIT team (Rapid Intervention Team) in front of the residence.

Crews on the roof had water on the fire quickly and opened up the area to assure extinguishment. Fire damage was contained to the area around the chimney, on the roof peak and along the western attic wall. There was water damage below. The Chester County Fire Marshal was on scene investigating.

Operations and command declared the fire under control quickly, and units began to be released. Crews worked to complete overhaul and the overall operation lasted about two hours. Both WGFC ambulance crews were on scene for support, and large turnout of WGFC fire police assisted with traffic control with Route 796 closed along with Leedum Run Road at both ends. No injuries were reported.

 
Units: Rescue 22, Ladder 22, Tanker 22, Engine 22-1, Ambulances 1 & 2, Fire Police
 
Mutual Aid: Engine 21-2 & 21-4, Ladder 21, Tanker 21,Tanker 23, Rescue 27, Engine 23-1, Chester County Fire Marshal