Penn Township Fire Caps Busy Evening for Area Fire Companies

The evening of April 19 turned into a near-all-night challenge for the West Grove Fire Company, as the organization and fire companies from multiple counties partnered to address numerous emergencies, concluding with a house fire in Penn Township.

Chester County Fire Radio dispatched the WGFC for an automatic fire alarm on Hood Lane in Penn Township at 11:17pm.

This was not the first call that evening. In fact, many of the WGFC firefighters and apparatus were at a major fire in New Garden Township (see: http://wgfc.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=527 ) along with other nearby fire companies. And, in the hour prior to the Penn Township dispatch, West Grove units and standby companies had responded to multiple calls for trees and wires down due to a large thunderstorm moving through the area…a storm that made fighting the Avondale fire that much more difficult for firefighters.

At the time of the Penn Township dispatch, Lancaster County Engine 89-3 was on standby at Station 12. West Bradford Engine 39-1 was on standby at Station 22 in West Grove, but was down in the Landenberg area on a wires call when the Penn Township fire was dispatched.

WGFC Engine 32 was holding a crew in quarters given the multiple calls, and responded first to Penn Township from the fire company's third station in London Britain Township. Chief 22 responded from the West Grove Station. Engine 89-3 responded from New London.

While units were enroute, Fire Radio advised the alarm company was reporting a fire in the attic and the call was upgraded to a building fire. Chief 22 arrived on scene and reported a three story, single family dwelling with nothing visible, but residents on scene reporting an attic fire. After he began his 360 degree walk around, Chief 22 reported the third floor well involved, and established Hood Lane command.

Engine 89-3 arrived on scene first, advancing down the long driveway and putting the first hand line in service to third floor. Engine 32 arrived and laid a large diameter hose down the 1000' driveway to establish a water supply to Engine 89-3. A second hand line was advanced to the second floor by Engine 32's crew.

Multiple units were dispatched to the call, including many units coming directly from the fire in Avondale.

Ladder 21 arrived and was positioned to access the roof, and crews laddered all windows. Engine 32 stretched a third hand line to the rear of the structure leveraging fire crews from Station 21. A water supply operation was established out on Old Baltimore Pike leveraging tankers from multiple stations.

The initial fire attack was successful in knocking down most active fire, although the fire did vent through the roof. Crews concentrated on overhaul on the upper floors and attic.

EMS crews established a rehab operation, as many of the firefighters arrived on scene already tired from the Avondale fire. One firefighter was ultimately transported to Jennersville Hospital for exhaustion.

At 1218am, Chief 22 declared the fire under control with all units working.

Overall and cleanup continued until just before 200am, when the final units cleared the scene. Crews worked to put all trucks in service back at the stations, with most firefighters finally released after 400am.