Second Major Fire in 24 Hours Taxes Southern Chester County Firefighters
 
By Firefighter/EMT Bill Wohl
December 1, 2014
 

A working house fire dispatched just before 8pm on Thanksgiving Eve, November 26 was the second house fire in less than 24 hours for fire crews, who battled snowy conditions in New Garden Township. The fire was located on Newark Road at Hillendale Roads.

Dispatched as a fire in a bedroom spreading to the rest of the house, the initial call requested units from Avondale, West Grove, Kennett, and Longwood fire companies.

Chief 23 and Deputy 23 went on location reporting a working fire, and reported a child with burn injuries, requesting advanced life support services. The chief took operations and Newark Command was established by the deputy. Engine 22 had made the response and was requested to take the hydrant and stretch to the scene.

Engine 23-2 arrived first and it's crews began an interior attack, supplied by Tanker 23. Ladder 24 also came up the driveway and assisted the first in crews. The fire building had multiple apartments -- with a primary search of both floors completed 33 minutes after dispatch.

Arriving engine and ladder crews stretched additional lines, and established a manpower pool, with Assistant 22 handling the manpower assignment. Due to the construction of the unit, along with several added apartments, finding all sources of fire, and overhauling the scene took quite some time. The fire was declared under control at 9:02pm, with units working until 10:45pm.

The injured child turned out to be a 20 year old resident of the fire apartment, who was transported by ambulance to the Jennersville Hospital.

Additional coverage of this
 
Units: Ladder 22, Ambulance 22-1, Engine 22, Engine 12, Rescue 22, Engine 32
 
Mutual Aid: Engine 23-2, Tanker 23, Ambulance 23-2, Ambulance 24-1, Tower 24, Rescue 25, Ladder 25, FM 101 & 102, Med
 
Assistant 22 runs the manpower pool at the front door.
Assistant 22 runs the manpower pool at the front door.
Crews working on the second floor above the fire location.
Crews working on the second floor above the fire location.
 
The front of the fire building.
The front of the fire building.
Side D.
Side D.
 
Manpower pool.
Manpower pool.
This Thanksgiving Eve fire was the second major fire in less than 24 hours for WGFC and southern Chester County firefighters. This fire destroyed several apartments and left one adult burned.
This Thanksgiving Eve fire was the second major fire in less than 24 hours for WGFC and southern Chester County firefighters. This fire destroyed several apartments and left one adult burned.