West Grove Fire Company Assists Kennett on New Year's Eve Fire
 
By Secretary Bill Wohl
January 1, 2015
 

WGFC firefighters capped off a busy year and a very busy December with a long night of firefighting in Kennett Square.

Responding to assist the Kennett Fire Company and fire companies from across Chester County at a house fire on Linden Street, firefighters from West Grove were sent just before 11pm on New Year's Eve and completed their work at 3:00am on New Year's Day.

Engine 32 responded from WGFC's station in Landenberg, and added crew members from the station in New London. Crews from E32 assisted in firefighting, overhaul and scene support over nearly three hours in sub-freezing temperatures. The fire building was a pair of attached, row-style homes. The fire building had a fire that spread, apparently from the basement, through the structure up to the third floor. Extensive overhaul was required due to the fire spreading into voids and spaces between floors, walls and the two side-by-side units.

West Grove joined crews from Kennett, Longwood, West Chester, Unionville, Oxford, Christina (Lancaster County), Cochranville, Avondale, Keystone Valley (Parkesburg) and various EMS units.

The Red Cross was on scene assisting displaced residents. One firefighter suffered a minor injury. The scene was surrounded by bystanders who came to watch the fire from nearby New Year's Eve celebrations in Kennett. Special thanks to the Kennett Public Works crew who spread ice melt across the scene over many hours to help battle icing conditions.

More coverage of the fire can be found at this link for Philadelphia Channel 3 TV featuring video of the scene: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/video/10995667-crews-battle-house-fire-in-kennett-square/

West Grove crews handled an auto accident and multiple EMS calls while E32 was in Kennett at the fire.
 
Units: Engine 32
 
Mutual Aid: (see story for additional companies)
 
This home in Kennett Square became the last call of 2014 and the first fire of 2015 for the West Grove Fire Company. Engine 32 joined more than a half dozen companies from across Chester County in this three hour battle.
This home in Kennett Square became the last call of 2014 and the first fire of 2015 for the West Grove Fire Company. Engine 32 joined more than a half dozen companies from across Chester County in this three hour battle.
 
Manpower pool on Side D.
Manpower pool on Side D.
 
Looking toward Kennett's ladder and Engine on Side A. The fire building had a hydrant right in front of the fire scene.
Looking toward Kennett's ladder and Engine on Side A. The fire building had a hydrant right in front of the fire scene.
 
Side D.
Side D.
 
Ladder 25 has the roof in this view of Side C (the rear of the fire building).
Ladder 25 has the roof in this view of Side C (the rear of the fire building).
 
This view of the extensive Division 2 (second floor) overhaul. Note the variety of construction materials inside the walls, evidence of the complicated task of finding and extinguishing the fire.
This view of the extensive Division 2 (second floor) overhaul. Note the variety of construction materials inside the walls, evidence of the complicated task of finding and extinguishing the fire.