Penn Township House Fire Contained by the WGFC
 
By Secretary Bill Wohl
March 5, 2016
 

West Grove fire company firefighters were awoken by pagers just after 500am on Saturday morning to reports of a house fire on Woodcrest Road in Penn Township.

Initial reports indicated there was smoldering in the walls above the fireplace. Chief 22 went on location reporting a working chimney fire and established Woodcrest Road command.

Engines 22-1 and 22-2 responded initially, followed the ladder from Station 21 (Oxford) and an engine from 23 (Avondale). Ambulances from West Grove and Avondale also responded.

Engine 22-1's crew arrived and were directed to open up the wall above the fireplace mantle. The home had a fireplace insert, with a stone mantle. The crew found fire among the wall materials and studs, along with a burnt electrical wires. Also, Engine 22-3 responded along with Ladder 22 and Tanker 21.

The initial engine crews opened up all walls, quickly assuring the fire did not extend further, including checks on all sides of the walls around the chimney, around the chimney pipes, and above and below the fire area. The chimney insert was also removed, and a crew went to the roof to drop chimney chains to any fire in the chimney pipe and down in the mantle box was also out.

Chief 22 had the fire quickly reported under control, releasing the neighboring companies. There were no reported injuries.