West Grove Fire Company was dispatched to assist Union Fire Company of Oxford for a house fire on Monday April 18 at 1128 hours. The initial dispatch included Oxford units with assistance from Community Fire Company of Rising Sun and West Grove Fire Company. Assistant Chief 21 responded shortly after the initial dispatch and was informed by Chester County Fire board that this was going to be a working fire. Assistant Chief 21 reported a column of smoke visible from a mile out and requested the working fire dispatch. This added units from Quarryville Fire Company, Cochranville Fire Company, a tanker from Robert Fulton Fire Company and Medic 94.

Assistant chief 21 arrived on scene and reported a 2 story, single family dwelling with fire showing in the rear. AC21 reported that all occupants were safely evacuated. E21-1 and L21 arrived and began stretching an initial attack hose line to the rear. E21-1 laid a 600 foot 5" inch supply line from the nearest intersection. E21-2 and Tanker 21 established a water supply by using a nurse tanker operation.

E22-2, E22-1, Tanker 22 and Ambulance 122-1 responded with 13 firefighters to assist. E22-2 advanced a 2.5" hose line to the rear to assist with the initial fire attack. E22-1 crew relieved the initial attack crew from E21-1 on the hose line to the rear. E22-1 and E22-2 operators began supplying the nurse tanker operation by shuttling water. T22, E22-1 and E22-2 each dumped 4 loads of water into the nurse tanker operation.

The WGFC firefighters assisted the Oxford crews with extensive overhaul. There was extensive damage to the house throughout the first and second floors, as well as the attic. The WGFC crews operated for approximately 4 hours.

This fire scene was another incredible example of teamwork and multi-agency cooperation with fire and EMS crews from 3 different counties in 2 states operating in one seamless operation.

A special thanks to Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder of Newark for sending E9-3 to standby at our New London station while our crews were out of the area.