West Grove Fire Company firefighters were dispatched for two fires over ten minutes Saturday -- the first in Kennett Township and the second fire in New London. The second response resulted in a working house fire with more limited damage than might have been due to a fast, aggressive fire attack by crews from Rescue 22.

Units from WGFC were responding to assist Longwood Fire Company for a RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) request dispatched at 12:21pm. Ladder 22 and Rescue 22 were responding on the RIT call assignment, followed by Tanker 22 as part of a Tanker Task Force (coverage of the Kennett fire can be found here: https://www.wgfc.org/news/1130/WGFC-Assists-Longwood-on-Major-House-Fire ).

Nine minutes after that dispatch at 12:30pm, units were advised of a second house fire, this time in WGFC's local in New London Township. Ladder 22 continued to Kennett Township, with Rescue 22 turning around at the Penn London Elementary School, and Tanker 22 responding from West Grove.

The second call was for a home fire on Nashua Drive off of Farmington Circle in New London Township. The 911 caller reported a fire in the attached garage spreading and that the residents were evacuating. Rescue 22 was moments away, and reported a working house fire as they arrived into the development, dropping a large diameter supply line from the intersection of Pawtucket Road and Farmington Circle.

On arrival, the Rescue's crew deployed a 1-3/4" attack line, working from the front of the garage to knock down heavy fire advancing from the well-involved garage that was spreading up to the second floor and attic. That crew then advanced into the residence through the front door, finding high heat and heavy smoke conditions. The crew pushed into the kitchen and attacked the garage fire from the kitchen door, and opening up ceiling areas to knock down the fire in the attic above the garage. The aggressive efforts of this initial crew on Rescue 22 knocked down the fire spread, saving most of the home despite significant damage to the garage, kitchen and bedrooms above the kitchen.

Engine 22's crew arrived to advance a second attack line up to the second floor to prevent fire spread in the north-facing bedroom areas. Tanker 22 arrived to supply water to Rescue 22, whose crew managed to make a significant slow down of the fire with the 750 gallons of water carried on Rescue 22. Ladder 21 arrived from Oxford, laddering the home and its crews assisted in opening up walls and attacking fire spread around the chimney and roof line.

Meanwhile, arriving Engines laid a large diameter supply line back out to Farmington Circle and West Avondale Road, where Tanker 21 hooked in to supply the fire scene. Crews also set up a 3,000 portable tank to prepare a water supply operation to be handled by WGFC Engine 22-3. Ultimately to assure a high flow of water to the scene, Engine 22-3 laid a supply line from that location to a hydrant at State Road and Avondale Road, setting up an operation that also filled several tankers. Approximately 2600 feet of large diameter hose was laid at this fire scene.

Crews from West Grove, Avondale, Oxford and Rising Sun worked to open up walls on the first and second floors, and in the attic to assure that the fire was fully extinguished. Crews used salvage tarps to try and protect the homeowners possessions, and efforts were undertaken to preserve valuables and business records as well.

Approximately 20,000 gallons of water were utilized for the fire fight. Crews were on the scene for approximately four hours. During the call, standby crews from several fire companies handled calls for the WGFC. Fire police had roads closed to support the firefighting operations.