Firefighters from eleven fire departments worked to assist the West Grove Fire Company at a major barn fire in New London Township on Thursday, December 5.
The WGFC was dispatched at 8:30am for a reported barn fire at Grazing Acres Farm, on Lewisville Road. The first arriving WGFC Chief Officer reported a barn fully involved, with adjacent other structures. The ensuring effort lasted all day and into the evening including truck and hose cleanup. While the barn was a total loss from the initial moments, firefighters worked to ensure that adjacent buildings were protected.
The initial arriving engine 22-1 laid a large supply line up the driveway from Lewisville Road. During the incident, that engine supplied multiple hand lines, a 2-1/2" blitz line, and Ladder 22's elevated waterway. Initial water supply was handled by a tanker task force with tankers from across the region. Ultimately, a large supply line was laid by several fire engines from the driveway south along Lewisville Road 3,500+ feet to a hydrant located at the intersection of Camp Bonsul Road and Thunder Hill Road.
Later in the day, heavy machinery was brought in to break apart the debris pile to assist firefighters to fully extinguish the fire, with efforts hampered by high winds and very cold temperatures.
Lancaster Tanker 52 was on standby at Station 22 during the incident. That crew, from the Christiana Fire Company, handled multiple calls while West Grove was at the barn fire including an automatic alarm, a gas leak outside, assisting the ambulance, an additional fire alarm, and several trees/wires and brush calls. Our thanks to that crew, and all of the first responders who assisted on today's all-day incident.
Union Fire Company of Oxford 21 - Engine, Tanker and Squad; Cochranville 27 - Rescue and Tanker; Avondale 23 - Squad, Fire Police and Tanker; Kennett Square 24 - Engine and Tanker; Longwood 25 - Engine and Tanker; Rising Sun - Ladder; Singerly of Elkton - two engines; Aetna Hook, Hose & Ladder of Newark 9 - Engine and Squad; Medic 94, Chester County Fire Marshal, West Chester 52 - air unit; Chester County Haz Mat 15; Lancaster Christiana - Tanker.
The view from Ladder 22 as it proceeds up the driveway to the fire scene, with a fully charged supply line evident alongside the road.
At the fire scene, Ladder 22 is positioned to fight the fire, with Engine 22-1 supplying various handlines and the Ladder, with crews working to protect the exposure buildings.
First arriving WGFC units found this barn fully involved in New London Township. The incident took all day from dispatch to clean up.
Later in the day, heavy equipment is used to break up the debris pile to help reach the base of the fire.
Late in the afternoon, smoke still rises from what's left of the barn.
This barn was "well off" on arrival -- so the focus was on assuring the horses were safe and adjacent buildings were protected.
Thank you to all the members of the fire/ems and equine vet services teams who worked this fire under the adverse weather conditions yesterday. Your time and dedication is appreciated as always.
Teresa Holton
December 06, 2024 at 8:07 AM
Thank you to all the fire/ems/equine vet service members who worked this fire with the adverse weather conditions yesterday. As always, your dedication and commitment are greatly appreciated.
