At 2123 hours on June 15, Chester County Fire Board alerted Stations 51, 53, and Tower 54 for a building fire in the unit block of North Church Street in West Chester Borough. Calls to Chester County 911 stated that there was smoke and fire coming from the roof of a building in the block. Assistant 52 responded and added the additional engines from Station 52.

Engine 52-2 was first to arrive reporting a three story mixed occupancy with fire showing from the roof. Assistant 52 arrived immediately after and requested the working fire dispatch, which added Station 39 and Station 56 for the RIT assignment. Assistant 51 was next to arrive and established Operations. As Engine 51-1 approached the scene, Operations directed that the crew set up for a master stream operation on the Market Street side, due to the volume of fire from the roof. A second alarm was then requested adding the balance of Station 54 and Station 06 for the full company.

As other units quickly began to respond and arrive, Chief 53 arrived and established the “Church Street Command”. Command requested the third due areal and a second RIT assignment which added Delaware County Tower 59 and Station 25. All the while, West Chester crews mounted an aggressive interior attack on the fourth floor of the main fire building. As conditions deteriorated, Operations temporarily suspended the interior operation putting Engine 51-1 and Tower 54 into service with elevated master streams to darken down the fire from the roof.
Additional units began to arrive and assist with fire suppression and search efforts. EMS units from Station 55 Ambulance and Medic 91 coordinated a massive rehab operation for the firefighters. A Fire Police Task Force was dispatched to assist with crowed control, as Borough residents and visitors began to gather in the area to watch the fire. Engine 46-2 and Engine 05-1, which were moved into WCFD stations as standbys, were requested to the scene at 2226 hours. At 2255 hours, Command requested a third alarm which brought Tower 03, Engine 47-2, Engine 37-2, and Delaware County Engine 41 to the scene. The Chester County Incident Support Team was also requested and responded.

After a long suppression effort, Command placed the fire under control at 2349 hours. The Montgomery County North Penn Goodwill Service, which provides emergency canteen service to first responders, also responded. Units began to be released from the scene just before 0130 hours. The fire is under investigation by the Chester County and Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshals.

Thank you to Stations 24, 65, and 68 for covering Borough during the fire. While units were operating in the Borough, standby companies handled a fatal accident with fire on the Route 322 Bypass in West Goshen Township.