Assist to Longwood on the Working House
 
By 1st Class Firefighter John Morris IV
May 20, 2014
 

On Tuesday, May 20 at 1356 hours Station 51 was dispatched for an engine to assist Longwood Fire Company on a working house fire. Engine 51-2 quickly made the response with 6 volunteers. Longwood’s MICU arrived on scene and reported a garage fully involved that was beginning to extend to the house. Longwood’s Engine arrived, pulled a 2 1/2 attack line and began knocking the garage down.

Engine 51-2 arrived on the scene and was ordered to stretch a line to the front door to initiate an interior attack on the fire that had extended into the house. At the same time PO Baker stretched a supply line from 51-2 to 25-2 to supply the scene with an extra 1000 gallons of water. Firefighter Whitehead stretched a line off Engine 25-2 to the front door and under the command of Firefighter Morris entered the dwelling to attack the fire while Firefighter’s O'Brien, Ahn, and Litchert initiated a search and assisted with opening up.

Crews encountered heavy fire first floor rear kitchen. After knocking down the fully involved kitchen they proceeded to the second floor where they encountered heavy fire that extended from the floor below. Engine 51-2’s crew knocked all visible fire on the second floor and, with the help of Captain 25 (LeBare) and Deputy 25 (Ruoss), was able to gain access via an attic ladder to the fully involved attic knocking that down as well.

PO Baker was relieved of his duties at the pump by a senior pump operator and preceded inside where he joined the searched team and located a dog in the basement. The dog was immediately extricated to the outside where he was over-joyed to be back with his owners.

More crews from Longwood, Po-Mar-Lin and Concordville arrived and assisted with opening up and overhaul. A second alarm was dispatched for manpower to assist the initial crews with a large amount of overhaul. Units remained on scene for approximately another hour mopping up. Engine 51-2 returned to the Borough available 1714 hours.

 
Units: Engine 51-2