| Friday, November 15, proved to be a busy day for Station 51 and the West Chester Fire Department. Friday afternoon began with a response to the 200 block of Ridge Crest Drive in East Bradford Township to assist EMS with forcible entry into a residence. As units were clearing, Station 51 was alerted with Stations 06 and 56 for a dwelling fire on East Boot Road in West Whiteland Township. Chief 06 arrived and reported a working fire inside of a landscape equipment storage building. Assistant 51 (Pelna) arrived and established operations. Ladder 56 was the first unit to arrive and made quick work of the fire. Engine 51-2 responded to the scene and assisted as needed, eventually standing by on scene to cover the Station 06 local.
At 2056 hours, Station 51 was dispatched with Station 39 for smoke in the dwelling in the 900 block of Fairview Avenue in East Bradford Township. Additional reports to Chester County 911 advised of a possible fire on the second floor of the dwelling. With this information the assignment was upgraded, adding tankers 36 and 52. Assistant 51 (Pelna) arrived within minutes, reporting a two-story single family dwelling, with fire showing and requested the Working Fire Dispatch. Chester County Fire Board filled this request adding Station 52 for the full company, Rescue 47 for RIT, Engines 49-5 and 44-5, Tankers 22, 23, 24, and Medic 91.
As Assistant 51 gave his report, Engine 51-2 arrived as the first due engine, dropping a supply line at the intersection of Skelp Level Road and Route 322. After dropping 1200’ of supply line, 51-2 pulled past the structure, and stretched an 1 ¾” attack line to begin an interior attack. Chief 39 (Law) arrived and established the “Fairview Avenue Command”, while Assistant 51 established Operations and Lieutenant 51B (J McClure) established Interior.
The crew from Engine 51-2 made an aggressive interior attack, fighting their way through debris and heavy fire conditions. As the crew began to knock the fire, Engine 51-1 arrived and took position as the relay pumper at Skelp Level Road and Brandywine Avenue while sending its crew to assist with fire suppression. Engines 39-1 and 51-1 deployed the backup line to division 1. Captain 51 (Green) established Division 2 as fire began to extend into the attic space.
As crews were bringing the fire under control, Chester County Fire Board alerted the West Chester Chief Officers of a second call in the district, for the reported house fire in the 1200 block of Ashbridge Road in West Goshen Township. Assistant 52 (Stafford) and Assistant 53 (McDonald) arrived reporting a two-story single family dwelling with a fire in the basement, requesting the Working Fire Dispatch. Standby companies in the Borough comprised of Engines 06-2, 25-1, as well as Station 53 responded to the scene. Engine 52-1 was able to clear the fire on Fairview Avenue and also respond to the fire. West Chester and mutual aid crews again made an aggressive interior attack eventually bringing the fire under control. Engine 51-1 also cleared Fairview Avenue and returned to the Borough to cover the first due.
All West Chester units cleared both fires just before 0100. Both incidents are under investigation by the Chester County Fire Marshal’s Office. A special thank you to all of the standby companies that covered the WCFD local. |
