At 0102 hours, Stations 51, 53, and 55 Ambulance were dispatched to the unit block of Jacqueline Drive in Westtown Township for a house fire, with a smoke condition reported in the basement. Calls to Chester County 911 from the homeowner indicated that all occupants were out of the dwelling. All WCFD stations were staffed by volunteers due to the weather and responded in just over a minute. Ladder 53 was the first unit to arrive on scene and reported a two story, single family dwelling, with smoke showing.
Brush 51 arrived and confirmed with the crew from the Ladder that there was a working fire inside the dwelling. Chief and Assistant 51 arrived and established command and the operations sector while Lieutenant 51B established interior. Engine 51-2 arrived and assumed the first due engine responsibility. Captain 51 reported a fire in the basement and began coordinating the fire attack. Engine 53 arrived and pulled a backup line to division one. Station 52 was requested to the scene for manpower and Tanker 52 due to a lack of hydrants in the area.
Command placed the fire under control at 0155 hours after crews had opened up much of the interior and extinguished all visible fire. PECO was requested and responded to the scene. WCFD crews operated in near zero degree temperatures for over 3 hours. Station 39 stood by to cover any additional calls in Station 51's local, answering no additional calls for service. The fire is under investigation by the Chester County Fire Marshal’s Office and Westtown East Goshen Regional Police.
