On Sunday August 31st at 1815 hours, the Avondale Fire Company along with units from station 22, 24, 25 and New Castle County 19 were dispatched to a barn fire in the 300 block of Newark Rd in New Garden Township. Chief 23 went responding within a minute and was given a report of a barn which was fully involved and had multiple exposures including a house. Chief 23 was the first on the scene and confirmed the report and added a first alarm tanker task force for water supply. Engine 23-2 arrived pulling two 1 ¾” handlines to protect the nearby residence from the heat, which had already melted the siding. Rescue 23 arrived pulling additional 1 ¾” and a 2 ½” handlines for fire suppression. Crews faced heavy fire and heat conditions that resulted in the collapse of the tin roof creating several heat pockets that made for difficult overhaul operations. A hazmat representative from station 15 made the response, due to an unknown blue-green liquid coming from the barn. The liquid was identified as a grass fertilizer and was not a hazard for the environment. The fire was placed under control at 2052 hours. Crews continued to work in overhaul capacities until 2224 hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Chester County Fire Marshalls office.

Special thanks to West Grove Fire Company and Lancaster County Tanker 51 for providing coverage to the Avondale local during the fire.