On September 23 at 0609 hours, the Avondale Fire Company was dispatched to the 1600 block of Newark Road for a reported hay fire. Past Chief Decker arrived shortly after the dispatch, and advised he had about a 75 X 25 (about 300 bales) pile well involved. With this report, Chief 23 (Cole) added the first alarm tanker task force and two additional engines for manpower. Engine 23-2 arrived pulling 1) 1 3/4" hand-line to protect the exposed hay. A second 1 3/4" hand-line was also pulled to cool the burning pile. Crews deployed a 5" from Engine 23-2 down the lane for water supply. Tanker 36 was the first arriving tanker, and was assigned to hook into the 5" and supply the engine. As additional engines and tankers arrived, a porta-tank operation was set-up. Engine 25-1 became the drafting engine from the porta-tank to supply the fire scene. Tankers arrived and supplied the porta-tanks. Rescue 22 was assigned to the Bancroft Elementary School to establish a fill site using the hydrant. A Blitz-Fire was set up to keep a water curtain between the burning hay and the exposed hay. Crews continued to keep all piles cooled while the exposed hay was moved by the property owner using large tractors.
AFC would like to thank all companies and crews involved with this call.
Special thanks to the Union Fire Company of Oxford (Engine 21-2) and the Good Will Fire Company of West Chester (Tanker 52) for relocating our station.