Working House Fire Assist 22
 
By Firefighter Brandon Cole
October 1, 2019
 

The Avondale Fire Company was awoken by the sound of the pagers on October 1st around 0530 hours for a house fire to assist West Grove Fire Company on Old School House Road. Deputy 22 responded and was given additional information of multiple calls reporting the back (Charlie) side of the house was involved. Deputy 22 arrived to find fire showing from a 2 story single family dwelling and he requested the working fire dispatch to add a medic, air unit and an additional engine. Engine 22-1 arrived and took the first due engine assignment but had no water supply due to a lack of hydrants in the area. Engine 23-1 arrived and had the second due engine assignment. Engine 23-1 pulled a second handline off of engine 22-1 and met the crews from Engine 22 and Ladder 22 inside on the second floor of the structure where the bulk of the fire was on the Charlie side. Engine 23-1's crew advanced the line to the second floor bedrooms and bathroom. Engine 23-1 laid a line from the fire scene to Chesterville and Old School House Roads where Assistant 23 took water supply operations. Engine 23-2's crew assisted with pulling drywall down so the interior handline crew could get the base of the fire knocked down. Engine 23-1's pump operator supplied the fire scene by drafting from a portatank off of Tanker 23. Tanker 23 as well as five other tankers took part in the tanker shuttle. Due to the lack of manpower on the assignment and extensive overhaul that still needed to be completed, command added two more engines bringing in Christiana 52 and Quarryville Fire Company. Avondale crews assisted with overhaul before clearing the scene.

Crew operated the scene for about 3 hours.

Special thanks to Modena Fire Company (Engine 37-1) for covering Avondale local while we operated on this working fire.

 
Units: Engine 1&2, Rescue, Tanker, Squad, Ambulance 2
 
Mutual Aid: West Grove