Avondale Assisted on the 5 Alarm Building Fire in Oxford Borough
 
By Avondale Fire Company
September 13, 2023
 

Around 23:30 hours on September 13, the Union Fire Company of Oxford and surrounding mutual aid companies were alerted for a reported building fire in the 20 Block of South Third Street in Oxford Borough. Oxford Borough Police as well as Union Fire Company both could see heavy flames coming from the roof of one of the many row buildings and went straight for the working fire dispatch.

Shortly after at 23:45 hours, the Avondale Fire Company was alerted for an engine to assist Union Fire Company of Oxford as part of the third alarm assignment on a working building fire.

Due to heavy fire conditions and the fire spreading to adjacent buildings, a second and then third alarm were requested to bring in additional fire resources to the scene to assist with fire suppression. Engine 23-2 made the response with a crew of five while Utility and Traffic 23 followed behind and assisted with traffic control on the perimeter of the fire scene.

Avondale crews arrived and reported to manpower. Once crews staged in manpower for about two minutes, they were sent to the Bravo side for a search and to assist with suppression. Crews were met with smoke and fire load on the third floor of the Bravo side exposure. Crews were then relieved by West Whiteland Fire Company. Once crews were relieved, they took a break and went right back to work.

While engine crews were working, the chauffeur of Engine 23-2 handled pumping a hydrant for additional pressures to the scene. After multiple hours of suppression, Engine 23-2 was reassigned to drafting from a port-a-tank to supply water to the front side of the fire. Avondale crews operated for 20 hours at this incident and reported back to the station for cleanup.

Final apparatus cleared and returned to service just before 22:00 hours on September 14.

Special thanks to Hockessin Fire Company for covering our local while we operated this incident.
 
Units: Engine 2, Utility, Traffic, Portable Light Tower, and Fire Police
 
Smoke showing from the "A" side.
Smoke showing from the "A" side.
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Utility 23 assisted Honey Brook with loading up their supply line.
Utility 23 assisted Honey Brook with loading up their supply line.
Ladder 21 operates a master stream.
Ladder 21 operates a master stream.
 
Firefighter Owen and Lavender operate a hose line.
Firefighter Owen and Lavender operate a hose line.
Crews assist with manpower.
Crews assist with manpower.
 
Engine 2 assisted with suppling water to the fire scene from a near-by hydrant.
Engine 2 assisted with suppling water to the fire scene from a near-by hydrant.
Engine 2 set up and drafting.
Engine 2 set up and drafting.
 
Traffic 23 assisted in closing the streets around the scene.
Traffic 23 assisted in closing the streets around the scene.
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No Caption
Fire could be seen from miles away
Fire could be seen from miles away