Cocoa Bean Fire

The Avondale Fire Company along with West Grove, Kennett, Hockessin and Longwood for RIT were alerted to the 100 block of Starr Road for an agricultural barn fire around 1220 hours. Engine 23-2 responded within a minute of dispatch. Engine 23-2 arrived to find a large storage bin of cocoa beans smoldering. Engine 23-2's crew pulled a hand-line to protect the building while Squad 55 from Hockessin arrived and pulled a second hand-line to cool the cocoa beans. Tanker 25-1 supplied Engine 23-2 with water. After getting all of the cocoa beans out, Engine 23-2's crew sprayed down the inside of the structure while other crews soaked and cooled the cocoa beans. The fire was under control quickly. It turned out to be smoldering beans in the storage bin. Final units cleared in two hours.