At 1935 hours on April 19th 2013, Stations 23 & 22 (West Grove) was alerted for a building fire at To-Jo Mushrooms in the 900 block of Penn Green Road. NGPD arrived on-scene at 1938 hours and advised fire showing from building #1 with large tanks of ammonia in the fire building. With this information Chief 23 started Station 25 (Longwood) for the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT). Chief 23 (Cole) and Deputy 23 (Carroll) both arrived at 1939 hours, confirming the NGPD report and started the Working Fire Dispatch. Engine 23-2 arrived and dropped a 5" line from the road into the scene; crews deployed 2) 1 ¾" hand-lines for fire suppression. Chief 23 established "To-Jo Command" while Deputy 23 handled Operations. Rescue 23 dropped their 5" line from a nearby hydrant to Engine 23-2's line for water supply. Engine 22 was set up on the "B" side of the building. Ladder 25 was giving the task of opening the adjacent roof on the "C/D" side to check for fire extension. With Ladder 25's crew going in service on the roof, command requested Station 21 (Union FC of Oxford) for "RIT". Ladder 22 arrived and assisted with getting the other adjacent roof opened on the "B" side.
Each arriving crew was giving various tasks upon their arrival. Due to the extend over-haul and poor weather conditions, command requested a 2nd alarm assignment for additional manpower and NCC Station 14 (Cranston Heights) for another RIT team. Once NCC Rescue 14 arrived they were giving the "RIT" sector and the 21 crew was removed from RIT to assist with roof operations. Once it was determined the fire spread into the roof was contained, the fire was placed under control and crews continued with over-haul.
Final units cleared at 0024 hours.
The Avondale units returned to station 23 where the relocates assisted with getting our units back in-service.
Final Avondale units went AIQ at 0145 hours.
The AFC officers and members would like to thank ALL companies and personnel involved with this incident, and the relocate companies that covered the fire and EMS calls during this incident.
While the AFC units operated on this incident;
Engine 39-1(West Bradford) handled a trees & wires call on Penn Green Road.
Ambulance 37-1 covered an EMS calls.
Lancaster County Tanker 43 responded to a working house fire with the West Grove Fire Company.
Special thanks to Mike Syska and Brandon Cole for the on-scene pictures.
