| After several hours of heavy on and off rain, multiple roadways throughout Avondale's district began to flood and caused multiple vehicles to become stuck in the flood waters.
Starting at 1820 hours, Avondale Fire Company, Kennett Fire Company and Medic 94 were all alerted to the intersection of Broad Run and Sawmill Road in New Garden Township for a reported water rescue. Responding crews were informed of a vehicle stranded in flood waters with one occupant still in the vehicle.
Chief 23 (Cole) arrived and established the Avondale Command. Water rescue techs from Avondale, Kennett and Hockessin worked together to get the occupant of the vehicle removed and safely out of the water. Utility and Traffic 23 both provided traffic control around the incident to prevent more vehicles from getting stuck in the water.
While crews were operating on the water rescue at Broad Run Road, Chester County Fireboard alerted Avondale Command of a second water rescue at the 800 Block of Penn Green Road in New Garden. Deputy 23 (Bessicks), along with crews from Rescue and Boat 25 (Longwood) made the response. Crews were notified that a sedan was stuck in flood waters but arrived to find the vehicle had already been moved out of the water and crews cleared shortly after.
Before the third water rescue call came in, crews also handled a reported electrical fire in the 200 Block of Chatham Street in Avondale Borough. Crews were notified of sparking cables in the basement but found the homeowner had already shut the power off in the residence. No active fire was found and the situation was placed under control and turned over to the homeowner.
Crews also assisted Station 36 (Po-Mar-Lin) with a fire alarm since they were tied up on other calls in their district but were shortly recalled after responding to head to the third water rescue in the 100 Block of Scarlett Road in New Garden Township.
Responding crews from Avondale, Kennett, and Hockessin were alerted of a minivan stuck in the water with only one occupant still inside. Crews arrived and confirmed the report and sent water rescue techs out to remove the driver from the vehicle and out of the water.
Shortly after crews cleared the call on Scarlett Road, crews then made their way over to the 100 Block of Chatham Street in Avondale Borough to assist residents in the unit block with evacuating their residence due to rising flood waters. Water rescue techs from Avondale and Hockessin worked on removing residents from their homes while crews from Kennett stood by. Water rescue techs also performed a check of the Avondale apartment buildings next door to check for any residents still inside the building. A few residents were still inside but were safely taken to dry land. |
