| At 02:56 hours Station 2(Berwyn) was alerted for 2 engines to assist Delaware County Station 15(Radnor) for a building on fire in the 300 block of Lancaster Avenue at the Chili's restuarant.
Initial reports were that there was heavy smoke coming from the building. Radnor units arrived with smoke and fire showing from a 1 story restaurant and requested additional resources to the scene. Engine 3-1(Paoli) was requested at 03:05 hrs and Ladder 4 was added for the RIT assignment at 03:09 hrs.
Units from Berwyn and Radnor arrived laying supply hose and began an interior attack on the fire but were ultimately pushed out due to a well advanced fire and the weakening of the structure. The first evacuation was ordered at 03:29 hrs.
Ladder 4 arrived and the crew set up the RIT equipement and staging area on the Delta side of the building. Crews completed a 360 degree check of the building, taking note of firefighter locations, equipment in service and all other related hazards.
Engine 47-2 (Lionville) who had been moved up to cover station 2, as well as the balance of Station 3 were added as the second alarm was requested at 03:46 hrs. At this time Delco Station 53(Broomall) was also added as the second RIT team due to the size of the building and number of personnel on the scene.
Ladder 4 was positioned on the A-D corner and the aerial main was set up for master stream operations. After evacuating the building a defensive approach was taken which included master streams from Quint 15, Tower 2, Ladder 4 and Delco Ladder 41(Newtown Square).
After knocking the bulk of the fire with the master streams, interior crews returned to fight the fire from inside, only to be pulled out again at 04:25 hrs due to the HVAC unit on the roof beginning to sag. A third alarm was transmitted to bring additional manpower to the scene. The intensive work knocking the fire and overhauling the building to cool all the hard to reach hot spots proved to be a difficult task. This fire was well advanced before any emergency crews arrived on the scene, and the construction of the building added to the difficulties.
Crews began to take up in the morning hours, with Ladder 4 clearing the scene at 08:25 hours. |
