At 12:08hrs The Malvern Fire Company along with Paoli Engine 3-1 was alerted to the 300 block of East King Street at the East Side Flats for an oven fire. Initial reports received by the 911 center indicated that a resident was reporting an oven fire and that the resident was evacuating the apartment.

Chief 4 (Gastwirth) and Deputy 4 (Rapp) arrived on the scene observing a 4 story apartment building with nothing showing and established Incident Command and Operations.

Ladder 4 (Sgt. Constantine) arrived and observed a smoke condition in the second floor hallway. The crew forced entry in to the apartment in question and discovered a heavier smoke condition inside, however, noted that the fire was contained to the oven. The electricty and gas service to the oven were secured and with no extension beyond the oven the incident was declared under control.

Engine 3-1 arrived and staged at the hydrant while Engine 3-1's crew assisted the crew of Ladder 4 on the second floor. With the fire confirmed to be out, crews went in service with ventilation fans to clear the apartment and common areas of the second floor of the smoke.

Crews remained on scene for approximately one hour before returning to service.

Engine 3-1 was due on this alarm due to a new agreement between Station 4 and Station 3 whereby both companies will be dispatched to emergencies located within the response area of either company. This affords additional manpower in an era of declining volunteerism and allows each company to leverage the manpower, training, equipment and expertise of the other. In addition to providing more adequate staffing and resources, the increase in activity is resulting in more members spending time staffing the stations and thereby reducing response times.

In the case of this incident, the dual dispatch brought 16 volunteer and career fire and EMS staff to the scene in a matter of minutes during a weekday, which is traditionally the most difficult time to staff.