| At 06:56 hrs Station 4 was dispatched to the 100 block of Line Road in Willistown Township for a chimney fire. Deputy 4 (Gastwirth) responded and was advised of the house filling with smoke and the occupants evacuating. Chief 4 (Vaughn) responded shortly after and was given the update that it was possibly an attic fire.
The Fire Board upgraded the alarm to a house fire at 07:05 hrs which realerted Station 4, added Medic 4, Stations 54/56 (Goshen) and Tower 2 (Berwyn) for RIT.
Chief 4 arrived and established Line Road Command and requested the working fire dispatch which brought Rescue 47 (Lionville) for the second RIT, Medic 91 (CCH), Air/Light 52 (Goodwill of West Chester) and Engine 3-1 (Paoli).
Ladder 4 arrived and took a position on the Alpha side of the dwelling finding a large volume of smoke showing from the home. The crew stretched a 1 3/4" handline through a doorway on the Bravo side and advanced it to the second floor where they encountered heat and zero visibility due to the smoke. They began to open up the walls and roof area around the chimney.
Engine 4-5 arrived and laid 5" supply line from a hydrant in the Applebrook development and with the help of Chief 54 (Everhart) and Medic 4-1 (Sardone) supplied Ladder 4. TAC 4 arrived and combined crews with the engine and made entry to the structure on the Bravo side.
Ladder 56 arrived and after throwing ground ladders, went to the roof where they began vertical ventilation. Engine 54-1 arrived and pulled a second 1 3/4" hose line. Tac 4 and Engine 54-1 crews located fire involving the first floor walls and ceiling area around the chimney in the kitchen. While Engine 54-1 made a knock on the kitchen fire, Malvern crews both backed up the Ladder crew on the second floor, and checked the basement for fire. A small volume of fire was located in the basement and extinguished within moments.
Crews on the second floor pulled walls and celings and exposed the fire extension to the second floor. Good truck work on the roof by Ladder 56 and interior work by Ladder 4 prevented the fire from extending through the attic space.
Crews form Tower 2 and Rescue 47 established RIT operations and kept an eye on all firefighters and operations. Air 52 refilled air cylinders while Engine 3-1 sent it's crew to the manpower pool where they assisted with several fireground tasks. Ambulance/Medic 4-1 arrived and established rehab operations to ensure the well being of all on the scene.
After the fire on the first floor and the extension above was extinguished, command placed the fire under control at 08:00 hrs. Crews remained on scene for an extensive period of time as the fire marshal investigated and overhaul was completed.
After overhaul was completed, crews began to make themselves available with the final 4 units clearing the scene at 09:55 hrs. A special thanks to Ladder 49 (East Brandywine), Engine 5-2(East Whiteland) and MICU 67 (West End of Phoenixville) for covering our territory while we operated at this fire. |
