Barn Fire in Lower Oxford

Box 2102

At 2216 hours, the Union Fire Company No. 1 was alerted for an unknown type fire in the 400 block of Jackson School Road in Lower Oxford Township.

After recieving additional 9-1-1 calls, the Chester County Fireboard upgraded the assignment and re-alerted Station 21 and added the Cochranville Fire Company (Station 27) for a barn fire.

Deputy 21, Chris Obenchain arrived and at 2229 hours reporting a 2 story 25'x40' garage fully involved. He immediately established "Jackson School Command" and requested the first alarm of the Tanker Task Force. This alerted Tankers from Quarryville (Station 5-7), Bart Township (Station 5-1), and Avondale (Station 23), as well as two Engines and a Tanker from West Grove (Stations 12 & 22).

Engine 21-4, with Captain Sam Terry, arrived and stretched 300' of 5" supply hose in the driveway and past the fire building. Firefighters Jon Palmos and Chris England deployed a 2.5" blitz line and positioned between the fire building and the nearby house that was being showered with embers. Firefighters Brian Kelley and Morgan Derr deployed a 1.75" hand line for an exterior attack. Captain Terry assumed the role of the Operations Officer.

Ladder 21, with Lieutenant Win Slauch, arrived and backed into the driveway and was set up for ladder pipe operations.

Tanker 21 and Engine 21-2 were utilized to set up the water supply operations at the end of the driveway. Lieutenant Bud Charlton assumed the Water Supply Officer role.

Crews from arriving Engine 27-1 and Engine 27-5 assisted with additional handlines and overhaul.

Engine 12-1 established a draft site at a stream a few miles from the scene. Arriving Tankers dropped their crews off at the scene and entered the water shuttle operation.

Engine 28 (Parkesburg) was brought in from thier fill-in assignment at Station 21 for additional manpower.

The fire was placed under control around 2330 hours.

The fire was investigated by the Chester County Fire Marshals Office.

Engine 814 (Rising Sun) and Tanker 36 (Po-Mar-Lin) provided the fill-ins at Station 21.