| Box 2103
As a very intense thunder storm was rolling through the area around 2130 hours, the Union Fire Company No. 1 was alerted for a reported Electrical Fire in a House in the Autumn Hills section of East Nottingham Township. Before the initial Engine response was made, the Chester County Fireboard alerted the responding Chief Officers of multiple calls being received for TWO reported Barn Fires in East Nottingham Township. The company was alerted along with two Engines from the West Grove Fire Company (12/22) and an Engine and Tanker from the Community Fire Company of Rising Sun, Maryland (8).
Chief 21 (Terry) re-routed to the Barn Fire responses while Assistant 21 (Davis) continued to the first run with the now responding Engine 21-1. Chief 21 was informed that the two barn fire incidents could possibly be the same fire. With the numerous reports coming in, Chief 21 requested the Working Fire Dispatch which added Engine 22 (West Grove), Rescue 27 (Cochranville) and Medic 94 (SCCEMS).
After checking the area and confirmed the reports that only one incident was occuring, Chief 21 arrived to find heavy fire showing from a large dairy barn. The "Mount Pleasant Command" was established and the first alarm of the Tanker Task Force was requested. This alerted an additional Engine from Rising Sun as well as Tankers from Avondale (23), Cochranville (27), Robert Fulton (5-13) and Singerly of Elkton, Maryland (13).
Assistant 21 and Engine 21-1 cleared the first incident and responded to the barn fire.
Engine 21-2 arrived and pulled into the driveway. The crew stretched an 1.75" handline to protect the exposures.
Ladder 21 arrived and backed into the driveway and was set up for Ladder Pipe Operation.
Tanker 21 was set up as the nurse tanker at the end of the driveway. Engine 21-1 hooked into the rear of Tanker 21 and picked up the supply line to Engine 21-2.
Engine 21-4 arrived and dropped a 5" supply from Engine 21-1 to the intersection of Mount Pleasant Road and Election Road where the Tanker Dump Site was going to be established. A brand new fire hydrant was located a few 100' north of that intersection by Engine 22. They tested it and determined that it was good enough for use. Engine 21-4 continued the lay to the hydrant and then hooked in.
Additional arriving units staged along Mount Pleasant Road. Their crews were sent into the scene and joined the Manpower Pool that was overseen by Chief 22 (Simpson).
Once it was determined that the hydrant could handle the water supply demands of the incident, most of the Tankers were cancelled.
Crews worked into the night fighting the fire and overhauling the building.
The final units were clear of the scene and back in service by 0140 hours.
Engine 5-1-1 (Bart Township) and Tanker 5-2-2 (Christiana) handled the fill-in assignment at Station 21. While on duty, both rigs ran an Odor Investigation on West Locust Street and determined it to be a result of the smoke from the barn fire.
The Union Fire Company No.1 wishes to THANK all companies, firefighters and bystanders that assisted at this incident.
Special Thanks to Chris Natrin (nearby resident) and the Photodog for the pictures. |
