On the late night of Sunday June 8th, 2008, at 23:35 hours, the City of Coatesville Fire Department and an Engine from the Westwood Fire Company were dispatched to the 800 block of Charles Street in Coatesville City for the reports of porch on fire. Coatesville City Police Department was shortly on scene and advised of the second floor of a rancher type house fully involved with flames.

Coatesville Assistant Chief Tracey arrived shortly there after and confirmed the report. Assistant Chief Tracey assumed Charles Street Command and requested an Engine from the Modena and Pomeroy Fire Companies, and an Engine from the Sadsburyville Fire Company for the Rapid Intervention Assignment at 23:38 hours.

Engine 31-2 responded at 23:44 hours with a crew of five led into action by Assistant Chief Trader.

Ladder 43 pulled pass the house in the front and raised there ladder to the roof where crews began ventilating the roof to get smoke and gases out of the structure. Coatesville Engine 41-2 went to the rear of the structure, deployed numerous hand lines and attempted an aggressive interior attack. Engine 31-2 was the second arriving Engine Company at 23:49 hours and deployed three more pre-connects to the front of the structure and hooked into the water hydrant system for a supply. Engine 31-2 went into service as fire attack and was removed from the RIT assignment.

Due to a large volume of fire and limited communication with interior crews, Charles Street Command alerted everyone by radio and air horns to evacuate the structure and begin a defensive attack.

Crews from Sadsburyville attacked the fire a while until the fire was brought under control at 00:12 hours. Once under control a lot of salvage and overhaul was completed inside the structure and the warm weather conditions weren’t helping out a whole lot on manpower. Due to that, an Engine from the Thorndale and Wagontown Fire Company were called into the scene.

Final units, including Sadsburyville, cleared the scene at 02:22 hours, just in time for our volunteers to get a couple hours of sleep and go to work for the day.

Story & Photos from sfc31.org

On Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 shortly after midnight Pomeroy, Sadsburyville, & Parkesburg Fire Companies were dispatched to the Delaware Valley Concrete plant formally known as Zeke’s Oil Company at 50 Chestnut Street in the Pomeroy section of Sadsbury Township for a fire type unknown. A neighbor called 911 and stated they were unsure what it was but there was a lot of smoke in the area. Deputy Chief Earl Taylor of Pomeroy Fire Company was awakened by the odor of the smoke confirmed heavy smoke in the area. Shortly after arriving at DVC Deputy 29 confirmed that a building was on fire. Deputy Chief Earl Taylor requested a second alarm building fire dispatch due to the past history of two very large fires that this establishment had under the Agway, and Zeke’s ownership in the 70’s & late 80’s. Zeke’s command was established at this time. With a second alarm being struck this brought additional units from the Parkesburg, Westwood Fire Company, Atglen Fire Company, Martin’s Corner Fire Company, City of Coatesville Fire Department, Cochranville Fire Company, Medic 93, COMM-1, FM101 & 102 however COMM-1 was recalled. Chief Jeff Sellers arrived at this time and took over Zeke’s command. Engine 29-5 arrived to the rear of building parallel to the Amtrack railroad tracks and led off with 2, 1 inch lines. Engine 31-2 supplied them with 4 inch line from the hydrant at Spruce & Chestnut St. As Tower 28 arrived on scene Deputy Taylor requested that they set up on the front side of the building to ventilate the roof. Engine 44-5 supplied water to Engine 28’s 5 inch which in turn supplied the Tower. After the ventilation holes were cut the crew from Cochranville gave Tower 28’s crew a chance to take a break and went up in the Tower to check for hot spots along the edge of the roof. The building was a six bay type storage garage with steel roof and siding with a wooden under structure, with a asphalt roof under the steel. There were various items inside the building used for construction. After Chief Sellers put the fire under control crews from Parkesburg, Pomeroy and Atglen Fire Companies climbed the roof again and opened it further for hot spots before going available. THANKS TO ALL!! Units: Eng 29-1 Eng 29-5 AMB 29-1 AMB 29-2 Mutual Aid; ENG 31-2 QRS 31, TWR 28, ENG 28, ENG 44-5, RES 44, AMB 44, ENG 26-1, ENG 26-3, TKR 26, LAD-43, ENG 34-1, ENG 34-5, TAC 34, ENG 27-5, MED 93 STAND BYS ENG 26-3, ENG 21-2 ,TANKER 23, TANKER 5-1, TANKER 5-2-1, ENG 4-9-1, TRUCK 4-2, LTKR51, LTRK42

Story from http://www.pomeroyfireco.org

On Saturday, May 31, Rescue 33 and Traffic 33 were dispatched to assist Lancaster County Station 4-9 (White Horse) at the scene of a vehicle accident involving multiple rollover and entrapment in the 300 block of Churchtown Road on Mount Pleasant Hill in the Mount Pleasant section Of Salisbury Township, Lancaster County.

There was a total of 4 patients, 3 of which were out of the vehicle when units arrived on the scene. The fourth patient was still heavily entrapped in the SUV. Upon arriving, Rescue 33 worked with Rescue 3-9 (New Holland) to remove the trapped passenger. After being trapped for 1.25 hours in the SUV, the patient was finally removed and placed in care of awaiting EMS crews.

Traffic 33 and additional Fire Police from Station 33 assisted with traffic and crowd control.

Rescue 33 cleared the scene at 6:29PM, while Traffic 33 and 33 Fire Police cleared the scene at 9:45PM.

At 1326hrs, units from Parkesburg (28) Atglen (26) & Medic 93 were dispatched to Rts. 10 & 30 West Sadsbury Twp. for the Motorcycle Accident reported serious. While units were responding Wast Sadsbury Police arrived to confirm one seriously injured subject in the roadway. With this information Skycare was requested to the scene and Engine 26-3 diverted to the Twp. Ball field to set up a LZ. The 28 & 93 Units attended to the patient and transported to the LZ. Engine 26-3 then proceded to the accident scene to assist with clean up and traffic control.
Units cleared at 1459hrs.

Story & Photos from http://www.atglenfire.com/

West Grove volunteer firefighters faced heavy fire conditions when a dwelling fire erupted along Route 841 near the US Route 1 Bypass on Sunday, May 25. Initially dispatched at 7:08pm as a house fire, then upgraded to a fire with entrapment, the Chester County 911 Center advised Deputy 22 that they were receiving multiple calls. Shortly after the disptaches, which included both West Grove Stations, Avondale Fire Company and the paramedics from SCCEMS, the Radio Room advised the Chief that everyone was out of the residence, but that a family dog might still be inside.

Ambulance 22-1 made a quick response and went on location reporting fire showing from the front of the residence. Deputy 22 then arrived, confirmed fire showing, assumed Command and requested a "working fire dispatch." This request added units from Oxford and Cochranville, along with the Fire Marshals. Also, the Radio Room began moving standby crews into the fire stations.

Engine 22 arrived first, advancing a 1-3/4" handline into the front door, finding heavy fire conditions. While successful in knocking down much fire, the initial crew which included Lt. Kevin Sweeney and volunteer firefighter Jeff Wilmot encountered problems with Wilmot’s airpack and the crew had to quickly exit the residence. Firefighter Wilmot experienced difficulty breathing and first degree burns to an ear and was treated at the scene by the Ambulance crew and Medic 94, then transported to Jennersville Hospital where he received further treatment and was released.

Additional crews arriving from Avondale and other fire companies then assisted West Grove units with extinguishing the fire, which destroyed much of the first floor and extended up into the second floor.

While the residents were home, there were no injuries, and no persons turned out to be trapped. The family pet was also not injured. The Fire Marshals continue their investigation, but preliminary indications suggest an accidental fire. Chief Simpson placed the fire under control at 7:40pm. West Grove units continued mop up, and finally cleared the scene at 9:15pm.

Special thanks to the Union Fire Company of Oxford and the Avondale Fire Company for providing some of the photos.

Units: Engine 22, Engine 12-1, Engine 12-2, Ambulance 22-1, Squad 12, Ladder 22
Mutual Aid: Engine 21-1, Engine 21-2, Engine 23-1, Ambulance 21-3, Engine 23-2, Engine 27-5, Ladder 21, Medic 94-1, Medic 94-2, Rescue 27, Tanker 21, Tanker 23, Traffic 23, FM 102, Standby Crews: Engine 572, Tanker 513, Engine 511, Engine 39-3, Engine 19-3, Engine 521, Tanker 26.

Story 7 photos from http://www.wgfc.org

At 09:39 hours Station 4 Fire and EMS were dispatched to Paoli Pike and Line Road in Willistown for an Auto Accident with Entrapment. Ambulance 4-2 with Medic 4-2 and Assistant 4 (Johnson) then went enroute. The County advised Assistant 4 of a two vehicle head on accident with atleast three people injured. Rescue 4 with Lieutenant 4C (M. Rychlak) and Engine 4-5 with Lieutenant 4B (Zarcone) both responded to the accident.

Assistant 4 arrived on location to find one vehicle into a fence, one vehicle into the woods, and confirming entrapment in one of the vehicles. Paoli Pike Command was then established, and Command asked for an additional BLS Ambulance and Fire Police out of Station 54/56 (Goshen). Ambulance 4-2 arrived and began patient care assisted by Malvern Physician (Dickinson). Fire crews arrived on location along with Ambulance 54-3 (Goshen). Crews began to stabilize the vehicle and then crews began to extricate the patient.

Paoli Pike Command then requested PennStar 2 to the scene. Ambulance 54-3 transported one patient to Chester County hospital while PennStar 2 transported one patient to the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania.

Command was then terminated and all units went available.

Story & Photos from MalvernFireCo.com

Saturday morning May 3rd, 2008 Modena Fire Company was dispatched at 1001 hours for an engine and ambulance to assist Coatesville Fire Department at 89 South 13th Ave. in Coatesville City for a reported house fire.

Chief Dowlin was first on scene living only a block away at 1003 hours reporting a 2 ½ story single family dwelling with smoke showing from the roof area. After talking to residents Chief Dowlin confirmed a working attic fire. Deputy Chief Paulukinas from Coatesville Fire Department arrived on scene at 1006 hours requesting a second alarm also reporting possible entrapment.

A second alarm realerted Modena now a full company as well as Thorndale and Westwood Fire Companies, and a tower from the Alert Fire Company and a Medic from the Brandywine Hospital.

Ladder 43 took position in the front yard of the residence laddering the roof area allowing fire fighters quick access to ventilation. Engine 41-2 laid a supply line from the corner of Sterling Street and 13th ave. and then deployed attack lines through the front door of the residence. Engine 37-2 arrived it crew assisted the Coatesville fire department with fire suppression and later overhaul.

The fire was placed under control rather quickly and most of the second alarm was returned. The fire is under investigation with the Chester County Fire Marshall’s Office.

All units cleared the scene at 1225 Hours.




Units: Engine 37-1 and 2
Mutual Aid: Ladder 43, Rescue 43, Engine 41-1 And 2, 41a, 38, 44, 45, medic 93

Story and Photos from http://www.modena37.com

Friday afternoon May 2nd 2008 the Modena Fire Company was dispatched along with a rescue from Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company and Medic 93 from Brandywine Hospital to auto accident reported serious at Doe Run Road and Covered Bridge Road in West Marlbough Township.

The Assistant Fire Marshall from East Fallowfield Township was first to arrive on scene and reported one vehicle that had over turned and confirmed one patient trapped. Tac 37 with a crew of five and Ambulance 37-1 responded shortly after dispatch while in route Chief 36 notified county to go to the next due rescue due to mechanical problems with his rescue, Rescue 44 from the Westwood Fire Company was then dispatched.

Deputy Chief Perine arrived on scene and took Doe Run Command requesting a helicopter be placed on standby he also requested fire police to shut down Doe Run Road between Covered Bridge and DuPont Roads. The helicopter placed on standby was Skycare 1 out of the Brandywine Hospital it was later flown to the scene.

Tac 37 arrived and went in service with it Hurst hydraulic rescue equipment after properly stabilizing the vehicle. The passenger side door was removed and personnel started cutting post for roof removal, Tac 36 and Rescue 44 then arrived and assisted with additional Hurst equipment to finish the roof removal and extrication of the patient.

After patient extrication was complete personal assisted EMS with patient care and loading the patient into the helicopter the patient was flown by Skycare 1 to Christiana Trauma center in Delaware.

The vehicle involved reportedly lost control coming down the hill went up the road bank flipped at least ones maybe more struck a tree on the passenger side door before coming a rest upright back on the road heading the wrong direction.

Buz Woodward towing responded out to remove the car off the road after State Police finished there investigation. All units then cleared the scene and the road was opened.

Story & Photos from Modena37.com

At 1102 hours, the Cochranville Fire Company and Lancaster County
Ambulance 5-2 were alerted for an auto accident on Route 41 and Highland Road in West
Fallowfield Township.

Engine 27-1 responded at 1108 hours. After receiving additional information that there were two
injured patients, an additional ambulance (Parkesburg Ambulance 28) and Medic 94 were
dispatched. Westwood Ambulance 44 also responded to the scene in place of Christiana
Ambulance 5-2.

Medical personnel on the scene decided it would be best to get the patient out of the vehicle by
cutting off the roof. Firefighters cribbed the vehicle and proceeded to cut the roof off.

Once the patient was out of the vehicle, they were transported to Lancaster General Hospital via
Ambulance 44 and Medic 94-1. Another patient was transported to Brandywine Hospital via
Ambulance 28.

All units cleared the scene by 1143 hours.

Units: Engine 27-1 and Rescue 27
Mutual Aid: Medic 94-1, Medic 94-2, Ambulance 44, Ambulance 28

Story & photos from http://www.cochranvillefire.com

The PFD was dispatched at 1855 to Riverwalk Drive for a outbuilding, the address was corrected to the rear of 207 Valley View Circle. Battalion 65 (Meadows) arrived on scene confirming a 10’ x 10’ shed. A 1 ¾ handline was placed in-service from Eng 66-1 and the fire was quickly under control.

Story & photos from Phoenixvillefire.com