At 9:25 a.m. the Berwyn Fire Company, Radnor Fire Company, and Paoli Fire Company were dispatched to the Strafford Station Apartments at 419 Strafford Ave. for an apartment building fire. Initial 9-1-1 callers reported fire and smoke in the building and reports of residents possibly trapped.
The Tredyffrin Township Police Department arrived on location moments later and reported an apartment fully engulfed in flames. Prior to the arrival of firefighters, they assisted with evacuation of residents still in the building and ascertained that the resident believed to have been trapped had made it out safely. The Easttown Township Police Department also assisted with this effort and provided crowd control.
Based on the information relayed to Berwyn Fire Company Fire Chief Matthew Norris by the police, he requested a 'working fire dispatch' at 9:27 a.m. that brought additional resources to the scene from the Malvern Fire Company, East Whiteland Volunteer Fire Association, and the Gladwyne Fire Company.
Engine 2-3 (Berwyn) arrived at 9:31 a.m. and reported a 3 story apartment building with fire visible from the 3rd floor. Chief Norris followed at 9:33 a.m. and established an Incident Command Post. A 2nd alarm was transmitted at 9:35 a.m. with fire quickly spreading across the top of the building. A 3rd alarm was later transmitted at 10:02 a.m. to provide additional manpower needs.
Firefighting crews from Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties braved the bitterly cold conditions and brought the fire under control around 11 a.m. At the height of the blaze, over 100 volunteer personnel were operating at the scene.
The Chester County Fire Marshal and the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal are investigating the cause of the fire. Preliminary observations indicate that the fire is believed to be accidental. According to the Chester County Fire Marshal's Office, damage is estimated at $1.25 million with 22 apartments affected by smoke, fire, or water damage.
There were no reported first responder or civilian injuries during or immediately following the fire. Final units cleared the fire scene just after 3 p.m.
The Strafford Station Apartments Property Management Company and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross are assisting the nearly 40 residents displaced by the fire. If you would like to provide financial assistance to those displaced, please visit the Red Cross website at www.redcross-philly.org.
The following additional companies assisted at the fire scene with apparatus and personnel: Bryn Mawr Fire Company, King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company, Narberth Ambulance, Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Company, Newtown Square Fire Company, Goshen Fire Company, Phoenixville Fire Department EMS, Lafayette EMS (Upper Merion Twp.), Good Fellowship Ambulance (West Chester Borough), Lionville Fire Company, and North Penn Goodwill Canteen Services.
Crews from Lima Fire Company, Lionville Fire Company, Kimberton Fire Company, Minquas Fire Company (Downingtown Borough), and Plymouth Ambulance stood by in Berwyn's firehouse during the incident.
Photos by Officer Oreskovich at ETPD Additional Photos at berwynfirecompany.org
