Friday morning started bright and early for the 52 volunteers as Lancaster County 911 was receiving a call at 0351hrs from 114 Upper Valley Road in Sadsbury Township. Alerts for Christiana, Bart Twp., Gap Fire Companies along with Christiana Ambulance were part of a first alarm assignment for 1st alarm Dwelling response located at 117 Upper Valley Road. Initial calls reported an explosion with fire from the front and rear of the structure.
Duty Officer (Chief Reimold) made the response and arrived minutes later confirming the report of heavy fire throughout. Engine 52-1 (Captain Stoltzfus) arrived with a crew of six personnel and deployed multiple handlines to sides A, B & C of the structure. Captain Stoltzfus performed a 360 of the scene and assumed Operations.
Tanker 52-2 arrived followed by Tanker 52-1 and performed nurse tanker duties for the Engine while sending available manpower to manpower staging. Truck 42 arrived positioning on side A while the Rescue staged and provided RIT. Bart Engine 51-2 also arrived and positioned on side A stretching an additional line and providing manpower.
Additional Tankers and equipment were called as precautionary early on but were soon returned as first in crews made an aggressive hit. Due to knowledge of the home and heavy fire conditions, exterior lines were utilized throughout.
Crews worked for about an hour before placing the incident under control. Remaining units awaited the arrival of the PSP Fire Marshall before performing final overhaul and cleanup, finally clearing the scene just before 1200hrs.
Thanks to Tanker 43 and the crew for standing by for us and helping to clean up hose.
