| On Monday at 16:43 hrs, County Communications alerted Station 5-2 and mutual aid companies to 12 Broad St, in the midtown section of Christiana Borough for a reported house on fire. Deputy 5-2 (Reimold) responded shortly after dispatch and received a report from communications that a passerby reported smoke issuing from the private dwelling. Deputy 5-2 arrived onscene seconds later, confirming a working fire on the second floor of the home and assumed "Command 5-2."
Engine 5-2-1 (Chief Buckwalter) made the response at 16:47 hrs with a crew of 5, followed by Tanker 5-2-1(Assistant Chief Chandler) with 5, Tanker 5-2-2 with 2 and the Squad (Captain Meadowcroft). Command directed Engine 5-2-1 to pull past the fire building, leaving room for Truck 4-2 in front of the dwelling. The Engine crew stretched a 1 3/4" hand line to the second floor, while Tanker 5-2-1 made a 400 ft stretch from the hydrant at Broad and N Bridge Streets. The arriving Truck 4-2 positioned on the street in front of the home and the remaining incoming apparatus staged on N. Bridge Street and Broad Street. With overhead electric lines preventing Truck 4-2 from setting up the main, truck crews threw egress ladders on all sides of the residence.
Due to heavy smoke conditions and blocked access to the room of origin, the engine crew worked for several minutes to locate the seat of the fire. Once located, the fire was quickly knocked down as the truck crew performed horizontal ventilation and the Rescue 28 crew opened the roof to remove smoke and heat from within the home. The 5-1 Engine crew operated as the Rapid Intervention Team at this fire. A backup hoseline was stretched from Engine 5-2-1 to the second floor and fire company personnel completed a search of the residence and secured the utilities.
Command placed the Fire under control at 17:07 hrs and requested two additional engines to the scene for manpower. Crews from all companies placed salvage cover on belongings on the first floor to prevent damage and cleaned out the fire room. Units remained on scene for several hours while the incident was investigated by the State Police Fire Marshall's office and Christiana Police Department.
The Red Cross also responded to the scene for the displaced residents.
The final 5-2 units cleared the fireground at 19:56 hrs.
Thanks to Union Fire of Oxford for the engine relocate, and the Westwood Fire Company for the pumper/tanker relocate. Westwood Engine 44-5 ran a medical local call during the standby.
Units from Bart, Gap, Atglen, Parkesburg,Cochranville and Paradise responded to assist at this fire. |
