Lit Match Causes Garage Fire in Ponds of Woodward

On Wednesday, November 24 at 2247 hours, the Longwood Fire Company was dispatched along with the Kennett Fire Co. and Po-Mar-Lin Fire Co. to the unit block of Orchard View Drive in Kennett Township for a reported house fire. Deputy 25 (Bisson) responded within minutes and was advised of a fire in the garage with the residents of the house evacuating. Engine 25-1 (Capt. Cressman) and Ladder 25 (Sr. Rescueman McCarthy) responded two minutes later and were informed by Deputy 25 that he was onscene with a 2.5 story single family dwelling with nothing showing. As Longwood units approached the scene, Deputy 25 stated he had a fire in the walls between the garage and the residence. Engine 25-1 was told to come to the scene and the next due engine should pick up the hydrant at Orchard Valley and Orchard Terrace. Ladder 25 arrived first, backed into the driveway and set up roof operations using the aerial ladder. The Engine crew and half the Ladder crew began to open up the drywall to attack the fire as the other half of the Ladder crew went to the roof to ventilate. Crews were able to contain the fire to the wall involved and quickly began overhaul operations to make sure the fire didn't spread. All incoming apparatus sent their crews to the scene to assist with ongoing operations until the scene was turned over to Fire Marshall Russ Kilmer. Apparently a lit match burnt the mulch and ran up the wall behind the siding and plywood. Units cleared the scene at approximately 0024 hours.