| At 0818hrs the Company was dispatched on the first alarm to assist Station 59 (Concordville) on a working building fire at Jimmy John's, 1507 Wilmington West Chester Pike. Initial reports indicated that a propane tank exploded and ignited the building.
Ladder 25 (Cressman) responded with four and was advised that the incident was being upgraded to a working fire with subjects trapped. A large header of smoke could be seen from miles away.
E-59-2 arrived with a heavy volume of smoke showing from all sides of the structure and fire venting from a front picture window.
Ladder 25 arrived and positioned on the "D" side of the structure. The truck crew split with the exterior crews throwing portable ladders and completing vertical ventilation to stop the well advanced fire. The interior crew assisted the engine crew from 59 with opening up and horizontal ventilation. The Fire Chief (Ruoss) assisted with portable ladders and was then assigned the manpower supervisor. Micu 25-2 set up rehab on the "B" side.
After operating on the interior for approx 5 minutes with no progress the engine crew pulled out and repositioned the line from the kitchen to the main entrance. After another 5 minutes the decision to evacuate the structure and utilize the ladder pipe from Ladder 25 to knock down the advancing fire.
After knocking down the fire crews re-entered the structure with hooks and handlines to finish extinguishing the fire. Crews spent the next 3 hours opening up and extinguishing hot spot as well as salvaging the numerous antique collectibles.
Asst 25 (McCarthy) was the Division 1 supervisor and Captain 25 (Cressman) was the Roof Divison.
Units returned at approx 1220hrs. Thanks to Kennett Fire Co #1 and West Grove Fire Co for covering the first due. |
