Early Morning 3 Alarm Fire in Coatesville

 
By Fire Chief Frank Dowlin
June 22, 2012
 

On Friday Morning at 0442 hours the Coatesville Fire Department (41/43), Coatesville VA Veterans Fire Department, and Westwood for Engine 44-5 were dispatched for House Fire in the area of 325 Charles Street in the West-End section of the City of Coatesville.

Batt. 41 Patton arrived on-scene and confirmed a working fire in the front along with multiple calls from CCPR from Coatesville Police. The house was a twin unit and fire was extending into the neighboring residence.

Batt. 41 requested the "WFD" at 0449 hours getting a re-dispatch for City Fire, Medic 93, Sadsbury Fire, East Brandywine Ladder 49, Parkesburg Rescue 28, Martins Corner for Air.

Heavy fire was noted to the twin residence with fire consuming the first and second floors. Multiple hand-lines were in-service along with roof operations and extension into the third floor and roof line.

A second alarm was struck requesting Thorndale, Sadsbury, Downingtown Fire for Tower 45, and one Ambulance from Pomeroy at 0459 hours. Modena Fire Company was also added to the incident.

Engine 37-3 went responding and was requested to go in the rear alley way for fire suppression along with Ladder 49. Engine 37-3 was also told to find an additional water source, which was not accessible. Engine 3 arrived onscene where crews were told to pull two handlines and try to make a fire attack from the rear. Crews also used all three ladders from the engine and along with Ladder 49's ladders to make access to the third floor of the home.

Engine 35 from the Wagontown Fire Company was the next arriving engine and was told to lay their five inch from Stode Avenue and Lincoln Hwy to supply Engine 37-3. Once onscene, the Pump operators from 35, 37, and 49 had to disconnect hoses and re-connect hoses to the trucks to supply the water. Crews from the Thorndale Fire Company then requested a third hoseline to the adjacent structure for possible fire suppression, this caused the third hoseline to be stretched from Engine 37-3.

As the fire continued and crews were involved in fire suppression and overhaul, an additional request was added from multiple stations on the 3rd-Alarm: 46-47-51-06-26-29, Lancaster 5-2, and others.

Great job to the EMS unit's on-scene for rehab and keeping the firefighters hydrated as the heat and humidly levels were high. (29-37-41-44-46 EMS)