Multiple Alarm Fire in East Fallowfield Township, Chester County
 
By Firefighter Ken Baker
January 30, 2010
 

On Saturday January 30th, 2010 the Chester County Fire Radio (CCFR) dispatched the Pomeroy Fire Company (CC29) along with Westwood(CC44), Modena(CC37), Parkesburg(CC28) and Ladder 43 (CC43) for a house fire at 37 Lyons Lane in East Fallowfield Township at 1111 hours. Multiple calls into the CCFR were received from near by residents advising heavy fire from the roof area. East Fallowfield police arrived on-scene and advised one house fully- involved. CC Engine 29-5 (4) made the response at 1116 hours with Captain 29 (OIC). CC Engine 29-5 arrived on-scene and laid the 5' inch down the driveway. Captain 29 Dalmas assumed Lyons Lane Command and updated the CCFR with a working house fire. CC Engine 44-5 arrived shortly after and was advised to connect to the 5' and supply CC Engine 29-5.

Tankers 5-2-1 and 5-2-2 were dispatched as part of the first alarm tanker taskforce at 11:19 as per Lyons Lane CP due to that portion of East Fallowfield having no fire hydrants. Tanker 5-2-2 (Reimold) made response at 11:21. Tanker 5-2-1 (Manley) was originally recalled from the assignment but was redispatched at 12:24 to relocate to CC Station 44 (Westwood). Tanker 5-2-1 arrived at CC Station 44 at 12:00.

Tankers from Martins Corner(CC34), Cochranville(CC27), Atglen(CC26), West Bradford(CC39) were dispatched also as part of the First Alarm Tanker Assignment. CC Chief 26 assumed the water supply officer and worked to have tankers supply CC Engine 44-5 at the top of the driveway on Lyons Lane.

CC Ladder 43 arrived a short time later but was unable to get up the street due to the tight streets. All units were given the orders to park along Strasburg Road and have their crew report to the rear of CC29-5 where the manpower pool was being setup. CC Rescue 28 arrived on-scene and assisted with fire suppression.

Fire Suppression crews made entry into the dwelling but there was extensive fire coming from the dwelling. Lyons Lane Command requested more assistance for fire suppression and a request for additional manpower. The extreme cold weather made fire firefighting efforts difficult. Manpower pulls were being established so crews could rotate in and out on an on-going basis.

At 1140 hours Lyons Lane Command was taken over by CC Chief 29 Tribbett, and Captain Dalmas continued with operations. (The Chief's responded from CCDES at training and observed the header at 30 bypass and 100).

CC Tac 34 was added for Air, Chester County Fire Marshals and Peco were requested along with with two more additional engines from Atglen(CC26), one engine from Sadsbury(CC36) and two additional BLS units one from Westwood and one from Washington Hose Company along with CC Medic 93.

Red Cross was notified for the family and EMS personnel had rehab set up for the firefighters working in the extreme cold weather. CC Ambulance 29-1 and CC Rescue 28 were used as heating sources for the firefighters to keep warm during re-hab.

One additional engine was requested for more manpower. Oxford (CC21) was added to the assignment along with Tanker 5-2-1 for the second tanker for additional manpower.

At 1230 hours Lyons Lane Command placed the situation under control with all units working. At this point a long overhaul process was needed as the size the house contributed to extensive work load, let alone the cold frigid weather that the crews were dealing with.

At 1245 Lyons Lane Command started to release the tankers that were utilized for the water supply, and broke down the water shuttle operation. Manpower was utilized for the extensive overhaul process from all companies working on-scene.

CC Rescue 27 was requested as the second air-bank to assist with filling bottles, along with Engine 5-1-1 (Bart) and Tanker 4-3 (Gordonville) that were standing-by in Pomeroy and Westwood Fire Company for man-power.

At 1439 hours units were cleared from the incident and the operation was shutdown. Lyons Lane Command terminated the incident and all units cleared.

Station 5-2 would like to thank CC Station 29 (Pomeroy) for allowing us to assist them at this call and for the hospitality that was shown after the call back at Station 29 as the crews from both tankers assisted getting CC Station 29 back in service.

Tankers 5-2-1 and 5-2-2 were completed with all services and went available at 16:15 hours.

(Excerpts for this article taken from CC Station 29 website - www.pomeroyfireems.com)

(Photos courtesy of CC Station 29 and Deputy 29 (Earl Taylor))
 
Units: Tanker 5-2-1 and Tanker 5-2-2
 
Mutual Aid: Chester County Stations 29(Pomeroy), 44(Westwood), 37(Modena), 28(Parkesburg), 41(Coatesville), 43(Coatesville), 34(Martin's Corner), 27(Cochranville), 39(West Bradford), 26(Atglen) and 21(Oxford). Lancaster County Stations 5-1 (Bart), 4-3 (Gordonville)
 
House fire at 37 Lyons Lane, East Fallowfield Township (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
House fire at 37 Lyons Lane, East Fallowfield Township (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
Chief Engineer Mike Kinney and Chief 5-2 (S. Reimold) at the scene (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
Chief Engineer Mike Kinney and Chief 5-2 (S. Reimold) at the scene (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
 
Wider angle photo of fire scene (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
Wider angle photo of fire scene (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
Header from fire at 37 Lyons Lane as seen from Route 372 Eastbound (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
Header from fire at 37 Lyons Lane as seen from Route 372 Eastbound (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
 
Crews working at scene of fire (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
Crews working at scene of fire (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
Fire scene after completion of fire suppression and overhaul (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
Fire scene after completion of fire suppression and overhaul (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
 
Crews from both tankers assist CC Station 29 with getting their apparatus in service after the fire (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
Crews from both tankers assist CC Station 29 with getting their apparatus in service after the fire (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
Crews from both tankers assist CC Station 29 with getting their apparatus in service after the fire (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)
Crews from both tankers assist CC Station 29 with getting their apparatus in service after the fire (Photo courtesy of CC Station 29)