Busy Week for the Company
 
By Second Class Firefighter Dave Smiley Jr.
June 25, 2017
 

Between June 17 and June 24 the Company responded to 22 calls for service, including 6 box alarms, 3 working fires, and 1 car fire.

On Monday, June 19, before our weekly drill night, members were on Station staffing for any emergencies during a strong line of thunderstorms. At 16:34 Air 52 was dispatched to the unit block of McCormick Way (West Grove Fire Company local) for the working residential fire. Air 52 (FF T. Crum) hit the streets in less than two minutes. While enroute, a second working fire assignment was dispatched to the 100 block of Osborne Circle (Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company local). Air 52 was cleared off the first assignment and added to this one, followed by Tanker 52 (FF Widmayer). Units operated for two hours, and the assignment ended up going to three alarms. The Air 52 crew discovered fire running in the chimney area of a bedroom on the second floor, they then opened up and extinguished the bulk of the fire. While Air and Tanker 52 were out, Engine 52-1 was alerted to the 700 block of Marshalltown Thorndale Road (West Bradford Fire Co. local) for the residential fire. The Engine (Capt. DiMeo) responded in approximately one minute, and arrived with various units from across the county to find fire in the walls. All units were back in quarters around 19:30.

On Tuesday, June 20, around 1PM, the WCFD and Ambulance 55 (Good Fellowship Ambulance & EMS Training Institute) were dispatched to the 200 block of Carter Drive for the chimney fire. Rescue, Chief, and Assistant 53 were returning from a residential rescue a few blocks away and quickly made the response, requesting the building fire upgrade upon arrival, adding RIT54 (Goshen Fire Company). Ladder 53, Engine 52-1 (Lt. Davis), and Engine 51-2 responded next. Engine 52-1 arrived shortly behind the 53 units, securing a water supply and placing an 1.75" line inservice, as the first due Engine. Crews found fire running the ventilation system and roof area, and made a quick stop. All units cleared within the hour.

On Thursday, June 22, Air 52 (FF Simpkins) traveled to the Westtown KinderCare earlier this morning to handle a fire prevention demonstration. While out, the Air Unit handled a gas leak in the 100 block of East Market Street in the Borough. Engine 51-2, Assistant 53, and Chief 53 also made the response and units cleared in about 30 minutes. Later in the day, the Company handled a first due fire alarm and then an Engine transfer to Station 25 (Longwood) that was handled by Engine 52-1 (Smiley Jr.).

On Friday, June 23, Engine 52-2 (FF Gorrie) and Tanker 52 (FF Smiley Jr.) responded to an auto fire in the Justice Center Parking Garage in the 51 (First West Chester Fire Co., Engine Co. 51) local. Assistant 51 arrived with the engine compartment of a pick up truck on fire on the fifth floor, and requested the box alarm upgrade as Tanker 52 and Engine 53 (Fame Fire Co. No. 3) were arriving. The fire was quickly placed under control and units cleared in about 45 minutes. This was the third run of the day for our members.

On Saturday, June 24, the Company responded to two fire alarms in the first due, while multiple members were out attending various classes. In this week alone, our volunteers spent over 175 hours training.