Fire Box 2112

At 2015, as units were clearing both a fire alarm in Upper Oxford Township and in the Borough of Oxford, the Chester County Fire Communications called me over the radio and reported a First Due House Fire at 243 Wilson Mille Road in East Nottingham Township. The dispatch also alerted full company responses from both Cochranville (27) and the Rising Sun, Maryland (8).

Engine 21-1 (Lt. Messaros) arrived, reporting a working basement fire, and laid 700’ of 5” supply line in the driveway from Wilson Mill Road. The crew then stretched a 200’ x 1.75” hand line to the front door of side “A”.

Ladder 21 (FF Brian Slauch) backed into the driveway. The Operator set the aerial to the roof and the crew was instructed to deploy a 300’ x 1.75” hand line from Engine 21-1 to the rear.

Engine 21-4 (Assistant Chief Terry) arrived and picked up the supply line at the end of the driveway. Tanker 21 hooked into Engine 21-4’s front intake for water supply. The crew from Engine 21-4 went into the scene to assist.

Assistant 21 established the “Reedville Command”. Once the report was relayed that there was high heat and smoke conditions on the interior, I requested the Working Fire Dispatch that alerted West Grove (22) for a Ladder, Cochranville (27) for the Rescue, and Medic 94 (SCCEMS).

The initial Engine crew forced entry on side “A” and made their way into the basement. The fire was found on the “A/B” corner of the basement.

Additional arriving crews staged in the yard on side “A” and Chief 27 (Hoopes) was the Manpower Officer.

Fire crews were rotated as the fire was extinguished and the basement was overhauled to find any hidden fire.

The Chester County Fire Marshals Office investigated the incident and confirmed the cause to be a result of a lightning strike.

The final units were clear of the incident at 2353 hours.