Fire Box 2151

At 1034 hours, the Union Fire Company No. 1 was alerted for a reported fryer on fire in the kitchen of the Octoraro Hotel & Tavern on South Third Street in the center of the Oxford Borough.

Assistant 21 (Terry) arrived to find heavy smoke showing from side "D" of the three story, end of the row multi-occupancy building. After a quick size-up, Assistant 21 established the "Third Street Command" and requested the assignment be upgraded to the Building Fire and added the Working Fire Dispatch.

The upgrade re-alerted Station 21 and added West Grove (12/22/32), Rising Sun, MD (8), Cochranville (27), Quarryville (57), and Medic 94 (SCCEMS).

EMS Manager, 21-20 (Sawyers) reported to Command of several people still on the upper floors and the Box was again upgraded to entrapment.

Engine 21-1 (Lt. Greene) arrived and hit the hydrant at the corner of South Third and Pine Streets. The Engine then pulled down the alley to the rear of the building. The crew stretched an 1.75" handline into the first floor and encounter a working fire in the kitchen and thick heated smoke throughout the first floor. The crew then split, sending two firefighters to the second floor to search for the occupants.

Ladder 21 (Captain Meadowcroft) took side A along South Third Street. Several ground ladders were thrown while the aerial ladder was set to the upper floors. Captain Meadowcroft met the crew on the second floor and assisted numerous residents out of the building.

Command requested 4 additional ambulances. This alerted Avondale (23), Kennett Square (24), and Longwood (25).

Chief 21 (Kelley) arrived and assumed the Command with Assistant 21 continuing as the Operations Officer.

Engine 21-4 arrived from the south and the crew threw additional ground ladders.

Engine 21-2 (Deputy Chief Prettyman) laid a second supply line into the scene from Second Street. The crew performed a primary check of the basement.

Additional arriving units staged and sent their crews into the scene. Crews were rotated through several assignments including overhaul, ventilation, searches, basement checks, and salvage.

Deputy 27 (Linnenbaugh) was the Manpower Officer.

The units were scaled back to the units already on the scene as the Chester County and Pennsylvania State Police investigated the blaze and crews continued to overhaul the entire first floor.

There were no injuries reported.

The final units were clear of the incident at 1325 hours.

The members of the Union Fire Company No. 1 wish to extended our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the owners and employees of the Octoraro Hotel & Tavern. Since reopening a few years ago, this established has shown a lot of support towards the fire company and the membership. It has quickly become THE place for the members to frequent for lunches, dinners, as well as after drills, banquets, and meetings. We will continue to support you as much as we can during your rebuilding.

*** THANK YOU to the numerous citizens who provided photos. ***