Box 2107

On Tuesday afternoon, the Union Fire Company No. 1, along with the Community Fire Company of Rising Sun, MD, was alerted for a Building Fire at the GER Corporation in the 100 Block of Barnsley Road in East Nottingham Township.

With reports of smoke showing from the building, Chief 21 (Vining) requested the Working Fire Dispatch, which added Lancaster Station 5-13 (Robert Fulton), Rescue 27 (Cochranville) for RIT and Medic 94 (SCCEMS).

Chief 21 established the "Baltimore Pike Command" and requested the Second Alarm upon arrival.

Engine 21-1 was the first suppression piece to arrive and was ordered to lay a supply line from the end of the driveway on the Barnsley Road side. The crew led off with a 2 1/2 inch line and started with an interior attack. Multiple 1 3/4 inch lines were later placed in service.

Ladder 21 arrived and prepared for roof operations. The Ladder was backed in on the Bravo side of the building.

Engine 21-2 was ordered to complete Engine 21-1's supply line to a hydrant located at the Walgreen's on Baltimore Pike.

A secondary water supply was later established for incoming Tankers on the Baltimore Pike side of the incident. This operation included Engine 5-13-1 establishing a Draft Site on Stoney Lane to fill Tankers and Engine 21-4 drafting from the dump tanks to supply the fire scene. Two Alarms of the Tanker Task Force were utilized to provide a sufficient consistent water flow onto the fire.

Fire police shut down Baltimore Pike and Barnsley Road between Waterway Road and Twin House Road to make way for apparatus on both sides of the fire.

During an aggressive interior attack a Third Alarm was requested. A short time later, the evacuation tones were hit, due to deteriorating conditions. Crews then moved to defensive operations.

Master Streams from Ladder 21, Ladder 22, and Truck 8 were placed into service, as well as the Blitz Fire from Engine 21-1. With multiple exposure buildings, firefighters worked to contain the fire to the original structure.

Crews battled the smoke and flames well into the night, working on hot spots and moving around various contents of the structure. A track hoe was later brought in to assist with tearing away the tin roof and burning products inside the building.

After all was said and done, the crews from the "21 House" and surrounding companies were in service for approximately 9 hours.

Thank you to ALL the responding companies!!!

**Thanks to John "Sarge" Poole and the "Photodog" for the pictures.

**Special thanks to the Lionville Fire Co (Engine 47-5) and Gap Fire Co (Truck 4-2) for covering the "21 House" during the incident. The crews handled a CO Detector Activation and assisted with clean up.