| On Tuesday January 10, 2012 at 17:13 hours Thorndale Volunteer Fire Company along with Downingtown Fire Department, Ladder 41 from Washington Hose Company in Coatesville, and the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) from Lionville Fire Company were dispatched for a possible dwelling fire at 4327 Lincoln Highway.
Chief Taylor arrived on the scene at 17:16 hours and reported smoke showing with fire in the ceiling of the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service office in the Wedgewood Shopping Center. Caln PD were busy evacuating everyone located in any of the adjacent buildings and worked to provide crowd control.
Chief Taylor requested a working fire dispatch and established Lincoln Highway command. The working fire dispatch brought with it an air unit from Minquas Fire Company, Engine 76 from the VA Hospital, Medic 93 from Brandywine Hospital, East Brandywine Fire Company, and units West Bradford Fire Company.
Chief Taylor, instructed Engine 38 to position in front of the shopping center and ladder 41 to ladder the building to begin ventilation. The second engine in was instructed to pick up the hydrant in the area of Wedgewood Road and lay into the fire scene to supply the engine and ladder. Tower 45 and the next due engine were then instructed to position themselves to the rear of the building. Rescue 38 established a water supply to the rear of the building from the East side of the shopping center. At the same time all units were advised that Chief 49 was in command of operations with Deputy 38 establishing Lincoln Highway CP.
The crew from Engine 38 pulled the 300 foot 1 3/4 handline and began fire suppression. A second line was established as a back up line. Upon entering the fire building crews found fire in the ceiling in the front portion of the store and spreading to the rear into the open cockloft area.
The additional units responding were instructed to place their units in the front parking lot of the shopping center and report to the Operations Chief for further assignment. Crews from West Bradford, East Brandywine and the VA Hospital began assessment of the adjacent businesses for any extension. A manpower pool was then established to the front of Engine 38.
Once ventilation was completed over the fire building further instructions were given by command to trench cut the roof approximately three units to the east of the fire unit due to the common cockloft structure of the complex. This order was a defensive move in order to keep any fire from going undected and spreading to any of the adjacent units in that part of the complex while units were operating in other areas.
PECO Electric was requested along with Chester County, State, and Township Fire Marshals. In addition the office of the Chester County Board of Heald was also notified as a result of one of the businesses being a restaurant that sustained minor smoke damage with open food.
The fire was placed under control at 1747 with all units working.
Upon investigation by the Fire Marshals the fire was determined to be electrical in nature but accidental in origin and remaining under investigation. While there were no treatable injuries as a result of the fire, one fire fighter from West Bradford did sustain a wrist injury and was assessed at the scene by the medical personnel and released.
The fire was contained to the single building which was the Jackson Hewitt tax office. Adjacent offices sustained some smoke and water damage but no fire extension.
Upon interviewing the occupant of the tax office he had indicated he was working in the office and believe that he could smell smoke. He did not realize there was a problem until the ceiling tiles began to fall. That is when he saw smoke and called 911. Fortunately, Bill Nash the occupant of the building at the time, was at work. Had this fire occurred later in the evening there is a good chance the fire would have extended to many other businesses and created a much larger fire loss.
Aproximately 50 firefighters responded and made quick work of controlling the fire from spreading. Fire police from the responding units assisted in controlling the traffic and the crowd and helped establish security for the open businesses that were evacuated until they were permitted to return for operation. Belfore responded and secured the damaged areas for the owners of the complex.
The following units stood by: Engine 48, Engine 35, Engine 6-1, Ladder 4, Ambulance52-2, Engine 33-2, Tower 28 and Engine 43-2 |
