By: Deputy Chief Shawn Carroll

On July 9th the West Grove Fire Company Stations 12, 22 and 32 were dispatched at 21:16 with Station 23 for E23-1 and 23-2 and Station 21 (Oxford) for Tanker 21 for a barn fire on London Tract Road in London Britain Township in West Grove’s district. Moments later Deputy 22, Brush 12, Engine 23-2, Tanker 22, Engine 12, Engine     21-2, Tanker 23, Tanker 21, Engine 22, Rescue 12 and Ladder 22 all made the response. While units were en-route the location was updated to be in Avondale’s fire district. Additional information continued to be received that there was a barn with exposures to two additional barns. Engine 23-2 was the first piece of arriving apparatus with Chief 23. The chief reported it was of a barn fully involved and the barn had collapsed with the contents of some farm equipment and a volume of hay was on fire. Within 50 feet of the fire building there were two other exposures. Chief 23 assumed command and called for a tanker task force adding New Castle County Station 19 (Hockessin), Chester County Stations 24 (Kennett Square), Station 36 (Po-Mar-Lin), Station 27 (Cochranville) tankers and engines. Engine 23-2 placed 2 – 1 ¾ hand lines into service for fire suppression.  Command requested heavy equipment to help with tearing down the structure and spreading out the burning hay.   Command decided that it was a better to let the hay burn as opposed to putting it out, due to amount of water required. This operation continued for several hours until all units were released at 02:51.

AFC Units: Chief & Deputy 23, Engines 23-2, 23-3, Rescue, Tanker, Squad, Traffic and Ambulance 23-1.

Mutual Aid: Hockessin, Oxford, West Grove, Kennett, Po-Mar-Lin and Cochranville fire companies.  Chester County Fire Marshalls 101 and 102

Relocates at Station 23: Cecil County Station Engine 815 & Lancaster County Tanker 5-2-2(Christiana)

Special thanks to West Grove Fire Company for pictures.