Crews Battle Blaze on Kaolin Road

Date: May 3, 2009
By: Firefighter John Morris IV

........Early Sunday morning at 0509 hours Station 23 was dispatched along with New Castle County  19 (Hockessin) to assist 24 (Kennett) on a reported dwelling fire. The caller reported that he heard an explosion and saw flames coming from his neighbor’s home at 1140 Kaolin Road. The caller also stated that he believed the homeowner was still inside. Assistant 23 (M. Decker) arrived on scene and reported a dwelling fully involved. The working dispatch was put out adding 25 (Longwood), 22 (West Grove), 36 (Po-Mar-Lin) for the tanker, and 94 (SCCEMS). Due to the report from the call the assignment was upgraded to a working dwelling with possible entrapment. Engine 23-2, Engine 19, and Engine 24-1 all arrived approximately at the same time. Engine 23-2 laid up the neighbor’s driveway which over looked the dwelling and put a blitz fire master stream into service. Tanker 23 arrived and picked up the line at the end up the driveway and began to supply Engine 23-2. Tanker 24-6 arrived and supplied Engines 24-1 and 19. After setting up the master stream crews from Engine 23-2 and Tanker 19 pulled and placed into service two 1 ¾ hand lines from 23-2.  Crews from 24 and 19 battled the large volume of fire in the front of the dwelling and located a victim who was extricated and taken to Micu 25-1 while crews from 23 battled the fire from the rear. Due to the large volume of fire and lack of water in the area standbys were brought to the scene bringing Station 44 (Westwood), Station 27 (Cochranville), and Station 21 (Union of Oxford). Tankers 23 and 24-6 acted as “Nurse” tankers and took water from multiple engines and tankers to supply water to the scene. Due to the large amount of fire and overhaul crews cleared the scene at 0955 hours

........Tragically the homeowner was overcome by the raging blaze and passed away. The officers and members of the Avondale Fire Company would like to send our most heart filled condolences to the victim’s family.

Avondale Units: Engine (s) 23-2, 23-3, Tanker 23, Squad 23, Trailer 23, Traffic 23, Ambulance 23-2

Assisting Companies: Longwood, Westwood, Po-Mar-Lin, Cochranville, Union of Oxford, Hockessin, CC Fire Marshalls, PSP Fire Marshall, PSP-A, PECO, CC Coroner’s Office

.....................................................***More Pictures to come***
..............**Thanks to Westwoodfire.com and longwoodfireco.com for some of the pictures**





First arriving units encountered heavy fire ..........Engine 19-5 can be seen on the other side of the
.............................................................................dwelling

Lt. Decker pumps multiple lines off Engine 23-2...The remnants of the dwelling

Tanker 23 supplies Engine 23-2...........................FF's Morris, McDonnell, and Lt Bessicks wet
..............................................................................down hot spots after knocking down the fire

FF. Linnenbaugh showed up on the wrong truck...Hoseman Franks and FF. Ianni take a break
...............................................................................from manning the hose line


Can you taste the rainbow?..................................FF's Morris & McDonnell hit hot spots

Crews from Longwood, Kennett, and Hockessin
fight the fire from the "A" side.