Good Will Called to Working House Fire in Westtown Township
By Second Class Fire Fighter Kristopher Greer
April 1, 2015
At 5:34PM on Saturday March 28th, one engine from Good Will was dispatched to assist on the initial report of a house fire in Westtown Township. A few minutes later police arrived to the scene and advised that the house was engulfed in flames, and it was unknown whether the house was occupied. The working fire dispatch was called for at 5:40, bringing the balance of Station 52. Engine 52-1 arrived on scene immediately after Engine 54-1 and began assisting with fire suppression. Engine 52-2 arrived shortly after as the third in engine and its crew also aided with fire suppression. The majority of the 1.5 story house was well involved with fire, and interior firefighting was limited to an attached garage which connected to a hallway, providing access to one bedroom and a bathroom. Crews from Good Will stretched a hand line through the garage and into the house to battle the flames. Upon entering the structure, heavy fire conditions were encountered, and crews worked to prevent the fire from spreading into the unburnt portion of the house. After experiencing water supply issues, crews were forced to withdraw from the house and re-group outside. Crews from Station 52 and Station 53 then reentered through the garage and were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the unburnt portion. Crews then began the extensive overhaul required.
While crews from Engine 52-1, Engine 52-2, Air 52, and Squad 52 operated on the fire scene, Tanker 52 worked as part of the tanker task force, providing water to the bottom of the long driveway, which was then pumped to the scene by Engine 53. Engine 52-2 was relocated from the fire scene to the fill site and provided water to the tankers. Crews were onscene until nearly 10:00.
See below for a short video of the fire, courtesy of Pete Bannan, Daily Local News.
