On Saturday morning 11/21/2015 at 1150am the box alarm went out for the reported house fire on the 200 block of Elmwood Lane in Caln Township. On the initial response were Station 38 (Thorndale), Engine 76 (VA Hospital), Ladder 41 (Coatesville), Engine & Rescue 44 (Westwood), Engine 35 (Wagontown) and Rescue 47 (Lionville) for the RIT (Rapid Intervention Team). Initial reports from the Chester County 911 Center advised of flames coming from the garage attached to the house. While units were still responding to the scene Engine 76 reported to Chester County that they could see a header (smoke) in the sky. Due to this report Lt 38B (Taylor) requested the working fire dispatch from Chester County 911 Center. This not only alerts units already dispatched of an active fire but also adds on additional resources. In this case the working fire dispatch added Rescue 35 (Wagontown), Station 49 (East Brandywine), Air 46 (Minquas), Medic 93 (Brandywine Hospital), the PSP (Pennsylviania State Police) Fire Marshal and the Chester County Fire Marshals.

Deputy Chief 35 was the first to arrive on scene and reported a 2 story single family dwelling with smoke showing from the garage. The homeowner was on location and reported everyone was out of the residence except his dogs. Lt 38B arrived and assumed command while Deputy 35 took operations. Ladder 41 and Engine 76 arrived next and while Ladder 41 proceeded up the driveway and put their aerial up to the roof, Engine 76 dropped a 4 inch supply line from the hydrant up the driveway. Engine 76 then proceeded to stretch a 2 1/2 inch handline to the front of the house and forced entry into the garage where the bulk of the fire was. As additional units arrived on scene crews stretched two 1 3/4 inch handlines and made entry into the house to search for the dogs and to check for any extension into the house. 3 of the dogs inside were rescued and appeared to be ok but unfortunately 1 dog was found deceased inside the residence. While crews were operating on scene and still trying to knock the fire down Lt 38B requested a 2nd alarm for manpower. The 2nd alarm brought Station 46 for the remainder, Engine 45 (Alert) , Ladder 41-2 (Coatesville), Engine 37 (Modena). After all the visible fire was knocked down and smoke was cleared from the house the State and County Fire Marshals began their investigation and crews began to clean up and return their equipment back into service.

Crews worked on scene for approx 2 hours and were able to hold the majority of the fire damage to the garage area with some smoke damage to the rest of the house. Thorndale Volunteer Fire Company would like to thank all of our mutual aid companies who responded and assisted on the scene especially Engine 76 who was covering our local while Engine 38 was out on a funeral detail. Due to the funeral detail Engine 38 was delayed in responding to this working fire.