On Sunday June 12th the Thorndale Fire Company along with Minquas Fire Company of Downingtown, Tower 45 (Alert of Downingtown), Engine 49-5 (East Brandywine), and Rapid Intervention Team from Lionville were dispatched to 21 Hillcrest Drive for a house fire. Assistant 38 (Taylor) responded immediately and notified the Chester County Fire Radio that he could see the header of smoke from his residence just 3 miles away and requested the “working fire dispatch” which added Engine 49-1 (East Brandywine), Engine 45 (Alert of Downingtown) and Air 46 (Minquas of Downingtown).

Assistant 38 (Taylor) arrived on location to find a split level single family home with heavy fire showing from sides A-Alpha and D-Delta and established Hillcrest Command with Chief 38 (Cordisco) assuming the operations role. Engine 46-2 (Minquas) arrived and laid a 5” supply line from the hydrant nearby and immediately deployed two 1¾” lines to begin fire suppression. Tower 45 (Alert) arrived and began to place ground ladders to all sides and begin to horizontally ventilate the structure.
Fire attack crews were met with heavy fire inside and a short time later were ordered to evacuate the building due to heavy fire throughout the attic area and the roof beginning to collapse. Tower 45 which was already setup, placed their ladder pipe in service to control the bulk of the fire.

Hillcrest Command requested two additional engines to the scene for added manpower to assist with the prolonged overhaul operations. Personnel from the Thorndale Fire Company, Minquas Fire Company of Downingtown, Alert Fire Company of Downingtown, East Brandywine Fire Company, Lionville Fire Company, East Whiteland Fire Company, and Sadsburyville Fire Company worked collaboratively for just over 3 hours before being released by Command

Thank you to the area residents who graciously provided additional bottles of water for firefighters on this hot summer day. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family who was affected by this event.

*Photos courtesy of East Brandywine Fire Company and Alert Fire Company