This past weekend the 22nd, 23rd and 24th proved to be a very busy and exhausting weekend for many of the Thorndale Volunteers as they manned the station during the Blizzard that was hammering much of the Philadelphia Region. Luckily the members of Station 38 were prepared ahead of time after spending much of Wednesday night before the storm getting the equipment ready including our snowblower, salt, shovels and cold weather gear.

The station was staffed 24/7 for 48 hours so that the residents got a quick response from us despite the weather conditions and also to help keep our members safe so they didn't need to respond from home in the snow. The staffing paid off quickly as we were dispatched at 01:38hrs early Saturday morning for the reported Chimney Fire in Station 49 (East Brandywines) local on Fisherville Rd. The dedicated volunteers from Station 38 made the response with Engine, Rescue and Traffic 38. Chief 49 was the 1st person on scene and reported fire showing and requested the working fire dispatch. Crews battled snow covered roadways and yards and high winds fighting the fire which eventually went to 2 alarms.

Once the crew returned from the house fire there was no rest for the weary as they needed to make sure the station remained accessible and that all the apparatus could exit the station. Crews took turns removing snow from in front of the doors and salting. Also during the storm the Chester County 911 Center was adding the fire companies to all medical calls to assist with 4 wheel drive due to the amount of snow. When these calls came in Utility 38 was used and crews responded and assisted EMS with accessing the patient and removing them to the waiting ambulance.

During the storm crews ran numerous calls including the 2nd alarm fire, 6 Fire Alarms, Multiple 4x4 assists and Multiple QRS calls, a CO Alarm Activation, MVA on the Bypass and a report of smoke in the building all while shoveling and snow blowing around the firehouse so that we could respond to those calls for assistance.

The Members of Thorndale Volunteer Fire Company want the residents to know that no matter what the conditions we will always be there to assist you in your time of need. We hope everyone made it out of the storm safely and has dug themselves out. Please remember to clear the snow around the fire hydrants in your neighborhood and make sure the snow around your gas meters and outside vents is clear as well.