On Wednesday afternoon at approx 12:35pm the box alarm was dispatched for the area of W Lincoln Highway and Strode Ave in the City of Coatesville. On the assignment were Stations 41 & 43 (Coatesville), Engine 44-5 (Westwood), Engine 37 (Modena), Rescue 38 (Thorndale) and Tac 76 (VA Hospital).

Our Photographer/Fire Police Officer 38-34A (Walsh) lives less then a block away and advised Chester it was a working fire seconds after the dispatch. Engine 43-1 arrived on location and also confirmed a working fire with heavy fire from the roof and established a supply line. As Engine 43-1 was laying into the scene it was observed that some sort of gas was venting on the roof and was on fire, a short time later there was a loud explosion. Coatesville units immediately asked for the working fire dispatch which added Ladder 8 (Keystone Valley) and Engine 31 (Sadsburysville) and began to go in service.

The bulk of the fire was on the roof and in the ceiling on the 3rd floor of the building. Crews made entry thru a door to the rear of the building and had 2 lines in service one on the roof and one inside of the building. As apparatus from 44, 37, 38 and 76 began to arrive command requested a 2nd alarm be dispatched to the scene. The 2nd Alarm consisted of Engine 38, Rescue and Engine 35 (Wagontown), RIT 47 (Lionville) and Ambulance 144. Due to the location of the fire on a busy roadway command also requested a fire police task force to the scene which also added Traffic 38.

Crews found that work had been done on the roof and several propane tanks were up there which is what is believed to be where the explosion came from. Crews from Rescue and Engine 38 assisted with both interior work and roof work while on scene. Crews worked on scene for approx 1 1/2 hours. No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.