Multiple Alarm Building Fire Hits Downtown West Chester
 
By Captain Bill Cummings
June 15, 2015
 

Shortly after 9 pm, Chester County 911 began receiving reports of a building fire at 10 N. Church Street, in the heart of The Borough. The WCFD units along with Tower 54 (Goshen Fire Company) and Station 55 (Good Fellowship EMS) were dispatched. Reports were being received stating heavy smoke was showing from the building and fire from the roof area. The L-shaped building housed numerous offices, a large regional bank, a jewelry store and apartments. It comprised half of the block on N. Church Street and extended west onto West Market Street for about 75-100'. Engine 52-2 arrived within 4 minutes of dispatch and had heavy smoke and fire showing from the 4 story multiple use occupancy and requested the Working Fire Dispatch. Shortly thereafter, Assistant 51 (Pelna) arrived on scene and struck the 2nd alarm. Crews stretched multiple hoselines up the four stories to attack the fire from inside. Numerous portable ladders, along with aerial platforms, were placed along the Church Street and Market Street sides of the building. Despite aggressive interior attack from several areas, the fire took hold of the common attic area, or cockloft, and extended throughout. Interior forces were withdrawn and elevated water streams were placed in service to cut-off and extinguish the fire spread. Once darkened down, crews again re-entered the building to perform final extinguishment. Extensive overhaul was needed and an additional alarm was struck bringing fresh troops to assist. West Chester Fire Department units operated until after 3:00 am on Tuesday morning before leaving the scene. The cause and origin of the fire is being investigated by the Chester County Fire Marshal's Office, the PA State Police Fire Marshal, West Chester Police Department. Several residents were displaced and were assisted by the American Red Cross-Chester County DAT Team.

Special thanks to Good Fellowship EMS for their assistance with rehab services and also to North Penn Goodwill Fire Company (Montgomery County) Canteen Unit for the hot food and coffee and cold drinks.

Standby companies also caught some work, as Engine 65-1 (Phoenixville FD), Engine 24-1 (Kennett Fire Co) and Engine 68-2 (Valley Forge Fire Co) along with EMS units from Station 87 (Uwchlan EMS) were dispatched to a fatal accident involving fire on the Route 322 By-Pass at N. Penn Drive in West Goshen Twp. Those units operated there for several hours. Thanks go out to those companies and Tower 61 (Kimberton) and Engine 2-2 (Berwyn) who stood by at Fame.

 
Units: Engines 51-1, 51-2, 52-2, 52-1, 53; Rescue 53; Squads 51, 52, 53; Air 52; Utility 53; Traffic 52; Station 55 and Medic 91 (Chester County Hospital ALS)
 
Mutual Aid: Stations 54/56; 6; 39; 25; 47; 5; 3; 37; 45; Delaware County Stations 59, 41; Montgomery County North Penn-Goodwill Canteen Unit; West Chester Police; Chester County Department of Emergency Services (Incident Support Team)