House on Fire in Westwood
 
By Westwood Newsdesk
August 19, 2023
 

On Saturday August 19th, 2023, at 14:13, the Westwood, Sadsburyville, Keystone Valley and Cochranville Fire and EMS units were dispatched to the unit block of Green Street in Westwood for a reported house on fire. The call to 911 indicated that there were flames coming from the roof and the residents were evacuating. Enroute at 14:15, Battalion Chief Sly saw smoke in his travels and requested the working fire dispatch.

Engine 44-5 arrived on scene at 14:16 and reported a single-story structure with smoke showing. Battalion Chief Sly arrived at 14:17 and assumed the Green Street Command. Westwood firefighters entered the structure with a hose line and did a quick sweep of the first floor. Firefighters confirmed all residents had evacuated the structure and the fire was in the attic space.

Sadsburyville Rescue 31 arrived 2nd due at 14:21, crews deployed a backup line to the front door and advanced to the fire area. Firefighters worked together to open up the ceilings of the 1st floor as fast as possible to gain access to the fire. Keystone Ladder 08 arrived at 14:23 and took the first due truck assignment with positioning on Side A. Firefighters ascended to the roof and began vertical ventilation.

Within minutes of arriving, firefighters had water on the fire and were making good progress. Additional truck company crew went interior and covered furniture in the house with salvage tarps to prevent further water damage.

Westwood EMS units were on scene and standing by for the citizens and Firefighters. Units on scene were from Westwood Medic 344-1 and INT144, and Washington Hose Ambulance 41-5. Fortunately, no civilian or firefighter injuries were reported during the time of the incident.

Green Street Command placed the fire under control at 14:38 with all hands working. Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters applied positive pressure ventilation to the structure to extract the smoke. Crews spent the next hour at the incident, overhauling the fire area and returning equipment to apparatus. All units cleared the scene at 15:34.

The Christiana Fire Company was on standby at our Station with Tanker 52 for the duration of the fire.

 
Units: Engine 44-5, INT144, Medic 344-1, Chief 44, Assistant 44, Battalion 44
 
Mutual Aid: Ladder 08, Tanker 08, Traffic 08, Rescue 27, Engine 31, Rescue 31, Engine 37-2, Ambulance 41-5, FM-102, Lancaster Tanker 52