41 assists in Radnor Fire

Written by L. James Biddle Friday, 09 July 2010 00:00

It is common for Fire Company message signs to share a long-standing truth, “Big fires start small.” This message concept was demonstrated early on Wednesday afternoon, July 8.  This first of an eventual collection of firefighters and apparatus began when the Radnor Fire Company was dispatched for a fire. That message told of a fire alongside a building that included a retail paint firm and a vehicle repair and restoration business.

As the first Radnor apparatus neared the building located in the 300 block of West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne they saw what at first looked like a fire that was described in the dispatch.   Upon the arrival fire personnel at this structure, the fire that had begun near the structure was sending flames up toward the roofline of the structure.

The extent of this fire fostered the additional dispatch of the neighboring Berwyn Fire Company.  The extended burning, with its when extent of the fire that was burning up the side of the West Lancaster Avenue commercial property plus the energy-draining weather with temperatures flirting with the 100-degree mark began the dispatch of additional equipment to the Radnor fire location.

Included in this call for additional crews and apparatus the Newtown Square Fire Company was added to the collection of firefighters at 1:05 p.m. Using ground ladders, one of the Newtown Square Fire Company crews made entry to the second floor the structure.  Other local fire crews provided assistance in other areas of the property.

Sensing this fire was going to be active call, Newtown Square Deputy Chief Mike Kenny asked the Delaware County Dispatch Center bring backup fire crews into Newtown.   This cover-up fire protection consisted of a ladder from Norwood, and engine from Eddystone, and a rescue from Parkside.

The other fire fighting organizations that responded from Fire Companies from Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery Counties arranged similar backup protection for their communities.

In describing the fire activities, Newtown Square’s Kenny praised the steps done for the rehabilitation of firefighters who endurance levels were challenged by the heat.  He cited the steps undertaken to first evaluate and then rehabilitate the fire crews.  The evaluation included standard vital sign documentation along with the availability of a portable EKG that was used as needed. 

Additionally, under the protection of a tent and other methods to provide shade, the firefighters were rested in special, “ice chairs” and a combination of cold towels and relation.  “By rehabilitation, fire crews were prevented from over exertion and heat excesses,” cited Deputy Chief Kenny.

Newtown Square firefighters were on scene in Radnor for approximately two hours.

As an example of the energy-draining efforts were the steps undertaken to determine the amount of burning that was hidden by the roof line facade to the structure.  Through prying and ingenuity, this fire-hiding, decorative top of the building was loosened.  Aided by gravity, this superstructure fell safely to the ground were ground crews extinguished the flames.

“This was a fire with the potential for multiple injuries. This was prevented by the cooperative efforts of a group of well-trained and dedicated firefighters. It is encouraging to see a collection of firefighters who routinely not work together working together so well,” stressed Newtown Square’s Kenny.

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