06-01-2024 – As personnel were manning the parking lots and also the food tent at our fundraising event at the Boyertown Community Fundays, at 1403 hours the structure assignment went out for a reported house on fire from the rear deck on Avalon Circle in Washington Township to assist Eastern Berks Fire Department (Company 97). Ladder 95, Engine 95, and Tanker 95 were all due on the initial assignment. Ladder 95 went enroute from the standby at the park as other personnel responded from the park to the station to assure Engine and Tanker 95 also responded. Chief 97 reported heavy smoke during the response and requested a 2nd alarm dispatch at 1407 hours. This added Engine 95-1 on the incident, but that unit and some personnel were attending the pump operator/EVOC class so Rescue 95 responded in place of Engine 95-1 from the park.
Ladder 95 arrived as third in apparatus behind an engine and tanker from Station 97 and the report was a single family dwelling well involved with fire showing on three sides and through the roof and exposure issues with neighboring dwellings. The ladder crew was requested to assist with pulling handlines from Rescue/Engine 97 to begin a fire attack as the operator from Ladder 95 began the setup of the ladder main for ladder pipe operations. Engine 97 arrived and supplied Ladder 95 with water to begin a defensive attack to darken down the bulk of the fire. Ladder 95 initially had to move back from the fire building due to extreme heat before it could be setup. Once the bulk of the fire was darkened down the ladder was repositioned to the front of the fire building where personnel could work off the main to begin final extinguishment and overhaul.
Engine 95 and Rescue 95 became part of an engine relay with a 5” supply line from the adjacent road using a tanker shuttle as the hydrant system was overtaxed with the water usage. Personnel assisted with fire extinguishment and eventually overhaul of the fire building and the company was released and returned to the park for the fundraising event at 1802 hours. Other personnel and family members remained at the park to continue the fundraising as the company assisted at this fire. Great teamwork both at the incident and also at the fundraising event.
