Kimberton, Pennsylvania
19442
P.O. Box 99
610 - 935 - 1388




Courage, Hope, Spirit

Recent Incidents

Photos on following pages from actual emergency calls.

HOUSE FIRE ASSIGNMENT IN PHOENIXVILLE BORO

Saturday July 26, 2008

AT 1135 AM, Chester County 911 dispatched Phoenixville FD (65,66,67), Kimberton’s Tower-Ladder (Tower 61), and Valley Forge (Engine 68-2) for a house fire assignment on South Street in Phoenixville. First In units found a house heavily charged with smoke and fire burning in the basement. The Initial entry crews noticed that the floor was burnt through as they crawled down the front door hallway. Quickly backing out they forced entry through the rear door and headed to the basement to attack the fire. Supplemental crews laddered the building and eventually got PPV fans going to ventilate the building. Crews made quick work of the fire and the situation was placed under control at 1154 Hrs. Chief Gable (Chief 65) had command and Deputy Chief Fields (Deputy 61) had the operations sector. FM Harrison (Digger) Holt from the County Fire Marshal’s office was on the scene minutes later to assist in the cause determination. The fire was not believed to be suspicious. Kimberton units cleared by 12:15 PM, so they could return to the fairgrounds for a long days work. Phoenixville and Valley Forge units remained to finish up and work with investigators.

Photos by Judy Welsh (Kimberton FD photographer)

KIMBERTON FIREFIGHTERS ASSIST ON BARN FIRE

Sunday July 20, 2008

Kimberton Firefighters were working at the Kimberton Community Fairgrounds when a thunderstorm closed the fairgrounds. The violent storm created several fire incidents in the county including 2 barns struck by Lighting. At 9:21 PM the County Fire communications Center alerted Lionville Fire (47) & Kimberton (61) for a barn fire on Devyn Drive by Fairfield Lane in West Pikeland Township. Both stations hit the road immediately but the wind was pushing the fast moving fire through the barn quickly. A second alarm was quickly struck and the first in firefighters laid supply lines from nearby fire hydrants. Crews worked to protect 3 homes that were right next to the barn from going up in flames with the barn. Although the homes were saved, the barn was a total loss. Crews from Lionville & Kimberton used master streams from their Tower-Ladders to knock down the majority of the fire in the barn. Crews then worked by hand for hours in the night digging out hot spots and extinguishing the fire. Units cleared the scene shortly after midnight. Rescue 72 & Engine 68-2 (Valley Forge) stood by at Kimberton during the blaze. Rescue 72 covered 1 call during that time. Also assisting at the scene was Exton Fire (06), East Whiteland Fire (05) and the County Fire Marshal (Harrison Holt – FM100). The fire was ruled accidental due to a lightning strike.

Photos by Deputy Chief Fields

CHARLESTOWN HOME BURNS - 2 DOGS LOST IN FIRE

Tuesday June 17, 2008

At 0844 hours, Chester County communications alerted Kimberton Fire (61 & 72), Phoenix #1 (Ladder 65), and Valley Forge (Engine 68-5) for a house on fire on Sycamore Lane in Charlestown Twp. Within minutes as units were enroute Deputy Chief Fields arrived and reported a 2 story single family home with heavy smoke showing from all sides. He assumed ‘Sycamore Lane Command’ and requested 2 additional tankers (Engine 5-5 from East Whiteland and Tanker 47 from Lionville Fire). In the meantime Kimberton sent its tanker as did Valley Forge Fire.

Even before fire apparatus arrived, fire vented out the rear and quickly overtook the home. Firefighters were forced to take a defensive attack on the fire. Due to the steep and long driveway, only Engine 61-1 and Ladder 65 were able to get up to the home to battle the fire. Additional units set up water supply at the base of the driveway and fire crews had to make the long walk up the driveway to the home. At 0858 Hours Chief Fields requested a 2nd alarm for manpower & additional water. This brought a tanker from Ridge Fire (Engine 62-5) and Malvern (Engine 04-5).

Chief Hughes (Chief 61) arrived & established water supply operations at the base of the driveway some 1800 feet away. The narrow street created an obstacle course for tanker drivers. An Engine from Humane of Royersford also assisted on the scene with overhaul. Units cleared the scene around 2 PM. Assisting on the scene were the Chester County Fire Marshals office, PA State Police FM, Charlestown Twp FM, and Belfor Restorations. Losses were estimated at $750,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation but not believed to be suspicious.

Photos by Deputy Chief Fields

 

WORKING HOUSE FIRE IN CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP

Wednesday April 23, 2008

AT 9:13 PM firefighters from the Kimberton FD (61 & 72) were alerted to an “Unknown Type Fire” on Eastwick Drive in Charlestown Twp. Crews from both stations were just wrapped up their weekly training session when the alarm came in & immediately hit the street with Engine 61-1, Tower 61 and Rescue 72. Prior to arrival the communications center advised they were receiving a call for a deck on fire at the address. The alarm assignment was upgraded to a building fire response and Kimberton was realerted and an engine from East Whiteland Fire (Sta 5) was added to the assignment. Engine 61-1 was the first to arrive and reported a large 2-story home with fire showing on the C/D side on the roof. Deputy Chief Fields assumed command and requested an ambulance for standby and an engine to cover Station 61. The Tower laddered the roof to open it up while engine crews stretched handlines up to the upstairs bedroom, where crews began opening walls and ceilings to access the fire. Ladder 65 from Phoenix #1 was added to the alarm to assist with manpower, as crews worked to their max getting the roof opened up to find the fire.


The fire was placed under control at 1016 Hrs. Assisting on the scene was the County Fire Marshals Office, State Police FM, Charlestown Twp FM and Belfor Restorations. The damages were estimated to be around $35,000 and the point of origin was found to be an outside light fixture. Crews cleared the scene just before midnight.

Units On Scene: Engine 61-1, Tower 61, Rescue 72, Squad 72, Engine 61-2, Rescue 61, Tanker 61, Squad 61, Brush 61, Engine 5-5 , Ladder 65, MICU 67-3. Engine 62-1 (Ridge) stood by at Station 61 during the fire and assisted with getting the Kimberton units back in service upon their return.

Photo by Assistant Chief Bliss

Kimberton Assists in Royersford with Working Fire

April 11, 2008

On April 11th at 1755 hours Rescue 72 was dispatched as the RIT team to assist Montgomery County Stations 84/85 (Royersford) for a working building fire. Rescue and Squad 72 arrived and was advised to pick-up the hydrant at 5th Ave. & Vaughn Road. Rescue 72 laid 500 feet of 5 inch hose and hand drug 200 feet over to Montgomery Engine 85. Manpower assisted with overhaul and was released at 2033 hours.

During the time Rescue 72 was at the call Station 61 responded to a reported brush fire in the area of the Cromby Power Plant. After investigating the crew determined it was from the smoke from the fire in Royersford.

Later in the evening at 2332 while Engine 61-1 & Rescue 61 were operating at an accident in the area of 108 Ridge Road, Rescue 72 was again dispatched to assist Royersford for a building fire following a lighting strike. Rescue 72 and Squad 72 responded Royersford Companies found no smoke or fire, but did investigate an odor of burnt insulation. Rescue 72 was released by Royersford’s Chief.

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