At 2:33AM on May 7, 2009, Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Company, along with MICU 67-2 from West End, were alerted to a house fire on S. Forge Manor Drive, in Schuylkill township. Within minutes, units were in route. Upon arrival, Chief 68, Rick Beittel confirmed a working house fire with fire showing from the garage and extending to the rest of the house. Chief Beittel established Forge Manor Command and requested additional units to the scene along with Spring City Station 63 for the RIT assignment.
Engine 68-5 arrived shortly after the Chief and set up for an interior attack. Two lines were taken inside the residence where Firefighters were met with extremely high temperatures and deteriorating conditions. Assistant Chief 68, Evan Taylor, assumed Operations Officer and ordered personnel out of the building. As additional units arrived, defensive measures were taken in an effort to allow Firefighters a chance to go back in after knocking down some of the fire. More hose lines were stretched to the exposure buildings and to the rear of the fire building, while Tower 61 from Kimberton set up their aerial master stream to assist in getting the upper hand on the fire.
Water supply was established initially by Tanker 68 and then supplemented by Engine 65 from Phoenixville who supplied both Engine 68-5 and Tower 61 from a hydrant.
Deputy Chief 68, Kevin Geiger, assumed the role of Safety Officer, while Chief 61, Doug Gable, took Manpower Staging. Command requested utilities to the scene (gas and electric) due to a live power line down in the backyard and and also requested Chester Count Fire Marshalls to the scene. Command also requested Captain 68, Jason Cole, to set up a Command Post at Chief 68’s vehicle.
EMS assessed one civilian casualty with minor injuries, who declined treatment or transport to the hospital.
As Firefighters on the scene continued to get control of the bulk of the fire, additional engines were requested from Montgomery county station 53 (Lower Providence ) and station 63 (Oaks), and Chester County Engine 2-3 (Berwyn). The exterior operation was successful in getting control so that Firefighters could get back inside and finish extinguishing the fire. The fire was placed under control at 0410 hours.
Chester County Fire Marshalls are investigating the cause of the fire at this time. There was a thunderstorm cell moving through the area that night, and some in the area reported active lightning strikes as well, although this has not been determined to have any relationship to this fire. The house will be a total loss, but firefighters were able to recover some personal belongings for the residents of the house.
Thank you to all who assisted on the scene as well as the mutual aid companies that were on stand-by. Also, thank you to the residents across the street for your hospitality.
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