At 09:25 hrs (9:25 am), St. 2 (Berwyn), St. 3 (Paoli), and Delaware County St. 15 (Radnor) were alerted to the 400 block of Strafford Ave at the Strafford Station Apartments for a reported building fire.  Initial 9-1-1 calls indicated that the callers could see smoke and flames. Police arrived within a minute and advised that there was an apartment “fully involved” with smoke coming through the roof. Residents also advised that some people could not get out of the building because of smoke, and other residents were unaccounted for. With this information, a “Working Fire Dispatch” with reported entrapment was struck, adding additional resources to the scene. This dispatch included St. 4 (Malvern) for Ladder 4 to act as a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) and St. 5.

Berwyn Engine 2-3 arrived on location and confirmed the report of fire on the third floor, and advised that the residents were being evacuated. Chief 2 (M. Norris) arrived and established “Strafford Command” and requested a 2nd alarm to be struck at 09:35 hrs (9:35 am). 

Firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions sweeping through the building and multiple attack lines went in service. East Whiteland crews assisted with primary and secondary searches of the building, fire suppression and attack, overhaul, and Rescue 5 provided Air Cascade (bottle refilling) services. 

At 10:02 hrs (10:02 am) a third alarm was struck, bringing in firefighters from the tri-county area of Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. A fire police task force was struck at 10:51 hrs (10:51 am) to assist with scene and traffic control. The Red Cross was alerted to assist with those displaced by the blaze.

All East Whiteland units and personnel were taken up and available by 12:56 hrs (12:56 pm).

There were no reported firefighter or civilian injuries, and the fire is still under investigation at the time of this posting. The East Whiteland Fire Company sends its condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.

Story by Mike Schon. Photos courtesy Tom Kelly IV, Jim DeStefano Sr., and Kevin Oreskovich.

 

Command: Chief 2 (M. Norris)

Safety Officer/ “A” Side Staging – Safety 2 (S. Savering)

“C” Side Operations: Capt. 2 (E. Brazunas)

“C” Side Manpower Staging: Battalion 5 (C. Strauss)

Apparatus:

• St. 2 (Berwyn): Engine 2-1, Engine 2-2, Engine 2-3, Tower 2, Rescue 2, Ambulance 2-1, Ambulance 2-2, Medic 2-1, Medic 2-2, Traffic 2
• St. 3 (Paoli): Engine 3-1, Engine 3-5, Tower 3, Traffic 3, Ambulance 3
• St. 4 (Malvern): Engine 4-5, Ladder 4, Squad 4
• St. 5 (East Whiteland): Engine 5-3, Rescue 5
• St. 55 (Good Fellowship Ambulance): Ambulance 55-2
• St. 56 (Goshen): Ladder 56
• St. 67 (Phoenixville): MICU 67-4
• St 68 (Valley Forge): Engine 68-2
• Delco St. 15 (Radnor): Engine 15-1, Engine 15-3, Squad 15, Ladder 15, Rescue 15, Ambulance 15-7, Ambulance 15-7A
• Delco St. 41 (Newtown Square): Engine 41-1, Ladder 41, Traffic 41
• Montco St. 23 (Bryn Mawr): Ladder 23
• Montco St. 24 (Gladwyn): Engine 24, Engine 24-1, Ladder 24, Air/Light 24
• Montco St. 47 (King of Prussia): Squad 47
• Montco St. 313 (Narberth Ambulance): Ambulance 313-1, Rehab/Ambulance 313-4
• Montco St. 317 (Lafayette Ambulance): Ambulance 317-3
• Fire Marshals: FM 100, FM 103, FM 104

News Articles:

• 6 ABC: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7248213
• CBS 3: http://cbs3.com/topstories/Displaced.Tredyffrin.Township.2.1459824.html
• Fox 29: http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/fire-burns-tredyffrin-twp-apt.-complex