Avondale Fire Company

06/02/2026

The members of Avondale Fire Company ask our community to keep Murphy and her family in your thoughts and prayers as she continues her courageous battle against cancer.

Murphy has been a staple of The Garage Community and Youth Center and has positively impacted countless young people throughout the Avon Grove and Kennett communities. Her dedication, compassion, and faith have touched so many lives.

We stand with Murphy, Chris, Luke, and Ireland during this difficult journey and wish them strength, comfort, and hope in the days ahead. ❤️

06/01/2026

An informational website has been created to provide updates and information regarding the progression of the merger between Avondale Fire Company and West Grove Fire Company.

Two long-standing area fire companies, each with over a century of emergency service, will merge to form Southern Chester County Fire Rescue (SCCFR). This new organization is committed to safety, guided by integrity, and rooted in community, with the goal of providing more efficient and effective em...

05/30/2026

Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Central Berks Police, as well as Officer Yeager’s friends and family, as they mourn the line-of-duty death of one of their own.

Officer Yeager, may you rest in peace.

05/29/2026

Last evening, members of the Avondale Fire Company traveled to attend the graduation ceremony for Hunter Sayles, a dedicated member of our department, on his accomplishment of graduating from the Octorara Homeland Security & Protective Services Academy.

Sayles joined our department in 2023 as a junior member. Our junior member program serves as a cadet program designed to guide students pursuing careers in public safety while providing opportunities to gain experience, training, and eventually become certified firefighters/EMTs.

Most recently, Sayles became a certified Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Firefighter after obtaining his Firefighter I certification through the Octorara Homeland Security & Protective Services Academy. During this program, Sayles received training in:

• Firefighter safety & survival
• PPE & SCBA operations
• Fire behavior & building construction
• Ground ladders & hose operations
• Water supply & fire suppression
• Search & rescue operations
• Forcible entry & ventilation
• Ropes, knots, salvage & overhaul
• Hazardous materials operations
• Traffic incident & emergency scene management
• Live fire training evolutions
• CPR & emergency medical awareness

Sayles also received an accomplishment award for advanced performance on the NOCTI examination. He is always eager to learn and motivates others to become better versions of themselves.

To Hunter Sayles and the OHSPSA Class of 2026, congratulations from the Avondale Fire Company. We wish you all the best, encourage you to continue doing great things, and never stop learning. Congratulations!

Interested in learning more about this program for high school students? More information can be found at: https://www.octorara.k12.pa.us/o/octec/page/homeland-security-protective-services-academy

05/25/2026

05/25/2026

The members of the Avondale Fire Company extend our deepest condolences to the West Whiteland Fire Company and the Turner family on the unexpected passing of Past Fire Chief George “Bud” Turner. Chief Turner’s nearly 57 years of dedicated service, leadership, and commitment to his community leaves behind a legacy that will never be forgotten. Please keep his family, friends, and the members of West Whiteland Fire Company in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Rest easy, Chief.

05/20/2026

During EMS Week, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Nemours Children’s Health for their thoughtful support and the gift bags they dropped off for our staff. Gestures like these mean a great deal to the men and women who serve our community every day.

EMS Week is a time dedicated to recognizing the commitment, sacrifice, and hard work of Emergency Medical Services personnel across the country. It highlights the essential role EMS providers play in delivering lifesaving care, responding to emergencies, and being there for the public 24/7 during some of life’s most difficult moments.

We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from community partners like Nemours who take the time to recognize our crews and the work they do each day. Thank you again for helping make this EMS Week special for our staff!

05/19/2026

The Avondale Fire Company is pleased to announce that we were selected as a recipient of the Mushroom Festival Grant. This annual grant program is open to nonprofit organizations like ours to help offset operational and equipment costs within the community.

This year, we were awarded $2,500 to assist with upgrading our fire station alerting system.

Many may ask, “What is a station alerting system?” This system is directly connected to our dispatch center and activates every time our department is dispatched to a call for service. The alerting system operates throughout the fire station, including the sleeping quarters, engine bays, kitchen, and lighting systems.

As part of this upgrade, we will be incorporating specialized lighting into our bunk areas. Research has shown this type of lighting helps firefighters and EMTs wake more effectively while reducing the risk of injury during emergency responses.

This upgraded system will enhance our members ability to respond quickly and safely to emergencies within our community.

Be sure not to miss the 41st Annual Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square. A great family-friendly event filled with food vendors, live entertainment, local businesses, activities, and of course, mushrooms!

2026 Mushroom Festival Dates & Times:
Saturday, September 12, 2026 - 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday, September 13, 2026 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

The Mushroom Festival continues to support local nonprofit organizations and first responders throughout our community, and we are incredibly grateful for their support. We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy this outstanding community tradition!

05/15/2026

At approximately 2200 hours on May 14, the Avondale Fire Company, along with mutual aid from the West Grove Fire Company Hockessin Fire Company - Station 19, Cranston Heights Fire Company Station 14, Mill Creek Fire Company - Stations 2&21, Longwood Fire Company Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company and Kennett Fire Company No. 1, were dispatched for a reported house fire.

Chief 23 arrived first on scene and reported a two-story single-family dwelling with smoke showing from the garage. Engine 23 and Ladder 19 arrived shortly after. Engine 23 secured the hydrant past the residence and stretched a 300-foot handline to the front door. Ladder 19 arrived as the first-due truck company, positioning in the front yard while crews initiated a primary search for possible occupants.

Fire crews located the main body of the fire in the garage. Engine 23 quickly placed water on the fire while Ladder 19’s crew began opening up to check for extension. Kennett’s Engine 24 arrived as the second-due engine and stretched a backup line to the front door. Ladder 22 and Engine 22 also arrived and assisted with overhaul operations and checked for extension around the base of the fire on Division 1.

The fire was placed under control within 15 minutes of Engine 23’s arrival. Crews remained on scene to assist the fire marshal with the investigation.

All units cleared the scene at approximately 2330 hours.

05/13/2026

Please join us in congratulating FF Sayles on obtaining his Interior Firefighter Certification today through the Octorara Homeland Security Program.

FF Sayles has worked extremely hard throughout his interior firefighter training while continuing to dedicate countless hours to staffing and attending trainings at the station. His commitment, determination, and willingness to learn have not gone unnoticed.

This is a huge accomplishment and reflects the hard work, dedication, and passion he has put into the fire service. We’re proud to see him continue to grow as a firefighter and look forward to watching his future success both on and off the fireground.

Congratulations, FF Sayles, and great job!