02/24/2026
‼️Tanker 27 operates as First Due Engine on a working garage fire in Londonderry Township.‼️
Early on Monday, February 23rd amid the winter storm, the Cochranville Fire Company and surrounding departments were dispatched to Linmar Lane in Londonderry Township. Chief 27 responded and asked for an Operations channel. Chester County Dispatch assigned West Ops 1 for the operations of the incident.
Due to conditions, the response of all responding apparatus was greatly slowed. While enroute, Engine 27-2 made contact via phone with the Londonderry Township Roadmaster and requested their assistance with plows.
Chief 27 arrived onscene with Engine 27-2 closely behind. The Chief requested the Engine hold on Daleville Rd to see if laying 5” supply line would be necessary and how to best do so with the length of the lane. Chester County Dispatch informed Chief and Engine 27-2 that the driveway measured 1600’.
Chief 27 made it into the property and reported a fire on the exterior of the garage with extension into the second floor of the garage and the homeowner using a garden hose to suppress the fire. Engine 27-2 was instructed to conduct a split lay in to the scene. Chief 27 established Linmar Lane Command and upgraded the incident to a working fire.
The driveway was unplowed and an upgrade for the first 200’. Engine 27-2 tried 3 attempts to make the driveway but was unable to clear the hill with the snowy conditions. Tanker 27 was the only other apparatus on scene at this point, so the Engine moved out of the way, and the Tanker with its extra weight and tandem axles was able to make the driveway. Engine 27-2’s crew grabbed their equipment and followed the Tanker into the scene on foot.
Chief 27 at the scene donned his PPE and deployed the 2 handlines off Tanker 27 which operated as the First Due Engine for the call. An exterior member from Engine 27-2’s crew, Firefighter Jones, operated the 200’ handline on the Delta side and was able to knock the bulk of the fire prior to crews making entrance.
Captain 27 (King), Firefighter Ghartey, and Deputy 23 (B. Cole, who arrived via command unit) used the 300’ handline off of Tanker 27 and made entry into the second floor of the garage. The Interior crew found a studio apartment with many void spaces where the fire was. Tanker 27 Driver (Drennen) and Firefighter Audette deployed the ladders from the Tanker to the second-floor windows as the interior crew was making entry.
As other apparatus arrived on scene Engine 22, Lanco Engine 42, and Squad 22 made the driveway and were able to complete the supply line. Engine 22 laid in from the halfway point and assumed the Second Due Engine assignment, pulling 2 additional lines to back up the crews already working. Engine 42’s crew began opening up the building to gain access to the fire. Squad 22 turned around at the halfway point of the driveway and laid back out to the road and established water supply.
Thankfully, due to the quick knock on the fire once on scene and the Tanker operating as the first in Engine, the 5’ supply line was not needed to be charged.
Many other crews arrived and made the long walk from the road to the scene.
A huge thank you to all of our mutual aid companies who responded to this call. Also thank you to Londonderry Township and PECO for their speedy responses.
Also Thank you to Null's Towing for responding to the scene after the fire to get Tanker 27 unstuck after the incident.
West Grove Fire Company, Union Fire Company No. 1 ~ Oxford, PA, Avondale Fire Company, Gap Fire Company, Keystone Valley Fire Department, Christiana Fire Company - Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Longwood Fire Company, Londonderry Township, Cochranville PA
