With more than sixty firefighters and family gathered at Station 22 for a WGFC family dinner, it seemed almost inevitable that the fire siren would blow -- and indeed it did. Pagers sounded just before dinner was served for a reported building fire at Lincoln University, with West Grove Fire Company requested to assist Union Fire Company No. 1 (Oxford), along with other area fire companies.

Engine 22-1, Rescue 22, Ladder 22 and the Ambulances all quickly responded, followed by Engine 22-3. Reports of smoke throughout the second floor were transmitted by the 911 Center to the responding WGFC units, along with Oxford's officers who arrived to establish command and provide initial instructions.

Engine 22-1 arrived as the first due Engine, stopping at the hydrant to lay a supply line 400 feet up the roadway to near the main entrance, but leaving room for the first-in ladder truck. Crews immediately stretched a 300' pre-connected 1-3/4" attack line to the front door and proceeded to the second floor. Ladder 22's crew set up the Ladder at the rear of the building as Ladder 21 from Oxford proceeded to the front of the building to also set up for operations.

A smoke condition on the second floor was some distance from the stairwell, so WGFC crews from Rescue 22 stretched the 3" leader line from Engine 22-1 to the stairwell, and took the attack line from the Engine and relocated it to inside the building, proving more than 300 feet of additional advancing hoseline. Rescue 22 established a water supply at the hydrant to supply Engine 22-1 if needed.

WGFC Engine 22-2 stood by at an additional hydrant and crews were supplemented by additional units arriving from Cochranville, Oxford, Avondale, and Longwood. With no fire evident, hoselines were not charged, and crews checked the first, second and third floors while ventilating smoke.

Crews picked up all of the hose and repacked it back onto Engine 22-1, with crews working for about 90 minutes. There where no injuries.