Assisting Kennett Square at Apartment Building Fire
 
December 13, 2023
 

West Grove volunteer firefighters assisted Kennett Fire Company late last evening on a fire in an apartment building located at the corner of South Union and East Cypress streets in Kennett Borough, and handled a second call while returning to quarters.

At 9:23pm, fire companies from across southern Chester County were called for the building fire. West Grove was dispatched to provide a "RIT response," to establish a rapid intervention team at the fire scene. RIT teams standby with specialized breathing equipment and rescue tools to be ready for firefighter rescue if needed at working fire scenes. WGFC responded with Ladder 22 and Rescue 22. Crews handled the RIT assignment and assisted with fire operations, with a full complement of Ladder 22 ground ladders being used on the structure along with the unit's aerial ladder. Ground ladders are commonly placed at many window locations to provide for firefighter entry and egress or for rescue purposes if needed.

WGFC crews were on scene for about 2.5 hours. Ladder 22 also handled a second fire emergency while returning to district, assisting the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company of Unionville with a fire/odor investigation on West Doe Run Road in East Marlborough Township.
 
Units: Ladder 22, Rescue 22
 
Mutual Aid: Kennett Square 24, Longwood 25, Po-Mar-Lin 36, Avondale 23, Chester County Fire Marshal, Longwood EMS
 
South Union Street is full of fire apparatus and equipment at this multi-story building fire.
South Union Street is full of fire apparatus and equipment at this multi-story building fire.
 
WGFC firefighters making up the RIT (rapid intervention team) assignment at the front of the fire building.
WGFC firefighters making up the RIT (rapid intervention team) assignment at the front of the fire building.
 
Ten ground ladders and two aerial ladders covered all floors on the Cypress Street side of the building.
Ten ground ladders and two aerial ladders covered all floors on the Cypress Street side of the building.
 
WGFC Ladder 22 sits with Ladder 25 along Cypress St. in Kennett Square for the apartment building fire Tuesday night.
WGFC Ladder 22 sits with Ladder 25 along Cypress St. in Kennett Square for the apartment building fire Tuesday night.