Firefighters from eleven fire departments worked to assist the West Grove Fire Company at a major barn fire in New London Township on Thursday, December 5.

The WGFC was dispatched at 8:30am for a reported barn fire at Grazing Acres Farm, on Lewisville Road. The first arriving WGFC Chief Officer reported a barn fully involved, with adjacent other structures. The ensuring effort lasted all day and into the evening including truck and hose cleanup. While the barn was a total loss from the initial moments, firefighters worked to ensure that adjacent buildings were protected.

The initial arriving engine 22-1 laid a large supply line up the driveway from Lewisville Road. During the incident, that engine supplied multiple hand lines, a 2-1/2" blitz line, and Ladder 22's elevated waterway. Initial water supply was handled by a tanker task force with tankers from across the region. Ultimately, a large supply line was laid by several fire engines from the driveway south along Lewisville Road 3,500+ feet to a hydrant located at the intersection of Camp Bonsul Road and Thunder Hill Road.

Later in the day, heavy machinery was brought in to break apart the debris pile to assist firefighters to fully extinguish the fire, with efforts hampered by high winds and very cold temperatures.

Lancaster Tanker 52 was on standby at Station 22 during the incident. That crew, from the Christiana Fire Company, handled multiple calls while West Grove was at the barn fire including an automatic alarm, a gas leak outside, assisting the ambulance, an additional fire alarm, and several trees/wires and brush calls. Our thanks to that crew, and all of the first responders who assisted on today's all-day incident.