Firefighters from three counties responded to a large fire Christmas Eve that destroyed the historic Chrome Dairy store in East Nottingham Township.

The fire was dispatched for the Union Fire Company of Oxford (21) and upgraded to a full building response quickly, with concerns that residents in the apartment to the rear might still be inside. The upgraded response added units from Rising Sun (Cecil County 8), Cochranville 27, West Grove 22, and Medic 94.

The first arriving ambulance from 21 reported heavy smoke and fire, and the first in 21 engine had fire through the roof. Fortunately, it was determined that the residents were safely outside. 21's engine laid a supply line from Barnsley Road to the rear of the structure where attack lines were advanced to the structure. Ladder 21 arrived and set up to the rear. Tanker 21 arrived and deployed portable water tanks for drafting operations and initially supplied the scene.

The West Grove Fire Company responded with Tanker 22, Engine 22-1, Engine 22-2 and Engine 22-3. Crews from Engines 2 and 3 responded to the scene to handle the fire fight, with Tanker 22 joining the tanker shuttle, and Engine 22-1 handling the tanker fill site at Barnsley Road and Old Baltimore Pike.

Due to rapidly advancing fire, crews were removed from the building as collapse began across the roof line from rear towards the front.

A tanker task force was requested adding tankers from Avondale, Cochranville, and from Lancaster County and Cecil County. The water supply operation utilized two 3000 gallon portable tanks, which were drafted by an Oxford engine to supply the fire scene. This water operation operated for more than four hours, maintaining a steady supply of water for handlines, ground monitors, and, ultimately two aerial streams from Ladder 21 and Tower 24 from Kennett Square - which was special called to the scene.

More than a half dozen water tankers made the round trip from from the hydrant a few miles away to the portable tanks, with the set up allowing two tankers to dump water simultaneously. An estimated 120,000 gallons of water were hauled to the scene and utilized.

West Grove units cleared the scene after 2:00am.

Crews operated in 14 degree temperatures and a steady wind, with frozen valves and slippery conditions adding to the challenge. Fire police from several companies kept roadways closed to allow for fire operation and tanker shuttle.