Early Wednesday morning, WGFC was dispatched for a fire + hazardous materials incident in London Britain Township.

Reports to the Chester County 911 Center that a 500-gallon propane tank underground was on fire (which prompted the haz mat designation on the call). Additional information from the caller suggested the fire was above ground behind the residence, and the call was upgraded to a possible dwelling fire.

WGFC responded with Engine 22-1, Ladder 22, Tanker 22, Engine 22-3, and Engine 22-2, along with Fire Police. The initial call designation also requested the County Haz Mat Team along with Medic 94. Units from Avondale, Newark, Hockessin, and Longwood also responded on the call.

Engine 22-1 arrived as the first due Engine and split-laid a supply line up the driveway to the residence. There they deployed a 1-3/4" attack line from the Engine's front bumper to the rear of the residence to extinguish an active fire around the valve in the propane service line to the home (from a buried propane tank). The crew, working with firefighters from arriving Ladder 22, opened up the immediate wall materials behind the propane service to assure there was no extension. There was no fire in the buried tank and it was shut off for safety.

Crews from arriving companies worked together to check for extension throughout the home and take readings for propane on each floor. Propane was detected in the basement level and crews worked to ventilate those areas and clear the conditions. A light smoke condition was also present in the basement.

Due to the possibility of a house fire, a nearly-1000-foot supply line was laid up from North Creek Road. Engine 22-1 split laid -- meaning they laid a supply line from the driveway of the incident home and signaled to the next Engine to lay in from the street to Engine 22-1's drop point. This assignment was taken up by Engine 23-2 as the second arriving Engine. Out on the road, Tanker 22 established a connection to the supply line, as well as Tanker 23. These supply lines were not charged or used as the fire was quickly extinguished by Engine 22-1 shortly after arrival.

WGFC units were on scene for about two hours, and there were no injuries. WGFC Fire Police assisted by closing North Creek Road in the area of the incident.