A month without rain created very dry conditions conducive to conditions have made brush fires very easy to occur, sometimes simply from a carelessly discarded cigarette, or spread from a backyard debris burning. The result of the those conditions, and at the urging of area fire chiefs, the County Commissioners instituted a 30-day burning ban. Nonetheless, the West Grove Fire Company has handled numerous brush fires over the last weeks.

Some examples include:

On Saturday, along Garden Station Road, passersby called the 911 Center for a roadbank on fire in London Grove Township. That call was handled by Engine 22-1, Squad 22, Brush 22, Engine 22-3 and Tanker 22.

The previous week, crews on Brush 22, Engine 22-1 and Tanker 22 handled burning debris at the intersection of State Routes 796 and 896 in New London Township.

In London Britain Township on October 21, crews were dispatched for a field fire along Flint Hill Road. Arriving crews found a large fire in a corn field, likely started by a corn combine operating in the field. In breezy dry conditions, the fire advanced to the south toward homes on Thomas Farm Lane. One of those properties had a series of small sheds and pens holding animals. Quick work by teams on Engine 22-1, Engine 22-2, Utility 22-3, Tanker 22, and assisting crews from Oxford, Avondale, and Po-Mar-Lin stopped the fire before it reach the animals and got the fire across several acres put out.

On October 14, WGFC crews were requested for brush fires in nearby Lancaster County. Brush 22 worked alongside crews from several counties on a widespread fire across a large farm in 20+ mph winds. Tankers, engines, and numerous brush trucks worked alongside local farmers using farm tractors and tillage equipment to extinguish the stubborn blaze over 90 minutes that threatened several barns and livestock sheds, assisting the Robert Fulton Fire Company.

Crews also assisted the Union Fire Company of Oxford on November 6 for a four-acre brush fire in the woods in Lower Oxford Township on Street Road. Engine 22-1 and Brush 22 worked alongside crews from multiple departments over two hours to handle fire in the woods.

And, on November 9, WGFC units handled a brush fire along Route 841 in Franklin Township. Engine 22-1, Brush 22, Engine 22-3 and Tanker 22 handled that assignment near Schoolhouse Road.

These are just a few examples of the emergency calls that have kept crews busy during this especially dry period. Between emergencies, chief officers and supervisors have also handled numerous burning complaints generated by the burning ban in place. The WGFC continues to discourage outdoor burning -- light recent rains have still not diminished the fire risk completely.

Our thanks to our neighboring departments for the close working relationships during this period (and for various photographers for some of these pictures).