What started out as a call for a gas leak outside, turned into two emergencies simultaneously, with the second a working house fire.

The West Grove Fire Company was dispatched at 2:06 on Chesterville Road road in Landenberg for a reported gas leak outside. The resident smelled gas, with an above ground propane tank behind the residence. Engine 22-1 left the station in West Grove heading toward Landenberg. Shortly thereafter, Squad 22 responded from New London, Tanker 22 responded from West Grove, and Engine 22-3 was preparing to leave from London Britain.

A few moments later, as Tanker 22 paused at Walnut and Prospect to make the turn toward the gas leak call in Landenberg, driver Tom Glass looked left to make sure the traffic was clear…and spotted a large plume of smoke rising over the center of West Grove. He quickly turned Tanker 22 toward Evergreen Street reported a single family home just across from Exchange Place on East Evergreen with fire showing from the first floor.

With that, the Chester County 911 Center dispatched for the second call at 2:13pm, adding additional units from nearby fire companies. Squad 22 remained on the gas leak call, Engine 22-1 turned around and responded back to West Grove. Engine 22-3 responded to the house fire, followed shortly by Ladder 22.

As units arrived, they encountered heavy fire on the first floor, extending to the second floor and attic. Tanker 22’s driver was assisted by Chief 25 who happened to be in West Grove and they stretched a pre-connected attack line from Tanker 22. Meanwhile, Engine 22-1 arrived in town and laid a supply line to the scene from a hydrant at the borough parking lot on Prospect Street. Crews began immediately to fight the fire and, with Ladder 22’s crew, perform searches inside the residence.

At this point, it was determined that one resident was unaccounted for, leading Chief 22 to declare possible entrapment and putting focus on primary and secondary searches for arriving units, with Engine 22-3 arriving to assist, along with units from Avondale, Kennett Square, Longwood, and Oxford fire companies. Also on scene were ambulances from West Grove and paramedics from Medic 94.

Fortunately, the missing resident was accounted for and firefighters spent the next two hours putting out the fire, opening up walls and the roof to check for fire extension. Firefighters cleared the scene after about 2.5 hours, and there were no injuries.

During the call, the crew of Squad 22 handled the gas leak call, and reported to the house fire in West Grove where they also assisted at the second call.

West Grove units had extensive hose washing, truck cleaning and hose repacking which took until nearly 6:00pm.