News

Working House Fire - 5254 DuPont Pkwy
Sunday, August 14, 2016

At 1323 hrs, Station 44 along with Tanker company 26 were dispatched to a commercial building fire at the Church Of God. 44-2 made the response under the command of 4415 (B.Jarrell) followed by Ladder 44. While Responding Kent Center advised that they took a single call from the Church reporting Smoke coming from a tile in the ceiling. 44-2 arrived to find nothing evident. Crews from the Engine made access the church to find a strong electrical burning odor. Ladder 44 arrived on scene behind the Engine. While the Engine crew was investigating in the church, The Crew from the Ladder noticed smoke coming from a house on the same property. The Ladder Crew pulled a 1 1/2 hose line while the crew from the Engine masked up. Crews made forcible entry into the residence from a door on the "Charlie" side to find heavy smoke conditions. Engine 26-2 and Tanker 26 arrived on scene and assisted with pulling a second hand line and supplying Engine 44-2. Crews made entry into the main house. With the assistance of the TIC, the fire was found in the attic. Interior requested additional hooks. 4416 assumed operations while 4415 had command. Interior reported to operations that they had heavy smoke with fire in the attic and were searching for the seat of the fire. Crews the Ladder, through ground ladders to the roof and started vertical ventilation. Interior advised that they had found fire in the hallway attic and were making entry into a bedroom on the Delta/Alpha Side. Exterior crews from Engine 44-3 and Rescue 44 assisted with taking the windows on the delta/alpha side of the structure. Interior reported that the bulk of the fire was knocked down and they were checking for extension. Command requested a one piece engine cover. Station 43 was alerted. While Engine 434 was responding they were requested into the scene for manpower do to high heat and humidity. Station 53 was alerted to replace Station 43 as the cover up. While Crews were actively engaged with firefighting activity's, additional crews continued to investigate the burning odor in the church. Crews from the church determined that the burning odor was coming from 3 light ballast. Power was secured prior to fire dept arrival by church staff. The Fire Scene was placed under control at 1354 hrs. Crews operated until 1510 hrs. Scene was turned over to FM13. Units responding- 44-2,44-3,44-4,L44,R44,T44,26-2,T26,43-4 A64 Engine 53-4 made the response for the Cover up. Fire Chief Brian Jarrell Had Command, 1 Asst Chief Dave Neeld Had Operations, Captain Eric Neeld had Interior While Units were in the process of mop up. The Cover up engine, along with 44-4 and 43-4 from the Fire scene made the response for an Automatic fire alarm at the Delaware Health Lab. 2nd Asst Chief Dean Johnson had Command of the Public health lab.