Afternoon House Fire in Brandywine

June 7, 2007 - 1512 hours
reported by Deputy Chief DJ Mills

During the mid afternoon hours, Truck 3 and Engine 122 were alerted to Brandywine's area for the house on fire with possible people trapped. Truck 3 arrived on scene to find a two-story Victorian style home with fire showing from the roof of the house. Truck 3's OIC and Barman entered the house just behind Engine 251 and proceeded to the second floor with hooks to open the attic area of the home where the majority of the fire was located. The Driver and tillerman threw several ground ladders to the house and vented the second floor windows before meeting up with the interior crew to assist in opening up. Engine 122 arrived on scene and supplied Engine Co. 24 and 21 with water and ran a line to the second floor to assist in extinguishment. After the majority of the ceiling was pulled and fire put out the A/C unit in the attic fell through the ceiling onto the stairwell. Once this happened command ordered the evacuation of the building and had Truck 3 ladder pipe the remainder of the hot spots on the second floor. Truck 3 and Engine 122 operated on the scene for approximately 2 1/2 hours.