Duplication of text, photos or any other content published on this website, is prohibited without permission of the Honey Brook Fire Company 1. (Content used from sources outside of the Company are credited to the author and/or photographer if known.) If you have questions, please contact us.
Multi-Alarm Blaze on Isabella Road
By HBFC
October 18, 2024
At 9:08 on Friday evening, Station 69 was dispatched to the 100 block of Isabella Road in West Nantmeal Township for an outside investigation. Initial callers reported a large fire could be seen, however they couldn't see exactly what was on fire. Minutes later the Chester County Fireboard received additional information that a large barn and house were on fire, upgrading the incident. Station 33 was now due on the box alarm for Engine 33-5 and Rescue 33 for the RIT assignment. While responding Chief 69 could observe the large blaze from miles out, and requested the working fire dispatch. First arriving units from 69 found a massive, 2.5 story barn-type structure fully involved with a 2.5 story dwelling attached. Chief 69 assumed the Isabella Road command and reported that the homeowners were not accounted for, advising that they may have entrapment.
Engine 33-5 arrived as the 3rd Due Engine dumping it's entire hose bed of 5" LDH from Isabella Rd. to the fire scene, picking up the line from Engine 69-5. Personnel from Engine 33-5 immediately stretched multiple lines and began assisting with suppression efforts. Simultaneously, The crew from Engine 33-5 searched the residence, and fortunately confirmed no entrapment. While searching, Engine 33-5's crew successfully located and rescued a dog from the first floor of the structure, reuniting the dog with the homeowner.
Rescue 33 arrived and established RIT on the A/B corner briefly, before being released and re-assigned by Command. Engine 33-1 took the fill site assignment, initially setting up at the Kurtz fish hatchery, pulling a draft from the pond and supplying tankers for the scene.
Firefighters from four counties worked until the early morning hours extinguishing the massive blaze, with the remaining Honey Brook units clearing the scene around 4:00am the next morning. The Honey Brook Volunteers handled thirteen calls for service over the course of this week, including three working fires as October continues to prove to be an extremely busy month for the Company. We'd like to thank Lancaster Station 44 for covering our local while we operated at this fire, and for generously cleaning our hose in the early morning hours.
This was the second working fire of the day for the Honey Brook Fire Company - Our thoughts are with those affected by this incident at this time.
