On Tuesday April 4th East Brandywine Fire Company volunteers were dispatched to a mobile home fire on Melissa Lane in East Brandywine Township.

Once en-route Chester County Emergency Radio advised Assistant 49 (D’Amico) that the reporting party stated, “a trailer was on fire and the owner went back into the trailer to find a cat”.

East Brandywine Police Department arrived on-scene shortly after dispatch and reported; “black smoke” coming from the trailer which was also confirmed by Lieutenant 38 (Taylor).

Chief 49 (Edwards) arrived and established “Melissa Lane Command”.

The owner was quickly accounted for however required urgent medical attention for smoke inhalation.

It was reported that initially the homeowner had exited the trailer thru a window secondary to the fire, however reentered the structure and then collapsed due to the heavy smoke condition. Neighbors entered the trailer and dragged her to safety outside the home.

Personnel from Engine 49-5 deployed an attack line and a back-up line, entered the trailer and quickly extinguished a room and contents fire. Firefighters did locate the cat that seemed uninjured and removed him from the building. The fire was placed under control within 20 minutes of arrival.

Chester County Fire Marshals and Township Fire Marshal were on-scene to determine origin and cause of the fire.

Chief 49 remarked, “Tonight incredibly caring people risked their lives entering a burning trailer to save their neighbor, what a remarkable feat of heroism”. Chief 49 also added "our thoughts and prayers are with the homeowner, we are all hoping she has a speedy recovery".

The Line Officers of East Brandywine Fire Company would like to thank the following Companies for their assistance:

East Brandywine Police Department
Chester County Emergency Radio
Chester County Fire Marshals Office
Glen Moore Fire Company
Thorndale Fire Company
Downingtown Fire Company
Lionville Fire Company
Coatesville and Uwchlan Ambulances
Medic 93
PECO
Belfor

Thank-you to Mark Walsh from Irish Eyez Emergency Services Photography for taking photographs