| On Friday, July 24, 2026, at 3:44 PM, the East Brandywine Fire Company, along with numerous mutual aid companies, was dispatched to a residence in the Colts Meadow Run neighborhood of Upper Uwchlan Township for a reported house fire.
The initial alarm included Stations 49 and 48, Engines 45, 46, 38, and 76, Tower 47, RIT 6, and MICU 46. Battalion 49 responded within seconds of dispatch and was advised that a propane BBQ grill was on fire on the rear deck of the home. Engine 49-1 responded shortly behind Battalion 49, followed by Engines 76, 38, and 48-2, with the remainder of the first alarm assignment responding shortly thereafter.
At 3:51 PM, Battalion 49 arrived to find a two-story single-family dwelling with heavy fire showing from the Delta side. A Working Fire Dispatch was immediately requested along with the First Alarm Tanker Task Force due to the neighborhood having no fire hydrants.
The Working Fire Dispatch added Engines 6 and 33, Air 46, and the Chester County Fire Marshals. The First Alarm Tanker Task Force brought Pumper Tankers 49-5, 48-5, and 73-5, along with Tankers 35, 37, and 39.
Engine 49-1 established the initial water supply by dropping a 5-inch supply line at the intersection of Davenport Drive and Colts Meadow Run before laying into the scene. Firefighters immediately deployed a 2½-inch attack line in an aggressive effort to stop the rapidly advancing fire.
Assistant 49 arrived moments later and confirmed that fire had already extended across the entire rear of the residence and into both the first and second floors. Crews made an aggressive interior push through the front entrance but were met with intense fire conditions in the rear of the first floor.
Due to the lack of hydrants in the area, the initial water supply was quickly exhausted, forcing crews to temporarily withdraw until a sustained water supply could be established. As additional engines and tankers arrived, firefighters made a second attempt to advance into the home. By that time, however, the fire had grown significantly, the first floor had become structurally compromised, and the risk of collapse had increased dramatically. Command made the decision to transition to a defensive operation and withdraw all interior crews to ensure firefighter safety.
Ladder 6 was positioned in the driveway, and once an adequate water supply was established, the aerial master stream was placed into service to attack the heavy fire that had consumed the second floor and roof, portions of which had already collapsed.
As operations continued, a Second Alarm Tanker Task Force was requested, bringing Pumper Tankers 33-5, 44-5, and 69-5, along with Tankers 52 and 61.
A tanker fill site was established at the Marsh Creek West Boat Launch, where tankers continuously filled before returning to the scene. Operations initially utilized a portable tank (porta tank) water shuttle before transitioning to direct pumping from arriving tankers to improve the efficiency of the water supply operation.
Firefighters worked for several hours extinguishing the main body of fire and overhauling the structure to locate and extinguish remaining hotspots.
The American Red Cross responded to assist the two adult occupants of the home, both of whom safely evacuated before firefighters arrived.
The final fire units cleared the scene at 7:48 PM.
The Chester County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the exact cause of the fire.
We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all of the mutual aid companies that responded and assisted throughout this incident. We also want to thank Ridge Fire Company Engine 62-5 and Keystone Valley Fire Department Ladder 8 for providing station coverage while our crews operated at the scene.
Apparatus on Scene
Engines: 49-1, 49-2, 48-2, 6-1, 6-2, 38, 45, 46-2, 76-2, 33-1, 37
Pumper Tankers / Tankers: 49-5, 48-5, 73-5, 35, 37, 39, 33-5, 44-5, 69-5, 52, 61
Special Units: Tower 47, Ladder 6, Air 46, Rescue 6, Traffic 6-1
EMS: MICU 46-6, MICU 46-1
Command & Support: Battalion 49, Assistant 49, Battalion 47, 46-62, QRS 49, Utilities 49-1, 49-2, 38-1, 45, and Fire Marshal 101. |
