Winter Storm Jonas Keeps Volunteers Busy with Multiple Incidents
 
By East Brandywine Fire Company
January 25, 2016
 

This past weekend Winter Storm Jonas hit the Region wreaking havoc on the area. During the storm East Brandywine Fire Company volunteers staffed the Station around the clock from Friday evening until Sunday evening. This in-house staffing was instrumental in ensuring emergency responses and decreasing response times related to the weather.

During the storm East Brandywine volunteers responded to multiple incidents including two accidents, house fire, gas leak, and multiple medical emergencies. In total during the height of the storm the Company responded to 9 different emergencies where Township residents needed help.

The responses started shortly after midnight Friday into Saturday when a car struck a utility pole on Route 322. The driver the of the vehicle suffered a severe arm injury requiring transport to a local trauma center.

Just after 1:30am the Company was dispatched to a chimney fire on East Fisherville Road. While enroute Chester County Emergency Center provided an update to Chief 49 stating that per Police, the fire was in the home. Upon arrival of all three East Brandywine Chiefs the situation was upgraded to a house fire and the working fire dispatch was requested. Chief 49 informed the Emergency Center that the Company had a working fire on the first and second floor with fire extending into the attic space. The fire was placed under control within 50 minutes of arrival, the Company cleared at 5:37am.

After the house fire the Company responded to multiple medical emergencies, and also provided 4-wheel drive vehicles to assist in ensuring access to the patients and the ability to transport to the hospital.

Sunday morning as residents began digging out from the storm, the Company responded to a gas leak on Little Washington Road. Firefighters secured the gas after noting a very heavy smell of propane in the basement. After securing the gas the residence was ventilated and the gas company was notified of a problem.

The Officers and Members would like to thank many people and organizations who helped provide assistance or mutual aide support over the weekend. All of personnel listed below braved harsh conditions in order to serve the Community.

Brian Kilgarif (Village Hardware) - Cleaning off our parking lot
Malvern Police Chief Lou Marcelli - Cleaning off our parking lot

W.D. Dump Truck Service - Cleared Reeds Road for Company to access a pediatric medical emergency
East Brandywine Public Works - Plow assistance
West Brandywine Public Works - Plow assistance


Thorndale Fie Company - Mutual Aide
Glen Moore Fire Company - Mutual Aide
Downingtown Fire Department - Mutual Aide
Lionville Fire Company - Mutual Aide
Westwood Fire Company - Mutual Aide

Honey Brook Fire Company - Stand-by coverage
West Whiteland Fire Company - Stand-by coverage

Westwood Ambulance - Medical Support
Minquas Ambulance - Medical Support

PECO Electric - Securing Utilities

West Brandywine Township EMC - Mike Conway - Securing Township support

Belor Property Restoration - John Stoudt - Securing home post house fire

Lastly the Line Officers would like to recognize all of the volunteers and their families who sacrificed their time during the storm, your commitment is unsurpassed.