DISPATCHED : 02/22/2025 19:18
ON SCENE : 02/22/2025 19:25
INCIDENT DESC : Structure Fire – 1st Alarm
LOCATION : 2471 Route 49, Westfield Twp
2/22/2025 @ 19:18 Crary Hose, Clymer, Knoxville-Deerfield, Harrison Twp, Sabinsville Ambulance, and Elkland with RIT were dispatched to 2471 Route 49, Westfield Township to the scene of a structure fire, reported residential with flames visible. Engine 5-3 with 5 responded at 19:22 and were on scene at 19:25, followed closely by Tanker 5-5 crew of 3. Officer Mack from Westfield Borough PD arrived on-scene early and confirmed the reports of flames showing from behind a stovepipe, all occupants were out. Assistant Chief 5-10 Skelton assumed command while the remainder of E-53 crew went to work. Initial report was a wood stove pipe attached directly to wood siding had caught the siding on fire, with extension beginning to the wood planks underneath, for the entire length of the chimney, with flames beginning to lap at the eaves. Captain Adams grabbed the water can while Firefighters Brubaker and Reed pulled a handline. The fire was able to be knocked down with the water can to the point of preventing further extension into the wall or eaves. Engine 5-3 malfunctioned when being shifted into pump gear and was declared out-of-service. Knoxville’s Engine 6-2 pulled a handline for 5-3 crew to use and the burning area was soaked as boards were pulled to confirm that extension had been held to exterior siding and planks. Firefighters from Clymer, Harrison and Knoxville worked together, both on the exterior and interior. A third handline was pulled from Tanker 5-5 and put into service in the basement to extinguish the fire in the wood stove as the stove pipe had been removed on the exterior during suppression preventing ventilation. The interior crew also checked the interior for damage or extension with none found, and set up a positive pressure ventilation fan to remove smoke from the structure. Clymer FF Ackley cut a hole high up on the affected wall to check for extension as well, none found, and Clymer Asst Chief Mead flowed water into the interior of the wall as a precaution. Visual and thermal checks resulted in no heat remaining in the wall and the fire was declared out.
Thank you to all who responded and helped to save this house. Thanks to our RIT crew out of Elkland for a fast response. Fortunately this fire was held to exterior damage only, but it is great to hear your RIT respond as your first due is leaving the house.
With Engine 5-3 out of service for repairs, Ladder 5-9 or Engine 5-2 will be the first due engine on all fires in the borough and 49 corridor, while Tanker 5-5 will be first due to fires in the townships. Engine 5-3 will respond to MVAs to provide rescue equipment only.
Dept 5 Response
Engine 5-3: Operator – FF Todd Streeter, Officer – Chief 5-10 Brent Skelton, Captain Andrew Adams, Firefighter Steve Brubaker, Firefighter Matt Reed
Tanker 5-5: Operator – FF Dave Earle, Officer – FF Wayne Boka, Junior FF Tyler Adams
Fire Police: Fire Police Chief Mike James, FF Hunter McNeely
POV/Other: Chief Bill Goltz, Chief 5-30 Kyle Mack, EMT Kayla Hurler, EMT Brooke Swimley
Photo Credit: Karen Slotterback Truman, Dave Earle