On Thursday, April 13th at 3:33am, East Brandywine Volunteers and neighboring mutual aid companies were alerted for a house fire on Ferndale Lane in the Hopewell section of East Brandywine Township.

While en route, Chester County dispatchers advised Chief (John Edwards) & Deputy (Joe Edwards) 49 that the residents reported "Smoke on the second floor and attic."

It is important to note that the residence was properly equipped with working smoke detectors which alerted the sleeping household of 5 to the fire in the house.

Deputy 49 arrived on scene shortly after and reported heavy smoke in the dwelling and requested the Working Fire Dispatch. While all residents were accounted for, EBFC volunteers arrived and started searching for the seat of the fire.

What was originally presenting as an attic or second floor fire, after a quick walk around and investigation was found to be a basement fire that had burned through the ceiling, collapsing part of the first floor and traveling through the walls and HVAC duct work to the second floor.

Firefighters from Engine 49-5, Ladder 49, Engine 48-5 and 38 quickly deployed attack lines and extinguished the basement fire while crews opened up the first and second floors above the fire to extinguish the extension in the walls. As mutual aid companies arrived, all hands went into service with ventilation, salvage and overhaul and extinguishing any residual pockets of fire, while Chester County Fire Marshals investigated the fire to determine cause and origin.

All firefighters and personnel on scene did an incredible job of quickly containing this fire and preventing further damage to the residence and belongings.

EBFC reminds you to check your smoke detectors and to close doors to limit fire spread.

Thank you to the following for your support during this incident:
East Brandywine Police Department
Glen Moore Fire Company
Alert Fire Company
Honeybrook Fire Company
Lionville Fire Company
West Bradford Fire Company
Coatesville VA Fire Company
Wagontown Fire Company
Chester County Fire Marshals
Minquas Ambulance 46
Westwood Ambulance 144
Brandywine Hospital Medic 93

Modena Fire Company for the Standby protection and all other mutual aid organizations who assisted in covering other townships during this incident.

IrishEyez Emergency Services Photography, The Red Cross, PECO & Belfor Property Restoration.