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Lightning Strike Causes House Fire - 500 Block of Center Hall Road
Sunday, July 25, 2010

Sunday, July 25th, 2010 at 1427 hours the Cochranville Fire Company, a Rescue from the Westwood Fire Company, Christiana Community Ambulance, an Engine and Tanker from the Atglen Fire Company, a Tower from the Parkesburg Fire Company and a Tanker from the Christiana Fire Company were all alerted for a house fire on the 500 Block of Center Hall Road in West Fallowfield Township. The reporting party advised Chester County Fire Board that the house was struck by lightning and they were trying to evacuate. They called back a few minutes later reporting that there was heavy fire on the second floor. With that information at 1432 the Working Fire Dispatch was alerted. That re-alerted all of the above companies and added Medic 94 and an Engine from the Union Fire Company #1 of Oxford and Rescue from the Gap Fire Company for Rapid Intervention. Chief Lapp arrived on scene and set up “Center Hall Command.” He requested County Fire Marshals to the scene and a second alarm. The second alarm alerted any other available units from the Atglen, Parkesburg and Westwood Fire Companies. Engine 27-5 responded with five and was the first on scene. From it two 1.75” handlines were pulled and also a 2” handline. Initial crews on scene advanced to the second floor to extinguish the fire. Additional crews assisted with ventilation, salvage and overhaul. The fire was placed under control at 1504 hours. During this incident one firefighter was transported to Jennersville Regional Hospital. All units returned available by 1705 hours. A special thanks to the West Grove Fire Company for handling a trees/wires call for us and to the Pomeroy Fire Company for standing by at our station during this fire. Units: Engine 27-5, QRS 27, Rescue 27, Engine 27-1 Mutual Aid: Engine 26-1, Tanker 26, Medic 94, QRS 26, Rescue 44, Engine 21-2, Tower 28, Tanker 5-2-2, FM 101, Engine 44-5, FM 102, Engine 4-2-2, Rescue 4-2, Traffic 28, Ambulance 5-2-1, Engine 21-1, Ambulance 22-3, Engine 29-1, and Engine 22