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Hay Bale Fire - 40 Block of Walton Drive
Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sunday, August 21st, 2011, at 1528 hours, while units were still at the accident scene, Chester County Fire Board advised Chief Lapp that there was a second call in our district. This incident was on the 40 Block of Walton Drive in West Fallowfield Township for a hay bale fire. With the exception of fire police, units cleared the accident scene and responded to the hay bale fire. Engine 27-1 was first on scene at 1533 with one pile of hay well off. At that time, Assistant Hoopes assumed “Walton Command” and the first alarm tanker task force was requested. This alerted Cochranville Engine 27-5, Atglen Tanker 26 and Engine 26-1, Lancaster County Christiana Tanker 5-2-2, 5-2-1, and Bart Tanker 5-1-1. At 1537 hours, Chester County Fire Board advised Walton Road Command of another call in our district at the Octorara High School on Highland Road for an automatic fire alarm. Walton Road Command advised Fire Board to alert the next due. This alerted Atglen Engine 26-3 and Parkesburg Engine 28. They responded and handled that incident. At the hay bale fire, Engine 27-2 laid 5” hose out the driveway and set up a staging area for the tankers to supply them water. Westwood Engine 44-5 and the Union Fire Company #1 of Oxford’s Engine 21-1 were alerted to standby at the Cochranville Fire Company during this incident. At 1616 hours, the Parkesburg Fire Company, Engine 21-1 and 21-3, Engine 44-5, West Grove Tanker 22 and Avondale Tanker 23, were alerted for a gas leak inside on the 400 block of Daleville Road in West Fallowfield Township to cover and assist the Cochranville Fire Company. Units responded and cleared that incident by 1625 hours. At 1804 hours, Engine 44-5, Engine 21-1 and an Engine from the West Grove Fire Company were alerted to cover and assist the Cochranville Fire Company on a gas leak outside a residence on the 100 block of Hemlock Drive in Londonderrry Township. Deputy Chief Drennen assumed “Country Walk Command.” At 1815 hours, the leak was believed to be secure and all units returned available by 1831 hours. Meanwhile back at the hay bale fire, the situation was placed under control at 1654 hours. A backhoe and tractor were being used to spread out the hay; however there was not a large enough area available to have the fire fully extinguished. All units returned available by 2023 hours. Units: Engine 27-1, Engine 27-2, Engine 27-5, and QRS 27 Mutual Aid: Tanker 5-2-1, Tanker 5-2-2, Engine 26-1, Tanker 5-1-1, Tanker 5-1-2, Ambulance 21-1, Ladder 21, Engine 26-3, Tanker 26, Engine 21-1, Engine 28, Tanker 23, Tanker 22, Engine 12, and Engine 22-3 Monday morning at 0519 hours, the Cochranville Fire Company was alerted to respond again to the 40 block of Walton Drive for a second attempt to put out the hay bale fire. Engine 27-5 responded with six at 0527, followed by QRS 27 shortly after. Engine 27-5 arrived on scene with a 20 by 30 area on fire. Chief Lapp requested two additional tankers to the scene. This alerted Atglen Tanker 26 and Lancaster County Christiana Tanker 5-2-1. Both additional tankers supplied Engine 27-5 with water while crews attempted to extinguish the fire again. At 0745 hours crews cleared the scene with no fire or smoke showing. The farmers worked at spreading out the hay as much as possible the rest of that day. Units: Engine 27-5 and QRS 27 Mutual Aid: Tanker 26 and Tanker 5-2-1