A fire in a townhouse nearly claimed the lives of two volunteer firefighters. Parkside Fire Company firefighters Chase Frost, 21, and Daniel Brees, 20, were trapped inside the burning structure when the second floor collapsed on them.
The Parkside Fire Company was dispatched to a reported fire at 2:07 A.M. Also dispatched on the first alarm were the Upland, Green Ridge, Garden City and Holmes fire companies. Upon arrival of the Parkside Fire Company, heavy fire conditions were found in the two-story townhouse. Interior attack and search-and-rescue operations were initiated and progress was being made in knocking down the fire when the second floor suddenly collapsed, trapping Frost and Brees.
Brees was rescued within a few minutes by Parkside and Green Ridge firefighters, but it took nearly 15 minutes to rescue Frost, who was buried under building materials, furniture and contents. Rescue crews were able to locate Frost from the alarm on his PASS device. Parkside, Green Ridge and Garden City firefighters freed Frost from the debris and removed him from the building. Both firefighters were transported to Crozer Chester Medical Center's burn unit in critical condition. Frost suffered burns on 50% of his body. Brees suffered burns on 5% of his body and respiratory injuries. Three other firefighters and a police officer suffered minor injuries and were treated and released from the hospital.
A second alarm was sounded after the collapse, bringing apparatus and manpower from the Lower Chichester, South Media, Newton Square, Prospect Park, Reliance; Lima, Middletown, Swarthmore, Chester Heights, Chester City and Chester Township fire companies to the scene. Emergency medical services were provided at the scene by the Parkside, Aston Beechwood and Media fire companies along with paramedics from Crozer Chester Medical Center. Over 100 firefighters battled the fire for two hours. One townhouse unit was destroyed and three others sustained smoke and water damage. At presstime, the cause of the fire was under investigation by Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Trooper Timothy Green and the Parkside Borough fire marshal.
