Sunday evening March 9th, shortly after shift change at the Franklin County 911 center, a 911 call was answered reporting a house fire located in the unit block of Chickentown Lane, Greene Twp., Fayetteville,Pa.
At 2309 hrs the dwelling assignment box 7-5 was sounded sending Co 7 Fayetteville Eng. 7-1, Eng.7-2, Squad 7 and Deputy Chief 7 being first due on the street. Also responding were Co 5 Mont Alto ET5 and Engine 5-1, Co 17 New Franklin Truck 17, Eng 17-1, Eng.17-2, Sta. 4 Franklin Fire Squad 41.
Prior to arrival of the very close Co 7 units, a firefighter from Co 7 arrived on the scene to find heavy fire from both the 1st and 2nd floors of the two story dwelling, this information was passed onto Deputy Chief 7 prior to his arrival.
Co 7 units arrived and confirmed the "working fire". Preconnected hand lines were pulled from Eng. 7-2, while Eng. 7-1 supplied its twin engine. Co 5 arrived laying 5" supply line from the hydrant. Truck 17 arrived and took side one of the structure to prepare for ladder pipe operations.
The firefighters did what they could with the handlines, but a partial collapse had taken place. It was decided to switch to a defensive attack. Command 7 had made that radio announcement, sounding of air horns on the scene and Franklin County dispatch alerted the evacuation tone on the fire channel. Heavy fire was coming out from the roof area around windows and doors. Air 10 Franklin County cascade unit was dispatched to the scene per protocol. Ambulance 7-8 was also on the scene. Eng. 45 transferred to Co 7's house. The family was left homeless and the Red Cross was notified for placement. The fire marshal was requested to assist in determining the cause of the fire.
The house was a total loss and no cost estimate was available. Units remained on the scene to about 0200 hrs. Local fire police rerouted traffic away from the fire scene.
