On January 6, 2007, the Derrick City Pennsylvania Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a reported residential structure fire at 5:30 A.M. Automatic mutual aid dispatched on the box alarm included the Bradford City Fire Department, Rew Volunteer Fire Department and the Limestone, New York Volunteer Fire Department. The address was familiar to the firefighters, as the fire was at the same location as a fire that had occurred at 2:45 P.M. the previous day.
Bradford City Engine 1 with a two man crew was first in and laid 800 feet of five inch supply line from a hydrant. Engineer Mike Valine reported a fully involved structure fire and placed the engine’s deck gun into operation with booster tank water while the hydrant water supply was being established. Derrick City volunteers responded with two engines and a rescue truck.
Limestone responded with one engine and an ambulance. Rew was placed on stand-by at the Derrick City station. As volunteer firefighters arrived on scene, a three inch blitz attack line and two, one and three quarter inch attack lines were placed into operation to bring the fire under control. Extensive overhaul operations were necessary due to the collapse of a portion of the roof. Twenty firefighters were on the scene for over four hours. There were no injuries.
Firefighters were on the scene of the first fire for three hours that caused heavy damage to the house. The cause of the first fire was determined to be accidental – electrical in nature by a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal. Derrick City Fire Chief James Kelly said the 40-year old house was constructed with many additions and that a hot spot rekindled, igniting the second fire that completely destroyed the house.
