
***First Due 2nd Alarm Structure Fire*** Box 53-09, Orefield Road
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Harrison Jones‘ report of the incident:
At 1:19 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, York County dispatch struck box 53-09 for a report of a house on fire on the 6500 block of Orefield Road in Heidelberg Township. While en route, Chief 53 was advised the call was coming from the homeowner, who was reporting the back of the house was on fire. With the additional information, Chief 53 transmitted the working fire dispatch. While en route, multiple units reported a heavy black column from several miles out. Engine 53-2 arrived first on scene to find heavy fire showing from the attached garage of a two-story single-family home in a non-hydranted area, and struck the tanker task force. A smoothbore crosslay was pulled by the crew of 53-2, who immediately rushed the line to the laundry room area dividing the garage and the home, attempting to block the fire from advancing into the house. Chief 53 opened up the deck gun from Engine 53-2, assisting the handline in blocking the advance of the fire. Crews discovered three medium-sized, roughly 100 gallon propane tanks that were actively venting fire to the rear of the structure, and a handline was used to cool the tanks down. Engine 53-2 pulled the engine’s blitzfire and began attempting to knock back the flames from the propane tanks. Additional units arrived, assisting company 53 with fire attack and checking for extension. A tanker fill site was set up at the Hoff Road Boat Launch of Lake Marburg. The second alarm assignment was requested by command due to the hot, humid conditions firefighters were operating in, along with the extensive overhaul operations. After a thorough search of the structure, minimal extension into the home was discovered, thanks in part to the closed door to the garage, which held back the flames. No injuries were reported in the fire. Six people have been displaced by the fire, according to officials, including two adults and four children. Assisting Porters Volunteer Fire Company on the scene included Hanover Area Fire & Rescue, Friendship Hose Company of Spring Grove, Spring Grove Ambulance, Nashville Volunteer Fire Department, Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company, North Codorus Township Fire Department, Glen Rock Hose & Ladder Company, Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Dover Borough Fire Company, Dover Township Volunteer Fire Department, Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department, Loganville Fire Company, Seven Valleys Fire Company, York New Salem Fire Company, Northeast Adams Fire & EMS, Southeastern Adams County Volunteer Emergency Services, Alpha Fire Company of Littlestown, Irishtown Volunteer Fire Company, and United Hook & Ladder.
- Laundry Room, looking out from residence
- Door to laundry room
- fire attack
- fire attack
- fire attack
- propane cylinders venting
- fire attack
- fire attack
- Engine 53-2 first due