At 7:31 PM, KVFD with multiple units from surrounding fire companies, was dispatched to a working barn fire at 4311 Strasburg Road, West Sadsbury Township, Chester County. Multiple callers to Chester County 9-1-1 reported seeing a barn on fire with heavy smoke, some from miles away.

West Sadsbury police reported that upon arrival that the barn was fully involved. Upon arrival firefighters confirmed this report, and found an exposure threatened. Crews went into service with a defensive operation and focused on protecting exposures and fire suppression. Chief Gathercole assumed "Strasburg Road Command" with Deputy Chief Cazillo and Ass't Chief Klingler assisting in the incident management.

Initial reports were that no animals were involved. Due to the volume of fire and the lack of hydrants, a tanker task force was requested as well as a fire police task force to shut down surrounding roads and divert traffic.

Firefighters from throughout Chester and Lancaster counties responded with a tanker from Cecil County, MD Station 8 standing by at Cochranville Fire Co. Crews from East Brandywine Fire Company and Wagontown Fire Co. staffed the KVFD Central station. (Those crews actually responded to and covered an automatic fire alarm at the Walmart Store at 10:27 PM.)

An initial water supply was established using a pond located at Moscow Road and Lineville Road, and it was later moved to a hydrant located on Commons Drive in West Sadsbury. The high volume of water being used to supply the tankers caused a water flow alarm activation as reported above at the Walmart Store.

Chief Gathercole reported that the fire was under control about an hour later with all crews being used to do overhaul, and continuing to extinguish hot spots. Personnel and equipment from Weaver's Mulch in East Fallowfield responded to assist in knocking down the structure and moving the debris.

Chester County Fire Marshals are investigating. Command reported that approximately 75,000 gallons of water was used in the suppression operation.

All crews cleared the scene and returned to the station to clean-up and return apparatus to operational levels by 12:30 AM.

Chief Gathercole said, "We want to thank all the responders who spent their Thursday evening at this call, and especially the mutual aid companies from the area. Teamwork and those resources helped us to get the fire under control fast and minimize any loss of exposures especially the family's house. Crews working onscene worked hand in hand to mitigate the situation. The incident included a two alarm response for tankers and fire police, and all crews demonstrated teamwork to complete the task."

Thanks goes out to Wawa Market, Manager-Adryn Bates, for assisting with refreshments and a local resident who purchased coffee and donuts from Dunkin Donuts. Great community support was demonstrated also from residents and local businesses. Please pray for and support the family as they recover from this loss.

Additional photos are at Third Alarm Photography on the web and Facebook.