Springfield Fire Company

In the early morning hours of Christmas Eve, December 24th, at 0626 hours, Firefighters from Springfield, Swarthmore (Company 14), Morton-Rutledge (Company13) and Broomall RIT (Company 53) were awaken for the Structure Fire at Countryside Deli, 514 Yale Avenue in Swarthmore Boro.  County 911 call takers had received a call from the business reporting a fire in the kitchen area.

Upon arrival of Swarthmore Police and Chief 14-9, smoke and fire was showing from the large 3 story business.  The occupants of the apartment above the business had escaped prior to Firefighters arriving.  Chief 14-9 established Command and had Firefighters attempt to cut off the spread of fire from the kitchen area.  With the fire quickly gaining control of the entire bakery area of the deli and spreading into the 3 story structure, Firefighters were ordered to go into Defensive Operations.  Tower 14 and Tower 44 took positions on the Kenyon Avenue side ( Side "D") of the buidling and set up master stream operations.

Firefighters operated numerous hand lines and master streams trying to gain control of the fast moving fire.  With the bakery area totally consumed by fire, Firefighters worked to keep the 3 story structure from being totally consumed as well.  Firefighters started to gain control of the fire within the first hour and worked thru the entire morning dousing hot spots and performing salvage and overhaul operations.

EMS personnel from Ambulance 14-7, Ambulance 44-7, Medic 23-7 and Medic 102 assisted on the fireground with Firefighter Rehab with assistance from Canteen 47 (Feltonville) and treated one injured Firefighter from Springfield.  The one injured Firefighter was released from the hospital later in the day.

The fire is under investigation by Swarthmore Boro Fire Marshal's Office.

Engine 58 (Bon Air), Rescue 56 (Manoa) and Tower 5 (Glenolden) provided stand by coverage at Station 44 during the incident.