Rescue 44 Assists Rose Tree Fire Company

Springfield Fire Company was dispatched on Tuesday, September 28th at approximately 03:00 hours to assist the Rose Tree Fire Company at the scene of a working fire at 1015 Providence Road in Upper Providence Township.   Springfield Fire Company responded with Rescue 44 to provide a Rapid Intervention Team (R.I.T.) at the scene of the fire.  The purpose of a Rapid Intervention Team is to provide a rescue team that is ready to act in the event firefighters become trapped or injured while operating at the scene of a fire.

The fire involved a two story structure that housed the former Perry's Hair Salon.  Upon arrival of the first responding units, heavy fire was showing from the basement area of the structure and was quickly spreading to the upper floors.  Firefighters from Rose Tree and Media Fire Companies started an interior attack but had to withdraw from the building when it was discovered that a large portion of the first floor had collapsed into the basement.

The fire went to two alarms as firefighters worked to gain the upper hand on the fire by fighting the flames from outside the structure.   When conditions improved, firefighters entered the building and worked to extinguish hot spots and check for any hidden fire.  Springfield firefighters assisted in this operation and used their Thermal Imaging Camera to aid in checking for hot spots.  Rose Tree and Media Fire Companies also used their Thermal Imaging Cameras, one of which probably saved some firefighters lives as it was used in the early stages of the fire to discover that the first floor had collapsed into the basement.    The fire was declared under control around 5:30 hours and Rose Tree Fire Company remained on the scene for several hours.

Companies working at the scene were: Rose Tree, Media, Bon Air, Middletown and Springfield.  Ambulances from Media, Riddle Memorial Hospital and Lima Fire Company were also on scene.  The fire is labeled suspicious and is under investigation by the Upper Providence Police Department and Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division.