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Basement Fire Damages Home on Harvard Avenue

Springfield Fire Company was dispatched along with Swarthmore Fire Company (Company 14) to 1001 Harvard Avenue on Monday, April 2nd at 06:38 hours for a Structure Fire.  The house is located in the small section of Springfield Township that is located in the area of South Chester Road and Fairview Avenue.  Upon arrival of first-in units from Swarthmore Fire Company, heavy smoke and fire was showing from the residence.  All occupants were out upon the arrival of fire personnel.   Chief 14-9 assumed Command of the Incident and crews from Engine 14-1 and Ladder 14 provided initial attack on the fire in the basement of the residence and provided ventilation to the first floor of the home.  Firefighters from Engine 44-1, Engine 14-3, Tower 44 and Engine 44-2 worked to extinguish the fire on the first floor and opened walls and ceilings to check for fire extension and assisted with operations in the basement.

The fire was under control with 30 minutes and extensive overhaul operations were performed by the personnel on the scene.  Firefighters did an excellent job in controlling the fire in the basement under high heat and zero visiblity conditions.  Few windows in the basement of the structure made for a difficult job in ventilating the basement early on in the fire.

Fire damage to the residence was moderate and crews remained on the scene for two hours performing salvage and overhaul operations.

Springfield Township's Fire Marshal investigated the fire and determined the cause to be an electrical cord used on a space heater in the basement.

Firefighters cleared the scene at 09:30 hours.

Units operating at the scene were: Engine 14-1, Ladder 14, Engine 14-3. Engine 44-1, Tower 44, Engine 44-2, Rescue 44, Ambulance 44-7A, Ambulance 14-7, Medic 106, Springfield Police and Fire Police, Swarthmore Police and Springfield Township's Fire Marshal.