Station 44 Video

Member's E-mail

Underground Electrical Fire Forces Evacuation of Shopping Center

Springfield Fire Company was dispatched on alarm #04-482 on Wednesday, July 14th, at 09:18 hours to 1001 Baltimore Pike, Kinko's Copy Center, for an Investigation.  Upon arrival of Chief 44-9 and Engine 44-1, the employees of Kinko's were smelling an odor inside the store and could not locate the source.  Firefighters from Engine 44-1 investigated and located an underground electrical fire outside the store in a rear loading dock area.

Chief 44-9 had the call upgraded to a Structure Fire which dispatched full Company 44, Company 14 (Swarthmore) and Company 23 (Media).  Firefighters evacuated half of the Springfield Square South Shopping Center (1001 Baltimore Pike).  Firefighters from Engine 44-1 stood-by with an 1 3/4" hoseline and extingiushers until PECO Energy arrived and shutdown the power to the effected area.  Firefighters from Company 44, Company 14 and Company 23 evacuated the effected stores in the shopping center and monitored the areas for fire, smoke and gas levels.

PECO Energy personnel shut-off power to the effected area and found levels of gas and carbon monoxide in the area of the electrical fire.  Employees and shoppers were allowed back into the stores once PECO Energy determined everything to safe.

Firefighters remained on the scene until 11:00 hours.

Units operating on the scene were:  Engine 44-1, Engine 44-2, Tower 44, Tower 14, Snorkel 23, Ambulance 44-7, Ambulance 14-7, Medic 106, Springfield Police and Fire Police and Springfield Township's Fire Marshal (Car 1)