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Four Alarm Fire Strikes Shopping Center in Marple Township

Springfield Fire Company was dispatched early Monday morning, July 10th, at 02:00 hours to assist Broomall Fire Company (Company 53) on West Chester Pike at New Ardmore Avenue for a commercial building fire.  Upon arrival of Medic 53, fire was showing from the first floor of the two story commercial strip shopping center (2200 West Chester Pike,  Goodhill Center).  Firefighters from Company 53 went into service with numerous hose lines and connected to a hydrant directly across West Chester Pike at New Ardmore Avenue.

Firefighters from Engine 44-4 set-up as the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) and staffed two RIT crews on the fire ground, one in the front on West Chester Pike and one in the rear parking lot of the Shopping Center.  Tower 44 and Rescue 44 also responded and assisted with manpower for the RIT crews and also placed Tower 44 into service on the  New Ardmore Avenue side of the building.

Chief 53-9 established Command and had additional alarms dispatched to assist as the fire took hold of the entire second floor of the Shopping Center.  Due to deteriorating conditions within the building, firefighters were pulled out of the building and a defensive operation was established.  During the height of the blaze, four truck companies were operating master streams on the fire, in addition to numerous hand lines and Tele-Squrt 53

The went to four alarms before firefighters were able to gain control of the fire.  The fire destroyed four of the first floor businesses and the entire second floor, while the remaining businesses on the first floor and basement areas sustained smoke and water damage.  Firefighters remained on the scene throughout the day dousing hot spots within the building.  Ambulance crews set-up rehab areas and treated two firefighters for injuries.

Companies operating on the scene were:  Company 53, Company 44, Company 35 (Brookline), Company 56 (Manoa), Company 58 (Bon Air), Company 41 (Newtown Square), Company 15 (Radnor), North Penn of Souderton (Montgomery County) Canteen, Marple EMS, Ambulance 44-7, Ambulance 56-7, Ambulance 23-7 (Media) Marple Township Police and Fire Police.

Clifton Heights Fire Company (Company 03) and Rose Tree Fire Company (Company 73) provided stand-by coverage at Station 44 during the fire.

The fire is under investigation by Marple Township Police and Delaware County CID.