On January 3, 2008 at 0351 hours, Station 16,
Engine and Rescue 14, Engine and Ladder 17, and Stations 2 & 21 for the RIT
were alerted for a house fire at 145
Olga Rd. Vilone Village. Engine 14-5 under the
command of Chief Lamborn with a crew of 4, responded
to the alarm in under a minute. While responding, Elsmere Engine Captain Facciolo went on scene and reported heavy fire showing.
Elsmere's Fire Chief D. Godek 16-8 went on scene and
found a 2 story single family residence heavily involved with fire which had
also extended to the attached garage He then requested for Wilmington Fire
Department Engine 6 and Tower 2 to respond due to several area fire companies
including Rescue 14 were still committed to the alarm in Five Points District
on Homestead Road. While Engine 14-5 established a water supply and laid 800 feet of 4 inch supply line. Rescue 16 went on scene
first with Engine 14-5 behind them. Crews from Rescue 16 were told to attack
the exterior of Exposure D. The crew from 14-5 then stretched a 1 3/4 line to
the Front door of Exposure A. Crews then advanced the line inside the structure
for an interior attack and encountered heavy fire conditions. At that time 16-8
had all crews evacuate the structure and declared the fire to be an exterior
attack. When the crew from 21-6 arrived, they were reassigned from the RIT Team
to help with exterior suppression of the fire. Engine 11-5 ( Cover up for
Station 17) then were assigned to Rescue 16 crew to help extinguish fire from
exposure D. Rescue 14 with a crew of 5 made response from Homestead Road. Upon
arrival Rescue 14 became the RIT Team. Ladder 16 was then placed in service
with its master stream and knocked down a good amount of the fire. Crews then
were able to re-enter the structure and extinguish any remaining fire on the
first and second story. 14-5 Crew entered to the second floor and extinguished
most of the attic. The crew then from 21-6 and Rescue 23 preformed overhauling
duties. The fire was placed under control, fortunately no one was injured. 145 Olga Road was
destroyed and the residence at 143
Olga Road sustained heavy exterior damage to its B
side as well as damage to the detached garage. The wind and temperatures in the
mid-teens created very hazardous icy and challenging conditions for personnel
operating at the scene. Engine and Rescue 14 were back in quarters by 07:00.
B-14 also responded with and stood by the fire scene.
Stations Responding 16, 11, 14, 2 & 21, 22,
23, 25, Medic 7 and WFD Engine 6 and Tower 2
