Each of the past three mornings, LCFC has been dispatched to the 400 block of Pottstown Pike for a mulch fire. Each morning, crews have arrived on-scene to find a large mulch pile on fire at a local business. Mulch fires can be particularly difficult to fully extinguish as they often times have to be pulled apart in order to extinguish the fire. This mulch fire has proved to be one that has been difficult to fully extinguish.

On Thursday morning, Engine 73-1 made the response to the initial call. On Friday morning, crews were back out at the same location and this time, Engine 73-1, Tanker 73, and Brush 73 all made the response. Additionally, Engine 47-5 (Lionville Fire Company) was requested to respond as well. It is estimated that crews flowed approximately 12,000 - 13,000 gallons of water on Friday in an effort to extinguish the fire. Unfortunately, the mulch fire was deep-seated and caught fire again early Saturday morning. This time, the crew on Engine 73-1 laid approximately 500 feet of 5” supply line in order to have a constant supply of water from a local hydrant. Fire police from LCFC and Lionville Fire Company were requested shortly thereafter to assist with traffic control since the supply line was placed across Fellowship Road. Traffic 73 made the response and assisted with traffic control for the entire span of the incident. Crews from Engine 73-1 and Engine 73-2 remained on-scene flowing water from the deck gun and multiple handlines while an excavator from Trego Excavating worked to dig apart the mulch fire. We would like to thank Trego Excavating for volunteering their time today to assist with this incident as their help was invaluable. After nearly 5 hours of flowing water, the incident was finally cleared and crews returned to the station.

A special thanks goes out to the members from the Glen Moore Fire Company for standing by at our station while our members operated at the mulch fire. Additionally, these members from Glen Moore then responded to the scene to assist with clean up at the scene and then back at the station in an effort to get our engines back in-service. We cannot thank Glen Moore enough for their help.
Ariel photos of the scene courtesy of : Tom Urban