Shortly after 0900 hours this morning, Station 23 (Bryn Mawr), Station 25 (Ardmore), Engine 24 (Gladwyne), Ladder 26 (Narberth) and Engine 21 were dispatched to a building fire at the Qudoba Restaurant on Lancaster Ave in Bryn Mawr. Engine 24 responded during the dispatch with 6 firefighters. Chief 23 arrived on scene immediately after dispatch and reported a fire in the 1st floor with smoke from the roof. The Lower Merion Working Fire Dispatch was transmitted (bringing RIT, Air 24 and an Engine with manpower from each of the remaining LMFD stations not already on the call).
Upon arrival of Engine 24 the crew was assigned the roof. The Engine crew made their way up Ladder 23's main aerial ladder to the roof and found heavy smoke coming out of several ventilation ducts and HVAC units on the roof. The restaurants ventilation system was actively on fire.
The crew stretched a hand line up the main ladder and started attacking the fire coming from the ventilation system.
Once the visible fire was extinguished on the roof, the unit itself was removed and the roofing material around the duct that comes up out of the lower floors.
Gladwyne Firefighters remained on scene for approximately 90 minutes helping to extinguish the fire and help restore all of the equipment and apparatus.
Great job by all of the crews operating at this fire to limit the damage caused by the fire. |