Gladwyne Firefighters Respond on Fatal High Rise Building Fire
By Deputy Chief Blaine Leis
July 20, 2009
At 1419 hrs Station 28 (Bala-Cynwyd) and Station 22 (Belmont Hills) were dispatched for a building fire at 191 Condominiums at 191 Presidential Blvd. Immediate notes were that 911 was on the phone with the occupant of the apartment that was on fire and she was reporting that her whole apartment was on fire and full of smoke. The working fire dispatch was immediately struck bringing Station 26 (Narberth) and Statin 24 (Gladwyne) with Engine 24 as the FAST Team and Air 24. Engine 24 was staffed with 6 firefighters and responded as the dispatch was going out. Upon arrival of Engine 24, command ordered the FAST Team to set up on the 9th floor of the 10 story apartment building as there was heavy smoke and fire conditions on the 10th floor. As the FAST team was setting up, the first in fire crews from Station 28 and 22 made the fire rooms and were performing a rescue of the trapped occupant. They called for assistance and more manpower to assist in removing the trapped occupant and to assist them due to the crews running low on SCBA air. Gladwyne Firefighters along with Narberth Firefighters immediately went into service assisting the first in crews with rescue and started immediately searching for any other trapped occupants on the heavily smoke filled 10th and 9th floors. During this labor intensive fire all of the 7 Lower Merion Fire Companies had responded to the call along with multiple other Delaware County Units as well. Narberth Ambulance also responded and along with attending to the injured residence of the building also took excellent care of the firefighters with the Rehab Unit.
Unfortunately, the trapped occupant did pass away later that evening at the hospital due to her extensive injuries.
