Around 3:00 PM on Saturday, April 30th, Engine 27 was returning from an incident in Hilltown Township when a large column of smoke could be seen from our station. Simultaneously, Station 58 was being dispatched for a reported dwelling fire on Rich Hill Road in West Rockhill Township. Engine 27 was quick to respond, and arrived just behind Engine 58 and Ladder 18. It was determined early on that this fire was a large quantity of pallets and other stacks of wood.

Engine 27 was tasked with supplying the 5” line that Engine 58 laid down the driveway. The crew split to begin setting up tanker shuttle operations and assist with fire suppression. For several hours, all crews on scene battled a stubborn fire that was being fed by steady winds from the north. The fire consumed a large area of pallets and other wood, and several buildings and structures. Eventually, an air drop was called for, and water from a nearby pond was used to douse the fire in the wooded area.

All crews, including three tanker task forces from Bucks, Montgomery, and Lehigh Counties, operated for several hours before being released by command.