Firefighters battle overnight blaze in city

The two residents home at the time of the fire suffered from smoke inhalation

Two Coatesville residents escaped their burning home and were treated for smoke inhalation.

Two homeowners, who firefighters say were lucky to escape their burning home overnight, were treated for smoke inhalation.

Coatesville firefighters and surrounding fire companies were dispatched Monday at 2:06 a.m. for a single-story house fire reported with smoke in the dwelling.

Upon Coatesville police arrival, they reported heavy smoke showing from the home in the 700 block of Coates Street and that all the occupants had vacated. Coatesville Battalion Chief Craig Patton said just prior to the Coatesville Fire Department’s arrival, police then reported heavy fire showing. Patton said upon their arrival, they saw heavy fire showing from the whole house.

“The fire department got there pretty quick and got a good knock on it,” Patton said. “It was a quick knock within minutes of arriving.”

The fire was placed under control in 30 minutes, Patton said.

Two residents were home at the time of the fire, according to Patton. He said they called 911 from inside their home to report the fire and the dispatcher told them to exit. Patton said he was glad that the residents had left their home and that they were “lucky to make it out.”

“The fire started going through the whole house when we arrived,” Patton said.

The residents, mother and daughter, were both transported to Brandywine Hospital for smoke inhalation. Firefighters said that there was substantial smoke in the home when the residents reported the fire. No other injuries were reported.

“There was a heavy concentration of smoke in the beginning and then heavy fire,” Patton said.

The first floor sustained heavy smoke and heat damage.

“Everything melted that was above your waist level,” Patton said, including smoke alarms and window drapes, “In every room.”

Patton and the police said the fire began in the living room as a heater fire. There was a portable heater and kerosene heater in the living room, according to Patton. The Chester County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.

Patton said the three Coatesville career firefighters on-duty had a quick response from the fire station.

“Had it not been for the quick response of fire company,” Patton said, “then they would have lost the whole house.”

Coatesville firefighters re-

mained on scene until about 4:15 a.m. They cleaned their equipment and were back in service by 5 a.m.

Crews from Thorndale, Modena and Cochranville fire companies and the Coatesville VA Hospital Fire Department assisted

the Coatesville Fire Department, in addition to Brandywine Medic 93 and Coatesville Washington Hose Company Ambulance.

PHOTOS BY MARK J WALSH/IRISHEYEZ PHOTOGRAPHY Coatesville firefighters said there was heavy fire showing upon their arrival to a home in the 700 block of Coates Street in Coatesville.

PHOTOS BY MARK J WALSH/IRISHEYEZ PHOTOGRAPHY A Coatesville firefighter is operating on the roof of the home in the 700 block of Coates Street in Coatesville.

Firefighters were dispatched to a house fire overnight into Monday morning in the 700 block of Coates Street in Coatesville for a report of a heater on fire. A Modena firefighter assists at the scene.