East Brandywine Fire Company

09/11/2026

🇺🇸 September 11th — We Will Never Forget

Today, we pause to remember the 2,977 lives lost during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and to honor the countless heroes who answered the call on one of our nation’s darkest days.

Among those lost were 343 members of the FDNY, along with law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, military members, and civilians. Thousands more would suffer lasting health effects from their work at Ground Zero and the other attack sites in the years that followed.

For those of us in the fire service, September 11th carries a special meaning. We remember the firefighters who entered the World Trade Center and climbed the stairs while thousands of others were trying to escape. They knew the danger, yet continued upward because there were people who needed their help.

25 years later, we still remember.

Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to serving others will never be forgotten.

Today, the members of the East Brandywine Fire Company join fire departments and communities across our nation in remembering all those who lost their lives, those who responded, and the families whose lives were forever changed on September 11, 2001.

May we never forget their names, their courage, or their sacrifice.

🇺🇸 We remember. We honor. We will never forget.

9•11•2001 — 9•11•2026
25 Years Later — Never Forget.

09/08/2026

Rescue 49, Engine 49-1, Utility 49-1 and Chief 49 are currently on scene with an auto accident at Routes 322 and 82 in West Brandywine. Crews are assisting with debris cleanup and traffic control while EMS is evaluating one patient. Please use caution in the area

Crews are clear of the scene as of 5:20pm

09/07/2026

🚒 **WATER SUPPLY DRILL – PART 2** 💧

This past Wednesday night, the East Brandywine Fire Company, along with mutual aid partners from Wagontown, Glen Moore, Honey Brook, Lionville, Ludwigs Corner, West Bradford, and Modena Fire Companies, traveled to the North Brandywine School parking lot for Part 2 of our Water Supply Drill.

Every department participating in this training protects at least some areas where fire hydrants are not available. When a large-scale fire occurs in one of these areas, tankers and water shuttle operations become critical to supplying firefighters with the large amount of water needed to extinguish the fire.

Recently, East Brandywine Fire Company has begun utilizing what is commonly referred to as a “clapper valve” as part of our water supply operations.

The clapper valve allows two pieces of apparatus to connect to a single supply line at the same time. The first apparatus pumps the water from its tank toward the fire scene. As its tank becomes empty, the second apparatus can immediately begin supplying water, allowing for a nearly seamless transition with little to no interruption in water flow.

The empty apparatus then disconnects and travels to a designated fill site to refill its tank. Another tanker moves into position and prepares to take over once the tanker currently supplying water is empty. This rotation continues for as long as water is needed at the fire scene.

Depending on the incident, crews may continue using the clapper valve throughout the operation or transition to a portable water tank (porta tank) operation if additional water supply capabilities are needed.

🔥 PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

The focus of Wednesday night's training was to simulate a working fire where Engine 49-1 and Ladder 49 were operating at the fire scene and required a significant, continuous water supply.

Participating tankers rotated through the water shuttle, supplying Engine 49-1 and Ladder 49 through the clapper valve before leaving to refill and returning to the operation.

While the concept may sound simple, successfully establishing and maintaining this type of water supply operation requires considerable coordination.

📻 Communication is key.

Constant communication between the Water Supply Officer, apparatus operators, tanker drivers, and other personnel is necessary to make sure everyone knows which apparatus is supplying water, which one is preparing to take over, and which units are traveling to or returning from the fill site.

Most tankers participating in these types of operations carry approximately 2,500 gallons of water or more. A large, fully involved house, barn, or similar structure can potentially require tens of thousands of gallons of water over the course of an incident.

That makes it imperative that enough tankers are requested early and that firefighters throughout our mutual aid network are familiar with establishing and operating these water supply systems.

Training together before an emergency allows departments to become familiar with each other's equipment, procedures, and personnel so that when we're called upon to work together at a real incident, everyone understands their role.

A huge thank you to the members of Wagontown, Glen Moore, Honey Brook, Lionville, Ludwigs Corner, West Bradford, and Modena Fire Companies for taking the time to join us for this training.

We greatly appreciate our mutual aid partners and hope everyone was able to take something valuable away from the evening.

Train together. Work together. Protect our communities together. 🚒💧

09/07/2026

09/02/2026

If you are driving past North Brandywine and Reeceville School this evening please don’t be alarmed we are only doing a drill with several of our mutual aid departments. There is no emergency

08/30/2026

AUTO ACCIDENT WITH ENTRAPMENT – WEST BRANDYWINE TOWNSHIP

This afternoon at approximately 1:45 PM, the East Brandywine Fire Company, along with EMS from Westwood, was dispatched to the 500 block of Reeceville Road in West Brandywine Township for an auto accident with entrapment.

Chief 6 from West Whiteland Fire Company arrived on scene and confirmed one occupant entrapped in a vehicle that had overturned and come to rest on its roof in a driveway.

Battalion 49 arrived shortly after, along with several EBFC firefighters, who immediately began evaluating the vehicle and coordinating with EMS to determine the best method of removing the driver.

Rescue 49 and Engine 49-1 also made the response. Due to the nature of the occupant’s injuries, crews determined that a rapid extrication was necessary. Firefighters quickly went to work and successfully removed the driver, with extrication completed at approximately 1:55 PM — just four minutes after the arrival of Battalion 49.

The occupant was then transported to the hospital by EMS for further evaluation and treatment.

Following the extrication, Rescue 49 and Engine 49-1 were made available and returned to the station. Chief 49, Assistant 49, and Utility 49-1 remained on scene to provide traffic control while Fling’s Towing worked to upright and remove the vehicle. Once the vehicle was cleared, Reeceville Road was reopened.

As the remaining EBFC crews were clearing the accident scene, the company was dispatched to a second emergency for a reported carbon monoxide alarm.

Engine 49-2, Engine 49-1, and Ladder 49 immediately responded to that incident. Upon arrival, crews determined that the property owner was testing the alarm system and there was no emergency. The assignment was subsequently recalled.

Great work by all personnel involved in both responses.

08/27/2026

WATER SUPPLY TRAINING – PART 1 🚒💧

For tonight’s training, members reviewed water supply operations, specifically the use of what is commonly called a clapper valve, or Siamese valve.

This piece of equipment is especially useful during incidents in areas without fire hydrants, where tankers are needed to shuttle large quantities of water to the scene.

The valve allows two pieces of apparatus—preferably tankers carrying large quantities of water—to connect to the water supply at the same time. Because the two trucks may be pumping at different rates, the truck pumping at the higher rate will supply the water first. Once that truck is empty, the valve automatically allows the second truck to take over, maintaining a consistent flow of water to crews operating on the fireground.

This setup allows the empty tanker to disconnect and head back to the fill site while another full tanker moves into its place, helping keep the water supply operation moving with as little interruption as possible.

Tonight, crews utilized Engine 49-1, Engine 49-2 and Engine 49-5 to practice setting up the valve, connecting the associated pony sections and rotating apparatus through the operation while flowing water.

This was Part 1 of our water supply training.

Next week, we take it to a much larger scale. East Brandywine Fire Company will be joined by several neighboring departments for a full-scale water supply operation involving multiple tankers, engines and aerial apparatus. The training will give crews an opportunity to practice the coordination and teamwork required to establish and maintain a large-scale water supply in an area without hydrants.

Stay tuned for Water Supply Training – Part 2! 🚒💦

08/24/2026

Two-Vehicle Crash on Horseshoe Pike

Last evening at approximately 8:16 PM, the East Brandywine Fire Company, along with MICU 46-4 from Downingtown, was dispatched to the area of 999 Horseshoe Pike, in front of East Brandywine Baptist Church, for an auto accident.

Initial reports indicated a two-vehicle crash blocking the roadway with multiple injuries, including reports that children were involved.

Rescue 49, Engine 49-1, Ladder 49, Chief 49, and Utility 49-1 all made the response for EBFC.

Crews arrived to find a two-vehicle head-on collision, with one vehicle in the middle of the roadway and the second vehicle off the roadway in the grass. All occupants were out of the vehicles upon the arrival of emergency crews.

EBFC personnel secured both vehicles and began controlling hazards and clearing debris from the roadway while EMS crews evaluated and treated the patients. Due to the number of patients, two additional EMS units were requested, bringing MICU 244-1 from Westwood EMS and MICU 555-1 from Good Fellowship to the scene.

In total, three patients were transported to area hospitals for further evaluation and treatment.

EBFC crews remained on scene for approximately 30 minutes, clearing the roadway and providing traffic control while Fling’s Towing removed both vehicles.

Horseshoe Pike was fully reopened by approximately 9:15 PM.

We would like to thank our mutual aid EMS partners and Fling’s Towing for their assistance on scene.

08/24/2026

322 is closed between Corner Ketch and Brantwyn due to an auto accident. Rescue 49, Engine 49-1, Ladder 49, Utility 49-1 and Chief 49 are all on scene

9:15pm - All crews are clearing now and road will be reopen

08/22/2026

Today, members of East Brandywine Fire Company traveled to Christiana Fire Company in Lancaster County, to assist with their annual Kids Fire Experience Camp! 🚒

This free program gives children ages 5–14 an opportunity to learn basic fire, EMS, and police safety skills through fun, hands-on activities. We were proud to support Christiana Fire Company and help inspire the next generation of first responders!