A West Chester family is displaced after a house fire that officials declared “out” reignited hours later, sending crews back to battle towering flames.
At a Glance
- Fire crews responded to a two-story home on West Deer Point Road at about 6 p.m. Tuesday
- After three hours, officials said the blaze was extinguished and the family had escaped unharmed
- Around 1 a.m. Wednesday, the fire rekindled and the structure was “fully engulfed”
- The cause of both incidents is under investigation
- Why it matters: The rare rekindle raises questions about overhaul practices and highlights the devastation one property can face in a single night
The first call came shortly after dinner time. Dave March of the West Chester Fire Department said crews arrived to find heavy fire already tearing through the two-story residence along the 500 block of West Deer Point Road.
First Response
March said firefighters worked for roughly three hours to knock down the flames. Their efforts were complicated when portions of the building began to collapse.
By late evening, the scene appeared stable.
“The fire was out,” March reported.
The family who lived there had evacuated safely. No injuries were logged.
Crews packed up and left the property, assuming the danger had passed.
Midnight Recall
Around 1 a.m. Wednesday, dispatchers sent the same units back to the house. This time, March said, the structure was “fully engulfed” and lighting up the night sky.
Firefighters again worked to contain the blaze. No one was inside, and no responders were hurt during the second battle.
The family, now displaced, is staying with relatives, according to March.
Investigation Underway
Investigators have not determined what allowed the fire to reignite. March said the cause of both the original blaze and the rekindle remains under investigation.
He added that officials do not yet know whether the home contained working smoke alarms.
News Of Philadelphia first reported the overnight developments. Updates will follow as authorities release new details.
