Radnor Helps Fight Fire in Chesterbrook Townhouse

Fire erupted inside the chimney of a Chesterbrook townhouse Saturday causing heavy damage to the chimney and part of the roof of the end unit on Cabot Drive.  There were no injuries reported.

The fire broke out around 2:30 p.m. and was first noticed by a passerby who alerted the people inside the house, according to Berwyn Fire Company Assistant Chief Eamon Brazunas.  The fire broke out inside the chimney just about the same time heavy snow started falling in the area. "If this had happened just a few hours later it could have been a much different result," Brazunas told Patch.

Firefighters from Berwyn, Malvern, Paoli, Radnor and Valley Forge responded to the scene.  Berwym and Malvern Fire Company ladder tower trucks were able to get firefighters with hoses right up to the top of the chimney to fight the fire as outside temperatures hovered around the freezing point.  Paoli Fire Company's new tower truck was also on the scene.  "If this had happened in the dark and snow it would have made conditions much more difficult for firefighters to get to the scene and ice would become a big issue, Brazunas said.

Brazunas said the fire appeared to have started in the chimney and spread under the roof line inside the house.  Residents inside had a small fire going in the fireplace and were apparently unaware that the chimney was on fire near the roofline until alerted by the passerby, according to the Berwyn Assistant Chief.  No one was injured.

Chesterbrook Boulevard was closed for several hours just past the Chesterbrook Shopping Center.  Several resident of that affected section of the townhouse complex were forced to park nearby and trek throgh the snow and cold to their homes.