Continuing with the early trend to 2025, the LPFD has had yet another abnormally busy stretch of days with 10 calls for service over the last 3 days including two more working fires.

At approximately 1:39AM on Saturday morning, Tower 53 was dispatched as a RIT company on the working fire dispatch to the Bridgeport Suites apartment building in Bridgeport Borough. Initial arriving units arrived to a 6 story apartment building with fire showing from a 1st floor apartment and heavy smoke throughout the building. Multiple residents were trapped on all floors of the building with numerous residents hanging from windows and on balconies. Tower 53 arrived and was re-assigned to perform truck company operations on the C-Charlie side of the building due to the multiple entrapments. Tower 53’s crew laddered the building, performed searches and operated on the fire floor of the building for the duration of the incident. Tower 53 cleared shortly after 4AM.

At approximately 9:04AM this morning, Tower 53 was again dispatched as a RIT company on the working fire dispatch to King Manor Drive in Upper Merion Township. Initial arriving units had smoke showing from a 1 and 2 story commercial occupancy. Tower 53 arrived and was reassigned as the 3rd due truck company. They were assigned truck company operations on the interior of the building assisting engine companies with opening up, checking for extension and ventilation. Tower 53 operated for approximately 2 hours before returning to service.

Pictures courtesy of BC Murphy, Upper Merion Fire and the individual photographers.