With the landfall of Hurricane Irene on the east coast, The Kennett Fire Company No. 1 members manned Station 24 in preparation for a busy weekend. 24 crews manned apparatus and handled a variety of storm related calls, from water rescues to wires down calls.
During the Hurricane, The Kennett Fire Company Water Rescue Team assisted the Kennett Square Police Dept. with evacuations on South Street between Broad St. and Taylor St. in Kennett Square Borough. Evacuations were conducted as a result of rising flood waters. Residents were brought the Kennett High School and later transported by bus to the Avon Grove High School for shelter.
In the early morning hours of Sunday August 28th 2011, The Kennett Fire Company Water Rescue Team was alerted to the Avondale Apartments in Avondale Borough to assist The Avondale Fire Company (Station 23) for a water rescue evacuation. Squad 24 responded and arrived on scene with Boat 24-1 and Boat 24-2 as well as Brush 24 for additional man power. Crews were deployed to each apartment to evacuate residents due to rising flood waters. Boat 24-1 and 24-2 were put into service to transport residents to a staging area . Over 60 residents were rescued from the apartment complex. Residents were transported by school bus to the designated storm shelter at the Avon Grove High School. 23 and 24 units cleared the scene after it was determined that all residents were evacuated. Photos by Tom Kelly of The Daily Local News.
