Firefighters have employed a defensive attack mode strategy to battle a massive, out-of-control fire at a woodworking business on Fisher Road in Worcester Township Wednesday afternoon during a wind advisory.
Around 3:15 p.m., a fire call came in at Bradford Woodworking at 3120 Fisher Road, involving heavy smoke showing from a detached garage on the property.
Within a half hour, a heavy smoker header was darkening the sky over Merrymead Farm and heading toward Morris Road and Broad Street, per reports from the scene.
At around 3:40 p.m., emergency evacuation alerts were activated to immediately evacuate all firefighters and first responders from the building, and a defensive attack mode was initiated, due to the fire's intensity and risk to firefighters.
In the firefighting industry, this strategy is used when a fire is too large or dangerous to be fought with an offensive attack. It involves firefighters working from the exterior of a building, using hose lines and other equipment to protect exposures and prevent the fire from spreading.
The property is located off Valley Forge Road, behind Central Schwenkfelder Church and a large PECO electrical substation.
Avoid the area of Valley Forge Road and Fisher Road near Merrymead Farm.
Responding units on scene include Fairmount Fire Co. of Lansdale, Centre Square Fire Co., Lower Providence Fire, North Penn Vol. Fire Co., Towamencin Vol. Fire Co., Upper Gwynedd Fire, Worcester Fire Co., Wissahickon Fire Co., Upper Salford Fire Co. and Skippack Fire Co.
