Your Gladwyne Firefighters were dispatched last night just after dinner time with Ladder 24 to respond to cover Norristown Borough while they were fighting a large church fire.

Ladder 24 responded with 7 firefighters and half way to Norristown, command requested Ladder 24 respond to the scene and assist with fighting the fire. Ladder 24 was directed into the scene and assigned the front of the fire building. The crew was assigned to the 1st floor ballroom area of the church. Crews were inside pulling ceilings and finding fire in a large part of the ceiling while other firefighters were on the 2nd floor finding similar conditions.

A 2nd alarm was transmitted by command, bringing additional firefighting resources, including Engine 24.

Engine 24 responded with 5 additional GFC Firefighters and upon arrival was assigned to assist the Ladder’s crew with protecting the B side exposure (LaRoma Pizzeria). Crews placed ground ladders and operated on the roof flowing hand lines into the church windows keeping the fire from spreading to the adjacent buildings.

Gladwyne Firefighters remained on scene assisting until just before midnight when command started cycling out crews for fresh firefighters from all over the tri-county area.

While both Ladder and Engine 24 were in Norristown, additional GFC Members were in station staffing Engine 24-1 and handled another call in Gladwyne on the Expressway.

Thank you to all of our Firefighters who spent their evening giving back to our community and also Norristown.

Our thoughts are with the Church Congregation that suffered such a tragic loss of their building.

Great job to all the Firefighters who operated in difficult freezing conditions all night long until early this morning.