alarm Hatfield warehouse fire remains under investigation, fire marshal says

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP — A warehouse fire at Dorman Products in Colmar was fought by more than 30 fire and emergency personnel from across Montgomery and Bucks counties for more than 10 hours Tuesday. The cause is undetermined and remains under investigation by the Hatfield Township Fire Marshals' Office.

At least one firefighter was transported to an area hospital for a non life-threatening injury, according to Hatfield Township Fire Marshal Mike Waldron.

According to the fire marshal, Hatfield Township emergency services and at least 29 other mutual aid companies were dispatched to 3400 Walnut Street in the Colmar section of Hatfield Township at 12:54 p.m. Tuesday for "a large fire in the warehouse."

By 1:05 p.m., authorities said the first fire companies on scene were Colmar and Hatfield Fire Company, as well as Fire Department of Montgomery Township and Fairmount Fire Co. of Lansdale.

Firefighters established water supply lines from area hydrants and initiated fire attack with multiple lines.

Waldron said the firefighters worked in high heat and heavy smoke conditions to try and control the spread of the fire. Windows, doors and the roof were all ventilated to improve conditions in the warehouse.

Firefighters, he said, were hampered by racks of burning auto parts in cardboard boxes stacked about 35 feet high. Due to high heat conditions, several racks partially collapsed, making firefighting operations difficult and dangerous, he said.

At 1:33 p.m., a firefighter became separated from his crew in the warehouse, Waldron said. Once firefighters were unable to reestablish contact with the crew or find an exit, a MAYDAY call was made on his portable radio, he said, alerting everyone that he needed immediate assistance. By 1:47 p.m., the uninjured firefighter was located, Waldron said.

The fire was under control at 4:33 p.m., and units cleared the scene at 10:21 p.m.

"Due to the difficult and exhausting work accessing and extinguishing the burning materials, fire crews rotated in and out with many being released after several hours and replaced with fresh crews," Waldron said. "The response included 5-alarms worth of equipment including 24 engine companies, 11 ladder companies and 30 rescues and other support equipment."

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