Two Alarm Fire at Historic Berwyn Estate

Update 1 p.m.: Crews on scene say the fire went to two alarms because of the need for manpower to run hoses and open the walls inside the historic building to get to smoldering wood. Pennsylvania State Police fire marshals joined Chester County officials on the scene, which is standard operating procedure in a working fire of this size.

Easttown Police say the building was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The cause is still under investigation.

Sugartown Road will stay closed between Newtown and Leopard roads until approximately 1:30 p.m.

Update 12:40 p.m.: The fire is now out in the converted barn at the historic Blackburn estate in Berwyn. The Blackburn estate dates back at least 200 years according to people at the scene of the fire.

Firefighters took about 1 hour 40 minutes to extinguish the fire due to the construction type of the building—the fire was smoldering in the walls which had to be chopped apart with axes and chain saws.

Original article continues below

Firefighters are on the scene of a single-family house fire on the 1100 block of Sugartown Road. The fire was reported just before 11 a.m. Sunday and quickly went to two alarms.

Sugartown Road is closed between Newtown Road and Leopard Road as multiple companies work to extinguish the blaze.

Berwyn Fire Company is leading the effort with crews on the scene from Paoli, Radnor, Newtown Square and other companies. 

There are no reported injuries so far. The fire started on the first floor and quickly spread through the house to the eaves under the roof.

The deputy fire marshal for Chester County is also on the scene. The home appears to be in a converted barn. Firefighters with air packs are still trying to put the smokey fire, which is in the walls of the building, completely out. Hoses had to be run thousands of feet to fire hydrants just off Sugartown Road.

This is developing story. Check back for further details.