10/27/2026 | 0913 Hours – Station 25 responded to 170 Lakeside Road in Ardmore for a report of smoke on the third floor of an apartment building.

Units from Lower Merion Stations 26, 21, 23, 28, Narberth Ambulance (313), and the Fire Marshal’s Office were also dispatched as part of the building fire assignment.

First-arriving crews encountered heavy smoke conditions on the third floor and quickly stretched a 1¾-inch hose line in preparation for fire suppression operations.

As firefighters investigated the source of the smoke, they discovered that an elevator installation crew was welding components inside the elevator shaft, creating the smoke condition throughout the upper floor.

Once the source was identified and firefighters confirmed there was no active fire, crews ventilated the building to remove the accumulated smoke before returning to quarters.

Not every report of smoke turns out to be a working fire, but every call is treated as a potential emergency until our firefighters can determine the cause. The quick response and coordinated efforts of our Lower Merion fire companies ensure that we’re prepared when our community needs us. 🚒