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JUNE, 2015
TWO DOGS DIE IN JERSEY SHORE FIRE
PAUL GARRETT
Black smoke billowed from the house at 354 Locust Street in Jersey Shore when firefighters arrived on scene at around 11:30 a.m. on April 24, 2015. Soon, flames shot skyward as the front of the home, owned by 67 year old Jerome Nichols, erupted in flames.
- See full story on page 8
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June, 2015
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
ADVERTISER INDEX A guide to finding great companies
Company Page 1st Priority 3,38,66 911 Rapid Response 27 AB Inflatables 35 AGT Battery 72,73 AirVac 911 46 All Hands Fire Equip. 13,63 Apparatus For Sale 54 Armor Tuff Flooring 56 Awogs 65 Brindlee Mountain Fire 33 Campbell Supply Co. 1,7,84 California Casualty 77 CILS, Inc. 50 Circle D. Lights 67 Classified Page 83 Command Fire App 23 Comedy Works 34 Emergency Equip. Sales 39 ESI Equipment 58 Fast Shelter 75 FF1 15 FireDex 25 Firehouse Expo 69 First Out Rescue 61 HMA Fire 55 Hoffman Radio Network 24 Kaler Motor Company 59 Keystone FF Conference 57 Kimtek 20 Leader 11 Marco Equipment 79 MES 71 Mid Atlantic Rescue 9,47 Mobile Eyes 81 Morningside VFD 43 Safety Response 48 SAFE-T 49 Spotted Dog Tech. 45 Sprint 31 Sutphen 53 Susquehanna Fire 41 Swissphone 57 Task Force Tips 5 The Fire Store 19 TurboDraft 26 Ultra Bright Lightz 62 Valtek 40 Waterway 17 Waterways of PA 21
GLEN HOSTETLER
SUBURBAN EMS
Take your child to work day Suburban EMS spent the morning of April 23 with some awesome kids at Pocono Medical Center during "Take Your Child To Work Day." After ambulance tours and CPR demonstrations, we gave out goodies and got to watch Lehigh Valley Health Network Medevac take off.
Working attic fire in Mechanicsburg On April 14, 2015 at approximately 4:15 p.m., the first alarm was struck for a house fire on Main Street, Borough of Mechanicsburg. The residence was a duplex. First arriving companies found a working attic fire and the second alarm was requested. Units operated for three hours.
COMMAND VEHICLES
If your Department has photos you would like to see in our “Command Vehicles” feature, please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
CORPORATE INFORMATION
1st Responder News (ISSN 1525-1683) - Pennsylvania edition - Vol. 19 No. 6 - is published monthly, 12 times a year for $36 per year by Belsito Communications, Inc., 1 Ardmore Street, NY 12553. Periodicals Postage Paid at Newburgh, NY and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to 1st Responder News, 1 Ardmore Street, NY 12553. No financial responsibility is assumed by this newspaper to publish a display, classified, or legal ad or for typographical errors except of reprinting that part of the ad which was omitted or in error. Omissions or errors must be A division of: brought to the attention of the newspaper during the s a m e month of publication.
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FRANK ROBINSON
Upper Macungie Fire runs this 2012 Chevy Suburban command vehicle
KEN SNYDER
Philadelphia Fire Department Hazmat Unit 2 is a 1999 Ford Expedition.
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
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EUREKA VOLUNTEER FIRE & AMBULANCE
MVA in Hopewell Township
Units from 54 cleared a single vehicle MVA on April 11th in Hopewell Township. Units secured the battery and fire police remained on the scene until the pole was removed from the roadway.
J. KRIESHER
Three alarms plus special calls to the scene were required to bring this fire under control in Coal Township
Over three alarms for Coal Twp. rowhome Northumberland County, PA. Shortly before 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 23, Northumberland County 911 transmitted the 110 Box to the 1200 Block of West Walnut Street in Coal Township for a reported dwelling fire. First arriving units found a working rowhome fire with fire in the attic. A second alarm was immediately transmitted. Incoming units were advised to leave room in front for the truck. Shamokin Truck 32 took the address while East End Engine 121 positioned behind the truck. Forest Hills Engine 161 and Coal Twp. Rescue 193 positioned in front of the truck. Multiple water
JUMP TO FILE #043015118 supplies were established as handlines were stretched. The fire was now showing from the multiple structures. A third alarm was transmitted. Union Fire Company Engine 131, Shamokin Engine 41 and Elysburg Engine 174 went to the rear of the structure. Crews were strictly defensive and a master stream was being used from Truck 32. All crews were also ordered off the roofs. Sunbury Truck 542 which, was on a move-up assignment,
was brought into the scene and position at the end of the row. The truck was set up and a crew went to the roof to ventilate. At 1:00 p.m., smoke still continued to rise from the roofline of the multiple structures that were consumed in fire. PPL arrived on the scene and disconnected power to the block and crews began to reenter the structures to knock down the remaining fire. Crews remained on scene well into the afternoon before being released. - JC KRIESHER
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? If you have photos you would like to see in our “Where are they Now?� feature please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
MIKE HARCARICK
Second alarm struck in Reading Reading, PA. On May 2nd, the Berks County Communications Center dispatched a box alarm to the 700 block of Locust Street. Companies arrived to a two and a half story middle-ofthe row with smoke showing from the first floor. Firefighters from Engine 9 stretched into the dwelling along with the exposure at 730 Locust. With fire continuing to spread, Chief Serba (C3) requested a second alarm. Two more hose lines were placed in service with fire into 734 Locust. All searches were clear with the bulk of the fire knocked down at 10:20 p.m. No injuries were reported, the fire marshal's office is investigating. Units from Muhlenberg, Laureldale and Spring Township assisted. This was the last fire 1st Deputy Chief Serba was in command, as he is set to retire on May 6th.
FRANK ROBINSON
City of Coatesville Fire operates a 1991 E-One 110' Ladder. The unit saw service in West Chester, PA
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In memory of those who gave all 1st Responder Newspaper honors and remembers emergency responders lost in the line of duty
Pennsylvania: Edward Roddy, 48 Rank: Firefighter Incident Date: November 5, 2014 Death Date: February 22, 2015 Fire Department: Somerset Volunteer Fire Department Initial Summary: Firefighter Roddy suffered from a heart attack on November 5, 2014 while at the scene of a fire and did not recover. He passed away on February 22, 2015
Pennsylvania: Jeffery Scott Buck, 18 Rank: Firefighter Incident Date: March 3, 2015 Death Date: March 9, 2015 Fire Department: Lawrence Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 - Clearfield County Station #5 Initial Summary: Firefighter Buck was critically injured on March 3, 2015, while fighting a residential structure fire when the front porch of the home collapsed on him. Buck was rescued and transported to UPMC Altoona where he succumbed to a head injury March 9, 2015. California: Jerold “Jerry” Bonner, 72 Rank: Pilot Incident Date: March 6, 2015 Death Date: March 6, 2015 Fire Department: CAL FIRE Initial Summary: While on duty at Alma Helitack Base in Santa Clara County, California, Pilot Bonner was found deceased inside of his barracks from a cardiac related nature of fatal injury. Kentucky: Billy R. Jarvis, 54 Rank: Fire Chief Incident Date: March 4, 2015 Death Date: March 10, 2015 Fire Department: Allen Fire Department Initial Summary: On March 4, 2015, while responding in a fire department vehicle to a downed power line call, Fire
Chief Jarvis became ill with trouble breathing. His son, Fire Captain Jarvis, who was a passenger in the vehicle at the time, took over as driver and rushed Chief Jarvis to Highlands Regional Medical Center. Upon arrival at the hospital, Chief Jarvis went into cardiac arrest. Jarvis was revived by attending personnel and transferred to the Pikeville Medical Center where he succumbed to his injury on March 10, 2015.
Mississippi: John L. Shoup, 38 Rank: Firefighter Incident Date: March 7, 2015 Death Date: March 15, 2015 Fire Department: Ashland Volunteer Fire Department Initial Summary: While working at the scene of a structure fire on March 7, 2015, Firefighter Shoup complained to other firefighters that he wasn’t feeling well and departed for home. Several hours after returning home, Shoup was taken by his wife to the hospital where he was treated for a heart attack and his condition stabilized. Subsequently, Firefighter Shoup was transferred to a hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, where he succumbed to his injury on March 15, 2015.
Ohio: Daryl Gordon, 54 Rank: Firefighter Incident Date: March 26, 2015 Death Date: March 26, 2015 Fire Department: Cincinnati Fire Department Initial Summary: Fire Apparatus Operator Gordon, assigned to Cincinnati Fire Department’s Heavy Rescue 14, died from injuries he sustained in a fall down an elevator shaft while working with fire crews to rescue the residents and extinguish a fire in a Madisonville neighborhood apartment building. Some of the residents were reported to have suffered smoke inhalation and one other firefighter was injured with second-degree burns in the fire. Investigation into the fatal incident continues by authorities.
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Firefighters begin pouring water onto the burning structure at 354 Locust St in Jersey Shore
PAUL GARRETT
PITTSBURGH EMS MEDIC 7
Ebola training Pittsburgh EMS Medic 7 recently conducted ebola training.
Two dogs die in Jersey Shore fire Black smoke billowed from the house at 354 Locust Street in Jersey Shore when firefighters arrived on scene at around 11:30 a.m. on April 24th. Soon flames shot skyward as the front of the home, owned by 67 year old Jerome Nichols, erupted in flames. Sparks danced on Locust Street as an electrical wire broke off from the house and hit the blacktop. Firefighters from Citizens Hose were first on scene to pour water onto the home as two small explosions sounded on the right side of the home, where a white Honda Accord and a motorcycle were parked. Nichols fortunately got out safely, but not so for his two dogs
JUMP TO FILE #050115117 Daisy and Little Bear. "I was on my laptop in the living room when I smelled smoke. Then I saw smoke coming from my bedroom and I thought I'd better call the fire department," explained Nichols. The only thing Nichols could think of that might have started the fire was an electric heater he had in his bedroom. However, the State Police Fire Marshal will have to determine the cause of the blaze. For now, Nichols is being helped by a neighbor, but does not know where he will be staying after his
home of 67 years was completely gutted by the fire. No one else lived in the home with Nichols. Even his cell phone was left behind when he escaped with only the close on his back. Fire companies from as far away as Woolrich rushed to the scene along with both Jersey Shore fire departments, Nippenose, Antes Fort, Avis, and Woodward Twp fire companies. The fire was contained within a half hour due to the quick response of local firefighters and only minor heat damage occurred to the house next door. - PAUL GARRETT
PATCHES If you have photos you would like to see in our “Patches� feature please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
J. KRIESHER
Entrapment reported on Route 61 Schuylkill County, PA - On Wednesday, April 29, Schuylkill County 911 dispatched the St. Clair Fire Department and Schuylkill EMS to Route 61 and Hancock Street in St. Clair for a motor vehicle accident with entrapment. Units responding were advised of a three vehicle crash with one person possibly trapped in a car. St. Clair police arrived on scene and confirmed all occupants were self-extricated. Engine 702 and Ladder 703 controlled hazards while EMS evaluated the patient. Crews remained on scene while police investigated the incident and the vehicles were removed from the roadway. BENSALEM EMS
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IN SERVICE If you have photos you would like to see in our “In Service” feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
ARCHBALD COMMUNITY AMBULANCE AND RESCUE SQUAD
Archbald Rescue Squad 21-9 in Archbald, PA
TERRY RITZ
Dwelling fire in Upper Hanover Twp.
Pittsburgh EMS Rescue 2
PITTSBURGH EMS RESCUE 2
Upper Hanover Twp., PA. On May 1, 2015 at 7:05 a.m., Pennsburg Fire Co. was dispatched along with several other fire companies to a dwelling fire at 2190 East Buck Rd. Chief Scott Seip reported smoke showing and called Montgomery County Radio for additional help from the surrounding companies and set-up command. The fire was with-in the walls surrounding the chimney on the first
JUMP TO FILE #050115123 floor toward the back of the dwelling. After gaining access through the wall and ventilating, the fire was brought under control in an hour. The fire companies did a great job of confining the fire to that area of the dwelling. There were no in-
juries reported. The cause of the fire is pending the outcome of the investigation. Assisting Pennsburg were fire companies from East Greenville, Red Hill, Milford Twp., Trumbauersville, Quakertown, Gilbertsville, and Pennsburg Fire police. Also assisting was Upper Perk EMS. - TERRY RITZ
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? If you have photos you would like to see in our “Where Are They Now?” feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
FRANK ROBINSON
Han-Le-Co Fire Company operates a 1994 Pierce Lance 1250/400 Rescue Pumper.
FRANK ROBINSON
WhiteHall Twp. Fullerton Fire operates a 2007 Spartan/Central States 1250/750.
FRANK ROBINSON
Rutherford Fire Company operates this 1992 American La France 1500/500. The unit once saw service in Neffsville, Lancaster County.
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ERIC RASMUSSEN/FIRST DUE PHOTOGRAPHY STEPHEN BARRETT
Several residents rescued after fire breaks out Shortly before 9:30 p.m. on May 2nd, a fire broke out on the fourth floor at the Brentmoor Apartments on Penn Center Boulevard in Wilkins Township. Firefighters arrived to find smoke and fire showing from the fourth floor of the 11 story, 224 unit apartment building with multiple residents trapped on balconies due to heavy smoke in the hallways. Many residents had to be rescued via ladders and tower units. The incident quickly grew to multi-alarms to assist with search and rescue, evacuation and fire suppression. An aggressive interior attack was made on the fourth floor, but due to the amount of heat, fire broke out on the fifth floor above the original apartment. Due to the concrete construction
JUMP TO FILE #050315105 of the building, firefighters were able to contain the bulk of the fire to the fourth and fifth floors in about two hours. However, fire units remained on scene until the early morning hours doing extensive overhaul. Several hundred residents were evacuated and waited outside in surrounding parking lots as fire, EMS units, the Salvation Army and American Red Cross distributed water and blankets to displaced residents. One apartment on the fourth floor and one apartment on the fifth floor sustained heavy fire damage. Multiple other apartments sustained damage from heat, smoke and water.
The fire started in a fourth floor apartment where a woman and her adult son had lived. The woman was transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries. Several other residents were treated on-scene for smoke inhalation. One firefighter was also transported to a local hospital with smoke inhalation. It is unknown what may have caused the fire. The Allegheny County Fire Marshall’s office had several investigators on scene trying to determine the cause. Hundreds of firefighters from multiple companies responded. The Salvation Army and American Red Cross are helping displaced residents. - JOHN ENGLAND IV
President Joe Landy addresses the members and friends of the society
KEN SNYDER
UHFS holds 40th Anniversary banquet Members of the Union Historical Fire Society gathered at the Williamson Restaurant in Horsham on March 22nd for the 40th anniversary of their club. The Master of was Ceremonies Joe President Landy. JUMP TO FILE# While the soci- 041315116 ety is well known for its annual Spring Melt and contributions to the burn foundation, the club has also been involved in other special events since its infancy. These have included musters at Hillcrest Pond in Flourtown, Dorney Park, Philadelphia, Lake Muhlenberg in Allentown, and recently on the grounds of the Trexlertown Fire Company. This group has also organized tours to apparatus plants, big city fire departments and various fire museums. In the 70’s a Firemen’s
Day was held with a parade of apparatus entering into the Allentown Fairgrounds for a public display. Of course the main flagship of activity has always been the annual Spring Thaw. The first one was held at the Quakertown Fire Company No.1 in 1979, which then moved to the Southampton Fire Company from 1980-1983, and finally to the Allentown Fairgrounds from 1984 until present. This event has become the largest in the country and has inspired fire service enthusiasts from all over. The banquet program began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a prayer and then the dinner. Afterwards, there was the introduction of special guests, remarks from President Landy, an update on the Spring Thaw by Chairman Tom D’Acangelo, followed by the history of the society by Harvey Eckart.
- KEN SNYDER
JASON BATZ
Temple Fire Company members take basic forcible entry course Reading, PA. Members of the Temple Fire Company took part in a forcible entry course hosted at the Berks County Fire Training Center. The firefighters practiced conventional forcible entry techniques with different props on the training grounds.
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Heavy smoke could be seen as firefighters fought the blaze in Avis. DUBOIS EMS
Kids Fair at middle school
On March 29, DuBois EMS participated in the Kids Fair at the DuBois Area Middle School. Kids were able to take a look at the ambulance and receive plenty of goodies.
PAUL GARRETT
Avis porch fire leaves four homeless Four family members are homeless after a late night fire on March 22nd that damaged their Avis Borough home. Cindy Mann had just gone to bed when her two teenage boys James and Damian Maiolo yelled for her to get out because there was a fire in the house. “My sons yelled up and said the house is on fire. I came down and saw flames back in the kitchen coming into the dining room,” explained Mann. When firefighters from Avis Borough arrived on scene the back of the two story home was ablaze. According to the homeowner, the fire started on the back porch. “The whole back of the house was all full of fire. It was already past the second floor,” said Avis Volunteer Fire Company Chief Chris Irvin. The single family
JUMP TO FILE #032415102 home at 504 Prospect Ave, has been in John Mann’s family for over 40 years. He was at work at First Quality when the fire broke out. His wife said the home is equipped with smoke detectors, but they didn’t start going off until they were almost out the door. Everyone escaped the burning home safely including their 12 year old dog Abby and another pup named Oakly. According to Cindy Mann, her two sons will be staying with their father while her and her husband John will be staying at the Best Western for now. She says she is overwhelmed at the outpouring of help they are already getting from neighbors, friends and even
their work. A Go Fund Me account was set up on the internet to help the family in their time of need as well. Mann said her and her husband went to the home Monday morning and found that the bottom floor is a total loss as well as the second floor, which also suffered major smoke and water damage. She said she has been in touch with her insurance representative. Along with Avis Fire Company, Woolrich, and Independent Hose assisted in knocking down the late night fire that was under control within 30 minutes. “My guys did a good job hitting that fire,” said Chief Irvin. The State Police Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze. - PAUL GARRETT
ANTIQUE APPARATUS
If you have photos for Antique Apparatus please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
JEFF GOLDBERG
Raging fire on Randolph Court Newtown Township, Bucks County, PA. Firefighters from the Newtown Fire Association, Yardley-Makefield Fire Company, and Northampton Township Volunteer Fire Company were dispatched by Bucks County Fire Radio to Tactical Box 4503 for a working dwelling fire in the township’s Newtown Gate section on Randolph Court, dispatched at approximately 8:20 p.m. on Friday evening, April 18, 2015.
KEN SNYDER
The Blakely Hose Co. No. 2 once ran this 1950 Autocar/US Fire Apparatus 750/500, which is now privately owned.
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IN SERVICE If you have photos you would like to see in our “In Service” feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
FRANK ROBINSON
Liberty Fire Company of Olyphant operates a 2010 American La France Eagle 2000/500/30 F.
TIMOTHY COOVER
Highspire Engine 55 is a 1992 Pemfab/ Imperial, 100 gallons/1500 gpm pump. It also carries Amkus tools.
Homeowner William Dorwart starts to clean up his kitchen after the accident
PAUL GARRETT
Car hits house in Jersey Shore William and Kelly Dorwart had just finished supper when they heard what they thought was an explosion in their kitchen. "We had just put the dishes in the sink and went back into the front room to watch some TV and basically it was like an explosion in the kitchen," explained William Dorwart. When Dorwart entered his kitchen, he found all of the pans had fallen off the wall, the floor was covered in glass, the sink was busted apart and water was spraying the kitchen from broken pipes under the sink. According to a TVRPD acci-
JUMP TO FILE #050115118 dent report, a black 2005 Jeep Liberty, SUV driven by Nikki S. Brooks, 44, from South Williamsport hit the side of the home located at 214 Seminary Street. According to the incident report, Nikki's husband Rodney Brooks, 45, was sitting in the passenger seat with his foot on the gas peddle in the rear parking lot of the JS Elks Lodge just across the alley from the Dorwart home. He stated that the Jeep stalls easy and in order to keep it run-
ning, you have to keep the gas pedal depressed. Rodney stated that Nikki then came out and put the Jeep in reverse while he still had his foot on the gas pedal. The incident is still under investigation by the TVRPD. No one was injured, but there was some major damage to the home’s kitchen and the wall outside the home. William Dorwart said he has lived across from the Elk's parking lot for the past ten years and this is the sixth time someone has hit the home. - PAUL GARRETT
PET FRIENDS
If you have photos you would like to see in our “Pet Friends” feature, please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
TIMOTHY COOVER
Highspire Engine 55-1 is a 1978 Mack/CF pumper. It has a 1000 gpm pump and carries 1000 gallons of water
JOHN G. ENGLAND IV
KEN SNYDER
Upper Macungie Twp. Engine 56 is a 2008 Smeal 2000/1000/40
Bucks County Emergency Communications took a 911 call for a dwelling fire. Police on scene reported smoke showing and pets still inside. Firefighters worked quick to stretch hand lines and knock down the fire. One dog and about six cats were pulled from the dwelling. Rescue workers started administering oxygen to the animals, reviving the dog and three cats. Surviving pets were transported to an emergency vet hospital for care.
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DOUGLAS KAHN
Brush fire in Adams County
Gettysburg Fire Department along with several fire companies from Adams County responded to a brush fire in Western Adams County on Thursday April 29th at 3:00 p.m. The fire was extinguished by 4:00 p.m. and all units placed back in service at approximately 4:30. Firefighters from Gettysburg Fire Department, shown here, mid-battle of the fire, Firefighter Edward Mizenko, Scott McGonigal and Kory Weaver.
TERRY RITZ
Dwelling fire in East Greenville East Greenville, PA. On Saturday, April 11th at 10:45 a.m., the East Greenville Fire Co. was dispatched to 119 4th. St. for a dwelling fire in East Greenville boro. The fire was called in by a neighbor, who heard dogs barking and saw smoke coming out of the windows on the second floor. The fire was declared under control within 45 minutes. There was smoke and water damage in the dwelling. The cause of the fire is undetermined pending the outcome of the fire marshal's investigation. Assisting East Greenville were fire companies from Pennsburg and Red Hill as well Upper Perk police and EMS units from Upper Perk Ambulance.
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
Fully involved structure for Millersburg
ERIC RASMUSSEN/FIRST DUE PHOTOGRAPHY
Porch fire quickly consumes Wilkinsburg home On Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 9:32 a.m., City of Pittsburgh firefighters were dispatched to fire zone 3-16, the Borough of Wilkinsburg, for a couch on fire in the rear of a house located on Hazel Way near Marlboro Avenue. Dispatch informed responding units that callers were now reporting the porch had a large amount of trash, which was catching fire. 16 Engine reported heavy smoke in the area. Units arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the home, which was actually located on Ardmore Boulevard and a working fire in the rear of the home that was extending into the structure. Command advised units to pro-
JUMP TO FILE #042015100 tect the exposures and requested a second alarm. Firefighters aggressively attacked the fire and had the fire under control in just over 30 minutes. The arson squad was requested to the scene to investigate and there is no word as to what may have started the fire. Four people and five dogs were inside the home at the time of the fire. All made it out safely. The American Red Cross is assisting the family. The home was a total loss.
Upper Paxton Township, PA. On Thursday, April 30th at 3:02 p.m., Box 20-2 was dispatched to the 100 Block of Boyer Road in Upper Paxton Township for a reported residential structure JUMP TO FILE # fire. This brought 050215109 units from Company 20 (Millersburg) and 26 (Berrysburg). Chief 20 went responding and Dauphin County Communications advised him that the caller was reporting that they could see fire from the front of the structure. Also an unknown fire unit keyed up and stated that they had a column visible from Elizabethville. With this information, Chief 20 upgraded the box to a first alarm. This brought the rest of Company 26, along with additional units from Companies 21 (Elizabethville), 29 (Halifax), 28 (Pillow), 216 (Fisherville) and 27 (Gratz) to the scene. Chief 20 found a fully involved
single story structure that was mostly to the ground already. There was also a 100 lb propane cylinder that was venting. Engine 20 laid 800 feet of five inch to the structure. Crews deployed four hand lines and a blitz fire from Engine 20. Engine 21 picked up the five inch and began supplying Engine 20 from a port-atank that was set up at the end of
Boyer Road. Engine 26 established a fill site at the dry hydrant at the pond on the grounds of the Lykens Valley Golf Course. The fire displaced two residents and the cause is currently under investigation. MFC#1
- JESSE SHUTT
- ERIC RASMUSSEN
STEVE LILICK
165 acres burn along Lehigh
Lake Harmony, Carbon County, PA. On May 3rd, a brush fire was reported in the area of the Francis Walter Dam in Kidder Township at around noon. The State Forest Fire Warden dispatched aircraft to access the location and severity of the fire. Once the exact location was determined, fire units from Lake Harmony, Kidder, and Albrightsville were dispatched to Jack Frost Ski Area to set up base camp. Lake Harmony Chief 17 established command and began adding multiple brush and ATV units. The fire was running down the mountain toward the Lehigh River. Access to the fire was limited to brush and ATV units due to the extremely rough terrain. The bulk of the fire was contained using a helicopter and multiple fixed wing aircraft. Units on the ground used hand tools, leaf blowers, and indian tanks. Over 100 firefighters from approimately 15 fire companies responded. Units were on scene for over eight hours.
Crews work to knock down the fire.
JOHN G. ENGLAND IV
Crews battle a working house fire in downpour Hartsville Fire Co. Station 93 was dispatched for a dwelling fire by Bucks County Emergency Communications. The first call came in at 8:54 a.m. Police on scene reported smoke showing and pets still inside. Chief 29 confirmed a working fire and set up command. Squirt 93 was directed to drop into the scene and lead off with a one and three quarter inch line. Ladder 90 was instructed to nose into Squirt 93 and start ventilation operations.
JUMP TO FILE #042015136 The crew made quick hose advancement and knocked the bulk of the fire down. Other companies on scene doing searches found one dog and six cats. The pets were removed to the exterior and emergency personnel started administering oxygen. The on scene personnel were able to revive the dog and three cats.
Unfortunately, three of the cats did not make it and six other cats were unaccounted for. The revived pets were transported to a local emergency vet hospital by Warminster Police Departments animal control officer. No other injuries reported and Warminster Township fire marshal FM-274 is investigating. - JOHN ENGLAND IV
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? If you have photos you would like to see in our “Where Are They Now� feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
Old Forge Ladder 93 is a 1996 E-One rearmount ladder with 1,500 gpm pump and 500 gal tank that formerly served Bartlett, IL.
GEOFFREY WETHERHOLD
The silver SUVinto the house. The fire hydrant is on the ground on the right.
PAUL GARRETT
SUV hits home, two injured in Jersey Shore At approximately 3:15 p.m. on April 27th, a silver 1999 Dodge Durango driven by Millisa House, 29 from Jersey Shore, crashed into a home located at 503 Allegheny Street. According to TVRPD on scene, House was driving west on Allegheny Street when she fell asleep. She drifted into the oncoming lane and hit the driver side rear portion of a black Suburu Crosstrak, driven
JUMP TO FILE #050115120 by Taryn Fioretti, 23 also from Jersey Shore, spinning Fioretti around. House continued on, snapping off a fire hydrant and going into the left side of the home at 503 Allegheny according to police. The home suffered damage to the outside wall, but only minor cracks in
the bathroom area due to the impact. Both House and Fioretti, who were the lone occupants in each vehicle, were taken to Jersey Shore Hospital. Fioretti was complaining of her head hurting and she is pregnant. Both Jersey Shore Fire Companies responded to the scene as well as Jersey Shore EMS. - PAUL GARRETT
Engine 4711 of the Lehigh Township Fire Company in Cherryville spends its last morning on the apron as It awaits to be transferred to the East End Fire Co in Catasauqua, the new owners. KEN SNYDER
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June, 2015
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
EUREKA VOLUNTEER FIRE & AMBULANCE
Shed fire battled by Eureka
On March 30th at 1:30 a.m., units were dispatched to the 45 local (North Hopewell-Winterstown Volunteer Fire Company) for a shed fire. Engine 54-3 with six was first arriving to a working fire at an approximate 40x20 shed. The working fire dispatch was alerted, but quickly scaled back to two engines and two tankers (45 and 54). Units cleared at 3:00 a.m. Chief 45 (Poe) had the command.
JASON BATZ
Temple firefighters take advanced F.E. class Reading, PA. Firefighters with the Temple Fire Company met on March 28th to complete an advanced forcible entry class at the Berks County Fire Training Center. The group worked with different props to sharpen their entry skills. The course finished at a local storage unit facility undergoing demolition.
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
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June, 2015
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
Codes, rules, and initiatives, a safety refresher STAYING SAFE
Chief Henry Campbell
Firefighters work to free the trapped driver of the dump truck.
PAUL GARRETT
Truck driver life-flighted in Limestone Twp. Two women and a six month old baby walked away from an accident on April 28th around 1:30 p.m. after a dump truck loaded with gravel rear-ended their Prius. The truck then flipped, pinning the driver, who was the lone occupant. The driver of the truck had to be LifeFlighted to Geisinger. Caroline Eigenbrod was traveling north on Route 654 in Limestone Twp in her blue 2014 Toyota Prius C-3 and was ready to make a left onto Blank Lane when a dump truck hit her vehicle from behind sending her careening off the highway. "I had my left turn signal on for a while because I know how long it takes those trucks to stop. I put my brakes on to turn into Blank La. then I heard this big crash. I was into my turn when he hit me. It's like he just didn't see me," said
JUMP TO FILE #050115121 Eigenbrod. Eigenbrod and her two passengers, an Amish friend named Suzy and her six month old child were all belted in. After the collision, the P-Stone Mack Truck continued out of control for about 75 yards, flipping onto the drivers side, spilling its load of gravel onto the road, and almost landed in a field as it set precariously with the cab of the truck dangling over the embankment in the north bound lane. "We had to secure the truck with the two heavy rescue winches and had to cut part of the cab away to free and bring him out," explained Nippenose Valley Volunteer Fire Company Chief Dean Miller.
"The driver of the truck was conscious and alert upon arrival but we believe he had a head injury and his memory was starting to decrease," explained Chief Miller, as rescue personnel worked for 45 minutes to extricate the 70 year old driver of the truck. Eigenbrod relayed how thankful she was that her and her passengers survived the accident. "You know I had an accident not long ago and I was driving a Prius, which was totaled, but it saved my life so I thought I'd better buy another Prius and it saved my life too," she said. Units from Nippenose, and both Jersey Shore fire departments along with Jersey Shore EMS and LifeFlight responded to the wreck. - PAUL GARRETT
IN SERVICE If you have photos you would like to see in our In Service feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
It is almost daily we read, view, or hear of incidents involving injury or death to a firefighter, and often we ask ourselves that basic question “What was he/she thinking or doing?” Sometimes it appears that maybe the firefighter wasn’t thinking, he was just doing his job, carrying out his assignment. There will be times you cannot carry out your assignment/function due to safety concerns, and that is when they should be aborted. With all the emphasis on safety in the fire service, we shouldn’t be asking ourselves “what were they thinking?” Over the past 10-12 years a variety of safety measures and guidelines were presented to the fire service from fire service organizations in the form of codes, rules, and initiatives. They were presented to firefighters to encourage us to be more concerned with our personal safety while reducing fire fighter death and injury. Over the next few article, I will present these safety guidelines once again in an effort to remind firefighters of the importance of staying safe, and taking a few extra seconds to do a personal size up before carrying out their assignments. The results of your size up may cause you to alternate the method you apply, or prevent you from performing the task and save your life. In 2011, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) presented “Rules of Engagement,” which is actually two sets of rules, one for the firefighters, consisting of 11 rules and the other for the incident commander consisting of 14 rules. The ultimate goal of the Rules of Engagement is to make firefighting, the fireground, and the emergency scene safer. The Rules of Engagement are listed below: Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Survival •Size-up your tactical area of operation. •Determine the occupant survival profile. •Do not risk your life for lives or property that cannot be saved. •Extend limited risk to protect savable property. •Extend vigilant and measured risk to protect and rescue savable lives. •Go in together, stay together, come out together •Maintain continuous awareness of your air supply, situation,
location and fire conditions. •Constantly monitor fireground communications for critical radio reports. •You are required to report unsafe practices or conditions that can harm you. Stop, evaluate and cecide. •You are required to abandon your position and retreat before deteriorating conditions can harm you. •Declare a MayDay as soon as you think you are in danger. The incident commanders Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Safety •Rapidly conduct, or obtain, a 360 degree size-up of the incident. •Determine the occupant survival profile. •Conduct an initial risk assessment and implement a safe action plan. •If you do not have the resources to safely support and protect firefighters – seriously consider a defensive strategy. •Do not risk firefighter lives for lives or property that cannot be saved – seriously consider a defensive strategy. •Extend limited risk to protect savable property. •Extend vigilant and measured risk to protect and rescue savable lives. •Act upon reported unsafe practices and conditions that can harm firefighters. Stop, evaluate and decide. •Maintain frequent two-way communications and keep interior crews informed of changing conditions. •Obtain frequent progress reports and revise the action plan. •Ensure accurate accountability of all firefighter location and status. •If, after completing the primary search, little or no progress toward fire control has been achieved- seriously consider a defensive strategy. •Always have a rapid intervention team in place at all working fires •Always have firefighter rehab services in place at all working fires. The rules are not new, nor something we have not heard before, but when listed together they can be looked upon, reviewed, and applied. Do we need Rules of Engagement in the fire service? What do you think? They will provide a simple mental checklist that both firefighters and incident commanders should use to make firefighting determinations relative to individual firefighter safety and the safety of all personnel. To be continued next month. Till then, Stay Safe and God bless!
JASON BATZ
The Goodwill Fire Company of Muhlenberg Township in Berks County operates this 1986 Pierce as Foam 10. The unit features a 1250 gpm pump and a feacon foam system.
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PAGE 23
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June, 2015
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
Two men miraculously escape injury in rollover The driver of a stack truck was life-flighted to Geisinger Medical Center near Danville and two passengers miraculously escaped injury when they were thrown through the windshield during the accident. The single vehi- JUMP TO FILE# cle accident oc- 032015122 curred at around 8:40 a.m. on March 19th on Route 220 Northbound in Pine Creek Township. The load of drywall the truck was transporting from State College to Williamsport was scattered along the grassy center divider while a stream of oil from the trucks engine oozed across the northbound lane of Route 220, right at the Pine Creek exit of 220. When rescue personnel arrived, it took them about 20 minutes to cut the trapped driver from the wrecked truck. The driver, Elmer Rearick, was then transported to Jersey Shore Airport by the Jersey Shore EMS and flown to Giesinger by Life Flight helicopter. Two other workers, who were in the vehicle, refused treatment at the scene even though they were thrown from the truck during the incident. Bobby McCiney, of Bellefonte said he landed on his co-worker Ty Leidy from Centre Hall when the truck first began to roll on its side. As the truck rolled, the windshield popped out and sent the two men flying out of the vehicle. “We got ejected through the windshield and went about 25 yards,” explained Leidy. “ I was honestly waiting to get squished, I really was,” added McCiney. The three men were transporting a load of drywall to a site in Williamsport in the truck owned by Ciesco Inc. out of State College, when the driver some how lost control of the vehicle. “We went off the road. He was trying to save it ( Rearick) and then it rolled.” said McCiney Rearick’s co-workers said he was responsive and knew his name, but didn’t realize he had rolled the truck. Firefighters cleared the debris from the roadway and placed absorbent material over the oil spill while traffic was routed off of the highway at the Pine Creek exit ramp. Both Jersey Shore fire companies along with Avis Volunteer fire company responded to the accident. - PAUL GARRETT
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PAUL GARRETT
Drywall was scattered along the center divider after the truck flipped onto it's side.
FRANK ROBINSON
Lehigh Township. Fire Co. No.1 operates a 1997 Ford F 350/Reading 300/300 brush truck.
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
911 Rapid Response
Palmyra, PA 717-473-3843 www.911rapidresponse.com
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Rehabilitation: Bridging the gap between illness and wellness FIREFIGHTER FITNESS Lori Ann Hodgkinson
Paid or volunteer, firefighting is a very dangerous business. For some it’s a job, for others a passion and for many, it’s both. Regardless of those variations, risk levels remain high. Despite the highest level of training, physical conditioning and protective gear, it is inevitable that fire service injuries and illnesses will continue to exist. Countless unforeseeable unavoidable incidents and accidents await firefighters/1st responders at every call to duty. Firefighting is truly a hazardous occupation. One thing I have learned over the years is that the majority of fire service personnel do not let the risks deter them, nor do they allow the injuries/illnesses to sideline them from duty any longer than necessary. Whatever initially drove them to enter the fire service is not easily squashed or even curtailed. In fact, many of them come back with even more passion and drive than before. There’s something special about the tried and true that put that gear on, and there always will be. That being said, the one thing that has been difficult for fire service personnel to do is bridge the gap between illness and wellness. Once sidelined, members are often expected to take “time off”. “Time off from Work. Time Off” from exercise. “Time off” from everything. Initially, this makes perfect sense. Healing takes time. Healing takes patience and healing takes rest. The problem facing most is that they are expected to heal completely and then simply return to work. In many instances, there isn’t anything in between to ease them back into that return. In order to do so, it is important to address the needs and abilities of the injured/ill. You must also address any liability issues. For some, this may just be a re-classification for the individual so that they are able to be present within the firehouse for any suitable activities without violating any liability/insurance issues. This certainly is not an area where you want to skirt the rules. The stakes are of course too high. Check your SOP’s and if they need to be adjusted, go through proper channels to make the adjustments.
I have seen many fire companies institute a “lite duty” category where tasks are limited and then increased until a return to “full duty” is possible. Still others place firefighters on medical leave or “out of service” banning them from participating in any activities or duties (even classroom) until they can return to full duty. Perhaps a better alternative is a safe and effective course of action – medically based and monitored with the intention of gradually and fully preparing the firefighter to enter back into service as strong and as ready as possible. Rehabilitation is an important step in the healing process and should not be overlooked. The result can be a physically/mentally stronger and better prepared individual. That should always be the goal. After all this is a job that requires exactly that. To take it one step further, the same should be true regarding participation in physical fitness programs. Many individuals are not eligible to participate in fire company sponsored fitness programs when they are ‘out of service’. Please understand, I am not suggesting a reckless call to have firefighters participate in strenuous and/or inappropriate exercise programs without regard for health, wellness or safety. Surely, a firefighter with a broken finger can use the exercise bike even though he cannot operate at the fire scene. A broken foot can absolutely keep you off a fire truck, but it is likely you can still perform a limited workout with your upper body. -CONTINUED AT WWW.1RBN.COM
WORKING FACES To see your action shots in the newspaper upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
A Shamokin firefighters looks up at a home on fire on Walnut Street in Coal Township
J. KRIESHER
J. KRIESHER
The chauffeur of Sunbury Truck 5-42 watches as his crew gets on the roof to perform ventilation during a multiple alarm fire in Coal Twp.
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
North Whitehall fire goes three alarms
ERIC RASMUSSEN/FIRST DUE PHOTOGRAPHY
ERIC RASMUSSEN/FIRST DUE PHOTOGRAPHY
Wilkins Twp. #3 Fire Chief Ronald W. Bair laid to rest Wilkins Township Volunteer Fire Company #4 Chief Ronald W. Bair had is final call on the 11th day of April at 12:09 p.m. Chief Bair passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 4th after a battle with cancer surrounded by family and friends. He was a 43 year veteran of the fire service joining Wilkins Township Fire Company #3 at age 18, where his father served as chief. After 12 years with Wilkins #3, he moved and joined Wilkins #4, where he was a member for 30 years, serving as assistant chief for 16 years and finally as Chief for the
JUMP TO FILE #041215107 past 12 years. Chief Bair was also a member of the Allegheny County Hazmat Team 404 for 27 years serving most recently as deputy chief. He also served as a dispatcher for Forest Hills, Eastern Area Communications and Allegheny County 911. Chief Bair is survived by his wife, Linda and daughter Kaitlyn. He was 61 years old.
North Whitehall, PA. Firefighters from North Whitehall’s Tri-Clover, Schnecksville and Neffs were dispatched on April 11th, to a reported house fire on Route JUMP TO FILE # 042715128 309 in the area of Woodlea Road. A chief officer from the Schnecksville Fire Company arrived on scene, took command and reported a single family residence with fire showing from the rear. The address was confirmed to be 4519 Peters Avenue. Tanker 2221 was advised to respond to the Route 309 side of the building and deploy a line up the drive way to the back of the building. Truck 1631 was ordered to the Peters Avenue side of the building to go in service with an attack line. With fire quickly spreading through the rear of the dwelling and no water supply in the area, additional alarms were struck. The fire eventually went to three alarms bringing in numerous companies from Lehigh County for water supply or manpower. Firefighters battled the fire for about an hour before placing the fire under control and beginning to release units. - DENNIS WETHERHOLD, JR.
DENNIS WETHERHOLD JR.
Flames rip through the top floor of a house at 4519 Peters Avenue in North Whitehall Township on April 11th.
- ERIC RASMUSSEN
PAUL GARRETT
JEFF GOLDBERG
Flowing water
Lower Makefield Township, Bucks County, PA. Firefighters from the Yardley-Makefield Fire Company recently participated in a water operations drill flowing water from Engine 0 at 301 Oxford Valley Road.
Independent Hose Co. No. 1 honors their members
The members of the Independent Hose Company No. 1 in Jersey Shore held their annual banquet recently. At the get together, five members were presented with awards for outstanding achievement throughout the year. From Left to right, Assistant Chief Matt Brown received the Officer of The Year Award, Matt Kieffer, received the Chiefs Award, Brian Fioretti, was named Rookie of The Year, Ron Dailey was honored as Fire Fighter of The Year. and Dave Ulmer was the top responder with 341 responses to incidents throughout the year.
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
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Overlook Fire Company Truck 294 on the scene of a three alarm fire in Coal Township. Truck 294 is a 2003 American LaFrance / LTI.
J. KRIESHER
Union Fire Company (Coal Twp.) Engine 131 has multiple lines stretched to the rear of a rowhome fire in Coal Twp. Engine 131 is a 1999 KME J. KRIESHER
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June, 2015
Fire consumes abandoned four unit duplex and home on “haunted” Clairton Street At 11:30 a.m. on April 11, firefighters were dispatched to a working structure fire in an abandoned four unit duplex and single family home on Lincoln Way located off Route 837 across from the U.S. Steel Clairton Works in the City of Clairton. The Clairton fire JUMP TO FILE # chief decided to let 041115101 the structures burn, protecting the tree line behind the home as the homes were all on the city’s demolition list. Lincoln Way was once a thriving neighborhood, but is now a street full of abandoned homes. The street is full of mystery and has a bit of paranormal history. Rumors about the abandonments and hauntings has led to numerous paranormal investigations along the street. At one time, there were about 40 homes along the street, but now only about ten remain. Most of the homes have either crumbled away or have burned in the past. The mystery of the abandonments began after the first person quickly abandoned a home in the 1970’s. A few years ago, many of the remaining homes were still occupied until everyone just up and left, leaving everything behind, including their clothes, pictures, dishes, food and in one home, even a car. No one knows as to why every single person left their homes and belongings behind. Various possibilities have been
discussed as to why the residents all left in such a hurry. Rumors involve residents leaving due to poisonous gas that comes from the local steel mill to a story of a large red-eyed creature that terrorized residents. However, no one really knows why everyone just left. In March of 2015, a paranormal investigation team experienced some strange things while on Lincoln Way such as unexplained noises coming from the wooded area surrounding the street. Investigators reported disembodied footsteps in one of the homes and a temperature decrease of 15 degrees
ERIC RASMUSSEN/FIRST DUE PHOTOGRAPHY
while standing in front of the home. In a second home, the investigators EMF monitors had a flurry of activity that continued until they were completely off the property. Due to the history of the street and past fires, the Allegheny County Fire Marshal was called in to investigate, but no word as to what may have caused the fire has been released. The street has now been completely closed due to the fire and the dangerous conditions inside the remaining abandoned homes. - ERIC RASMUSSEN
JEFFREY GOLDBERG
Carry The Load event J. KRIESHER
Mahanoy City Engine 451 (Humane Fire Company) connected to a hydrant at a reported house fire on Pine Street in the borough. Engine 451 is a 2004 Crimson with a 1500 GPM Waterous pump, 500 gallon water tank and 30 gallon foam tank.
Yardley Borough, Bucks County, PA. Firefighters from the Yardley-Makefield Fire Company participated in the Carry The Load event, which passed through Yardley Borough on Thursday April 30, 2015.
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
ANTIQUE APPARATUS If you have photos you would like to see in our “Antique Apparatus� feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
WARD - NEW HANOVER FIRE & RESCUE
Firefighters drug hundreds of feet of hose thru a burning field and into the wooded section of a 16 acre field/woods fire in New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pa.
Fifteen fire companies assist at New Hanover sixteen acre field/woods fire New Hanover Volunteer Fire & Rescue Station 37 in Montgomery County was dispatched to a field fire shortly before 2 p.m. A homeowner was burning trash, which got out of control due to winds blowing burning embers onto a field. A cloud of smoke could be seen from a distance as the first engine was approaching the area. The fire was already wind swept across a field containing donkeys and was heading toward a large wooded area. Due to the wind, heavy wooded area, open fields and rural area with no fire hydrants, additional engines, tankers and field units were dispatched right away from Montgomery and Berks Counties. New Hanover command was set up at the original residence, where the fire started. Command then broke the involved area into four sectors with a responding chief commanding each sector. Sector A, in addition to being the command location, was operated by firefighters, field units, and tankers from New Hanover Fire Rescue and Upper Frederick Fire Department. Trappe and Upper Pottsgrove Fire Departments also responded and supported Sector A with engines and firefighters.
JUMP TO FILE #041015107 Sector B was operated by Eastern Berks and Green Lane firefighters with field units. Ringing Hill assisted with firefighters and a tanker for water supply. Sector C was responsible for protecting an occupied home in the woods from the approaching fire. Sector C was operated by engine crews from Pennsburg and Schwenksville. A tanker crew from Eastern Berks supplied the engine crews with water. Sector D was operated by an Eastern Berks engine, Gilbertsville tanker for water supply, along with engines and firefighters from Lower Frederick, Perkiomen, Limerick and Boyertown Fire Departments. Upper Pottsgrove also took command at the tanker fill site, which was the closest fire hydrant about two miles away. Harleysville responded to New Hanover Fire & Rescue Station A for standby with a tanker and a TAC unit. East Greenville responded to New Hanover Fire & Rescue Station B with an engine for standby. Two EMS squads assisted
with ambulances and rehab. Rehab units were split between the sectors. With a full sun and temperatures near 70 degrees, EMS squads checked firefighters coming off the line and provided them with shade, wet towels and liquids. Boyertown Salvation Army also responded with a canteen to provide food and liquids for the firefighters. Three injuries were reported during the fire call. Two firefighters were treated and transported to a local hospital for heat exhaustion. A third firefighter was treated at the scene for minor injuries. The fire was contained and controlled in about two hours. However, firefighters continued operating on overhaul of the area for the next four hours. A DCNR firefighter team was also sent from the Northern Bucks Fire Wildland Fire Crew in Quakertown, Pa. The scene was then turned over to the DCNR crew. The end result six hours later was 16.83 acres of burned fields and woods. The fire was fought by approximately 120 firefighters from 15 fire companies responding from Montgomery and Berks County. - ROBERT WARD
FRANK ROBINSON
Dickson City Fire maintains a 1952 Dodge/Approved 500/400 City Service Truck.
KEN SNYDER
Eng.14-1 of the Fairmount Fire Co. of Lansdale once owned this 1964 Mack 1000/500, which is now privately owned.
KEN SNYDER
The Limerick Fire Co. once owned this 1950 International/Edgar Road 500 gallon high pressure fog rig, which is now privately owned.
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Tremont Fire Company maintains this 1962 American La France 900 Series 750/500.
FRANK ROBINSON
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
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**Monthly charges exclude taxes and Sprint Surcharges [incl. USF charge of up to 17.4% (varies quarterly), up to $2.50 Admin. and 40¢ Reg./line/mo. and fees by area (approx. 5–20%)]. Surcharges are not taxes. See sprint.com/taxesandfees. Credit approval and activ. required. Offer ends 7/9/15. Plans: Req. valid port from AT&T or Verizon active wireless line to consumer account with $10 min. monthly rate charge and current device turn-in. Includes unlimited domestic calling and texting. Max of 10 phone/tablet/MBB lines and one data share group per account. At least one phone req. Data: Includes on-network data allowance amount as determined by competitor plan and 100MB off-network data usage. Add’l on-network data usage: 1.5¢/MB. Add’l Off-network data can be added by opt in only for 25¢/MB for tablets/MBBs. Third-party content/downloads are add’l charge. Discount Exclusions: Discount does not apply to certain charges such as taxes, surcharges, add-ons, apps, premium content, int’l services, devices, partial charges or add’l lines. Usage Limitations: Other plans may receive prioritized bandwidth availability. To improve data experience for the majority of users, throughput may be limited, varied or reduced on the network. Sprint may terminate service if off-network roaming usage in a month exceeds: (1) 800 min. or a majority of min.; or (2) 100MB or a majority of KB. Prohibited network use rules apply—see sprint.com/termsandconditions. Bills: Uploaded online must be in English. Spanish language bills will be accepted at Sprint stores. Sprint, in its sole discretion, has the right to deny offer for any bill that appears altered or fraudulent. Device Turn-In: Phone must be deactivated and all personal data deleted. Phone will not be returned. No cash back. Not eligible for Sprint Buyback Program. If competitive device is not turned in within 30 days from activation, a non-return phone charge of $200/line applies. Sprint Easy Pay: Req. monthly installment agreement, 0% APR, and qualifying device and service plan. If you cancel wireless service, remaining balance on device becomes due. Lease: Req. qualifying device and service plan. No equipment security deposit. Customer is responsible for insurance and repairs. Early termination of lease/service: Remaining lease payments will be due immediately, and requires device return or payment of purchase option device price in lease. Contract Buy Out Offer: Offer ends 7/9/15. Consumer, SDP and CL lines purchasing a new device with: Sprint Easy Pay, Sprint Lease, iPhone for Life Plan, at full MSRP, or Certified Pre-Owned and porting the new line on a service plan. Amount based on ETF (early termination fee) charged or remaining balance on install-bill device (excludes prepaid devices). All lines must be ported from an active wireless line at another carrier and remain active and in good standing to receive the American Express Reward Card. Requires you turn in your current competitor phone associated with the installment billing balance or ETF submitted to Sprint. Important: If you do not turn in the correct device in good working order (i.e. phone powers on, screen is intact, no broken, cracked or missing pieces. iPhones must have activation lock disabled), you will be charged up to the amount of the Reward Card provided to you. You must register and submit your final bill showing your ETF or installment balance within 60 days of switching to Sprint. Allow approximately 15 days after registration approval for your Reward Card to arrive. Register at sprint.com/joinsprint after your registration has been approved. Excludes 100+ Corporate-liable, upgrades, replacements and ports made between Sprint entities or providers associated with Sprint (i.e., Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance). Reward Card: Terms and conditions apply to Reward Cards. See Cardholder Agreement or visit www.americanexpress.com/sprint for details. Subject to applicable law, a $3.00 monthly service fee applies beginning in the seventh month after Card issuance. Card is issued by American Express Prepaid Card Management Corporation. American Express is not the sponsor of this promotion. Waived Activ. Fee: Offer ends 7/9/15. Available at Sprint retail stores or through telesales. Requires new phone line activation or port-in from another carrier on Sprint Easy Pay or Sprint Lease and customer to verify as eligible company employee or org. member within 30 days to avoid $36/line charge. Other Terms: Offers and coverage not available everywhere or for all phones/networks. May not be combined with other offers. No add’l discounts apply. Sprint reserves the right to change or cancel this offer at any time. Restrictions apply. See store or sprint.com for details. © 2015 Sprint. All rights N155252 reserved. Sprint and the logo are trademarks of Sprint. Other marks are the property of their respective owners. MV1234567
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
Delivery truck catches fire damages homes in East Reading
DOUGLAS KAHN
Reading, PA. On Tuesday April 21st with several companies in training, the Berks County Communications Center dispatched an assignment for a vehicle accident at 16th and Muhlenberg Streets. Addi- JUMP TO FILE# tional information 042515105 indicated there was some sort of vehicle burning, and may have now involved a dwelling. Box 06-02 was transmitted just as Tower 1 arrived with working fire. A commercial boom truck was found to be burning with involvement into adjacent dwellings. One line was stretched for the truck with additional lines stretched to exposure buildings. The fire damaged the exterior of 413-415 South 16th Street, with several residents temporarily displaced. The commercial supply truck was destroyed. It was learned that the load on the crane toppled when it came in contact with overhead power lines, dropping the lines to the street and resulting in the fire. Chief Hart (C8) was in command. - JASON BATZ
JESSE SHUTT
This truck fire in Reading caused damage to several homes before being extinguished.
Carbon barn fire requires second alarm
DOUGLAS KAHN
Overturned tractor trailer
Gettysburg Fire Department along with United Fire and EMS (New Oxford) and Bonneauville Fire Department responded to an overturned tractor trailer. No injuries were reported, Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
Carbon County, PA. Around 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, Carbon County 911 dispatched District 4 (Franklin Twp.) and Lehighton ALS to the area of 4595 Interchange Road (SR 209) for a working structure fire. Chief 401 responded and was advised of multiple calls reporting a working barn fire off Route 209. Police arrived on scene and confirmed a fully involved barn fire with limited access. JUMP TO FILE # Chief 401 arrived 043015116 on scene and established command. He requested a second alarm and additional tankers. Rescue Engine 451 was directed to drop a five inch supply line down the driveway. The engine made it within a couple hundred feet on the fire. All incoming personnel were requested to bring additional two and a half inch hose with them to the scene. Lehighton Engine 513 picked up the supply line and began to draft from two portable ponds. The bulk of fire was knocked down by 6:30 p.m. and the building subsequently collapsed. Two additional engines were requested into the scene for extra manpower.
A firefighter carries a flat load toward the fire that was setback from the roadway J. KRIESHER
Other firefighters responding to the scene included Bowmanstown, Mahoning Township, Palmerton, Parryville, and Towamensing.
Mahoning Valley EMS also assisted on the scene with rehab. - JC KRIESHER
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
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June, 2015
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June, 2015
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
Laugh your way to the bank with a stand-up comedy fund-raiser
NIK KNAUER
RFD paramedic loses battle with cancer
On Thursday, April 23rd, the Reading Fire Department was notified that Paramedic Brenda Bauer had lost her battle with cancer. Brenda was diagnosed with cancer in November of 2013, and has been fighting a courageous battle ever since. Brenda was hired in January of 2001 when the city returned EMS service to the fire department. She was assigned to Medic 3 on the C platoon. Brenda is survived by her husband RFD Lieutenant Walt Bauer, sons Dennis and Taylor, and daughter Kirstin Bauer. A celebration of life memorial service was held at Geschwindt-Stabingas Funeral Home in Schuylkill Haven.
JEFF GOLDBERG
Pickup truck ignites in driveway Lower Makefield Township, Bucks County, PA. Firefighters from the Yardley-Makefield Fire Company were recently dispatched by Bucks County Fire Radio to Local Box 0-57 for a reported vehicle fire in the driveway of a single family dwelling. Engine 0 arrived on location and crews hand stretched the trash line up the driveway and aggressively attacked the vehicle fire. Engine 80 arrived on location and its crew assisted with the extinguishment. The fire ended up extending to a second vehicle in the driveway. The dwelling also sustained some fire damage. The Yardley-Makefield Fire Company Fire Marshal's Office was investigating the fire.
Who needs to laugh more than the Fire Companies ---the first responders who deal with dangerous circumstances each and every day? There’s an innovative concept for fund-raising developed by Joey Novick, who is a stand-up comedian and the Fire Commissioner in his hometown: Stand-up comedy shows. Fire companies can get much-needed laughs and profit financially as well. Novick's company, ComedyWorks, provides all-star headline comedians from HBO, Comedy Central, Showtime, Last Comic Standing, and the Tonight Show. Novick’s been producing comedy shows since 1977, and has experience producing shows with such comedians as Jerry Seinfeld, Rosie O’Donnell, Larry The Cable Guy, and Tim Allen. "The comedians were very funny, and very professional," wrote Mark Bruhmuller, Fire Chief of the Churchtown Fire Company of New York. “Joey Novick did an excellent job. Everybody loves to laugh, and it's a great deal of fun." ComedyWorks produces more than 300 shows a year, almost 150 of those for emergency service organizations. The money these shows can
VENDOR TIDBITS Notes from the emergency service business community
raise varies, depending on things like the number of tickets sold, how they're priced, the amount spent on promotion and whether food and drink are available. "Mostly companies produce shows in their own facilities, which may hold 300–400 people," says Novick. "We'll put together a show for them that will bring in comedians from major comedy clubs, with a headliner from HBO, Comedy Central, or the Tonight Show. The feature performer will be someone who's headlined the comedy circuit: Catch a Rising Star, the Improv, the Comedy Store. The host of the show will be a comedian who's very high-energy, like a gameshow host, to get the audience warmed up. A triple headliner show!” The Somerset Fire Company of New Jersey produces two fundraisers a year through ComedyWorks. "We've done about ten shows so far, and it's been great," says Mike Rein-
beck, who coordinates the shows for the 65-member volunteer department. "A friend of mine who had used Joey told me, 'This guy books really good acts.' So, we did the first show, everything was great, and we've been doing shows with Joey ever since." "I find their people to be very funny," agrees Adam Hubney, chief of the Atlantic Highlands Volunteer Fire Department in New Jersey, which books comedians through ComedyWorks for its annual dinner. "We have a professional comedy club in our county, and the quality is just as good." Comedy Works provides a 30-page ‘How-To’ guide that assists organizations through the comedy show production and warns of mistakes to avoid. "We make sure they follow everything in the guide," says Novick. "If a company has never done this before, it gives you everything from you need to know. We make sure that things get done right. Clients who follow the guide always do very well and tend to make money.” For information on Comedy Works, call 1 (888) 782-4589, go to www.comedyworks.org or e-mail joeynovick@earthlink.net.
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
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JOHN G. ENGLAND IV
Hartsville stays busy
Warminster Twp., Bucks County, PA. Hartsville Fire Co. is staying busy. After two working house fires in three days, the department was dispatched to a riding lawn mower fire. Crews on scene used a portable fire extinguisher to contain and extinguish the fire.
ON THE LITER SIDE If you have photos you would like to see in our “On The Liter Side” feature, please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
MICHAEL BAKER
Heavy fire in stairway in Bywood
Bywood, Upper Darby, PA. Crews encountered fire in a stairway with heavy smoke conditions on the upper floors of the building, a four story apartment house. Command struck the second alarm, due to extensive searches in heavy smoke. All hands placed in service.
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
IN SERVICE If you have photos you would like to see in our “In Service” feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
ANTHONY MICCICKE
FRANK ROBINSON
Mount Lebanon Fire Department operates a 2011 Spartan/Smeal 105'/1500/480/20 Foam
Fire on Mcknight Street in Reading
Reading, PA. Later Monday April 6th, the Berks County Communications Center dispatched companies to the 300 block of Schuylkill Avenue for a house fire. Chief Lessar (C6) was in the area with smoke showing. Seconds later, Ladder 1 reported the rear of 301 and 303 McKnight was well involved in fire. Three lines stretched, containing the fire to the rear kitchen of both structures. All searches clear, with a female evaluated by EMS for a medical issue. The Fire Marshal's Office is investigating. Chief Kemery (C5) was in command.
FRANK ROBINSON
Paxtonia Fire Company operates a 2009 Seagrave 1500/500.
TIMOTHY COOVER
Vehicle fire in East Donegal Township JASON BATZ
The Temple Fire Company in Berks County operates this 2009 Spartan Gladiator ELFD/Rescue One as Rescue 11.
JASON BATZ
The Goodwill Fire Company of Muhlenberg Township in Berks County operates this 1986 Pierce as Foam 10. The unit features a 1250 gpm pump and a feacon foam system.
Shortly after 8 a.m. on April 10, 2015, crews from Maytown and Marietta Fire Departments were alerted for a vehicle fire at 1205 River Road. Crews arrived on scene to a fully involved vehicle. The cause of the fire was determined to be from an oil leak.
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June, 2015
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FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Virtual Table Top Exercise (VTTX) assists MLB for upcoming 2015 baseball season Gettysburg, PA. The EMI Virtual Table Top Exercise Program (VTTX) recently presented an active shooter scenario based Virtual Table Top Exercise, which several Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations used to JUMP TO FILE # prepare for the up- 050115122 coming baseball season. The New York Mets, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros participated as part of their internal security events preparing front office staff, general stadium staff and local first responders to review and update procedures, train new staff and familiarize Incident Command System responsibilities if an active shooter event was to take place. FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute, located in Emmitsburg, Maryland connected with MLB security which in turn contacted security directors with all of the MLB teams to highlight the benefits to advise of the VTTX’s program and the active shooter scenario. These teams then reached out to EMI to take part and as such, they were provided with editable situation manuals, presentation slides and expert facilitation at no cost. Mr. Greg Terp Director of Security for the Miami Marlins said “The VTTX is well structured, from the preparation material for facilitators/participants, through the Situation Manual and the flexibility to adapt it locally and the actual VTTX. The value is a program that enables an organization
to utilize a table top exercise for planning, preparation and identifying potential areas of concern. The additional site provides other ideas and their thought process for all participants, enhancing the ability to learn.” Mr. Mario Coutinho the Director of Security for the Toronto Blue Jays was quoted the VTTX “It was a very beneficial opportunity. We normally plan and prepare locally but this was an opportunity to listen others discuss their response plans and available resources. It also allowed us the opportunity to follow-up with each club with any questions we may have. Our police partners took part in this VTTX and they also commented on the value of this training at no cost.” The VTTX exercises are built for agencies as plug and play or change locations, dates, and responding agencies, if desired. Since the exercise is prebuilt the normal amount of time of writing a table top exercise is drastically cut by up to 95%. Mr. Terp also added “it helps identify areas of concern, possible resolutions and facilitates inter-department/ agency cooperation. This lays the ground work for a mutual understanding (COP), teamwork and builds relationships for handling a crisis or incident. We will utilize the information gained from this to close some gaps (messaging) identified in our efforts. We have also learned of new information from the fire department and FBI that adds to everyone’s knowledge of what is available for this particular type of incident.” Mr. Terp advised the VTTX staff, the Marlins will be taking part in additional VTTXs in the
future. During the six broadcasts of this scenario, over 1,000 people took part from 68 agencies. Agencies that took part where from the gambit of first responder, emergency management, tribal, volunteer, corporate, educational and federal. A display of the whole community assets that FEMA suggests in emergency management. Upcoming VTTX’s include: June 2, 3, 4 Public Health Pan Flu – written and hosted by the CDC June 16, 17, 18 Agriculture Incident July 7, 8, 9 Long-term Power Outage July 28, 29, 30 Psychology of Disaster, long term mental health recovery August 25, 26, 27 Building Collapse Focused September 1, 2, 3 Public Health Infectious Disease – written and hosted by the CDC - DOUGLAS KAHN
LITTLE BIG GUYS If you have photos you would like to see in our Little Big Guys feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
Philadelphia Fire Department’s Chemical 1 is a 2007 Ford 550/Seagrave
KEN SNYDER
DOUGLAS KAHN
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
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PATRICK GRIFFIN FRANK ROBINSON
Lafayette responds to second alarm motel fire Get your personal copy of
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East Lampeter Township volunteers responded to a working building fire on the busy Lincoln Hwy East. The fire at the Roadway Inn was showing heavy fire and smoke two miles out. Lafayette's Fire Chief Scott Hershey requested a second alarm assignment once on the scene. The fire was confined to one room extended to the second floor. Firefighters, once on the
JUMP TO FILE #041715118 scene, quickly had the room knocked down in short order with help from Witmer, Ronks, Bird in Hand. Manheim Twp. and Strasburg Fire Companies. The cause was a faulty heater in the room of origin. - FRANK ROBINSON
Smoke showing from house in East Reading
Reading, PA. On Sunday afternoon April 19th, the Berks County Communications Center dispatched a box alarm assignment to the 400 block of South 15th Street. Chief Kemery (C5) arrived at 413 South 15th Street to smoke showing from a three story EOR. Firefighters from Engine 1 stretched a line into the second floor. The fire was located on the outside wall of an upstairs bedroom. All searches clear, with the fire quickly placed under control in ten minutes. No injuries were reported.
FACES OF PENNSYLVANIA’S EMERGENCY SERVICES To see your action shots in the newspaper upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com, email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com or mail them to 1st Responder News, 1 Ardmore Street. New Windsor, NY 12553,
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J. KRIESHER
A Shamokin firefighter takes a break on the turntable of Truck 32
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Three alarms were brought in to battle a blaze in Coal Twp.
June, 2015
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
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June, 2015
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
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Ravine Fire Company operates a Suzuki 60 gpm pump and a 80gallon water tank.
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
NIK KNAUER
Deputy fire chief retires Congratulations to 1st Deputy Chief Stephen Serba on more than 26 years of service to the City of Reading. Steve was hired on June 30th of 1988. After the academy, Firefighter Serba was assigned to the "D" platoon as a jumper firefighter. In 1994, the city upstaffed the fire apparatus to two firefighters for all rigs. It was during this transition that Serba was assigned to the firefighter position on Engine 11 "D" platoon on August 1st. A few years later, on February 1st of 1998 Serba moved downtown to the firefighter position on Engine 3 with the "D" platoon. On September 20th of 2002, he was
JUMP TO FILE #050115100 assigned driver of Rescue 1 on the "D" platoon. Five years later, Serba was promoted to lieutenant of Rescue 1, A platoon on January 27th. Lieutenant Serba was later promoted to 2nd Deputy Chief on the "B" platoon in December of 2010. Chief Serba made his final promotion on March 16th of 2012 when he was appointed as a 1st Deputy Chief of the "C" platoon. Chief Serba's official last day is May 7th. - JASON BATZ
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? If you have photos you would like to see in our “Where are they Now?� feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
FRANK ROBINSON
Lafayette Fire Company operates a 2003 Pierce Dash 1500/500. The unit once saw service in Riviera Beach,MD.
June, 2015
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
APPARATUS IN ACTION If you have photos you would like to see in our Apparatus in Action feature please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
DENNIS WETHERHOLD JR.
ERIC RASMUSSEN/FIRST DUE PHOTOGRAPHY
Neffs Fire Company Tower 16 going in service at a three alarm house fire at 4519 Peters Avenue on April 11th.
City of Pittsburgh Engine spots house fire Just before 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2015, a City of Pittsburgh engine was returning from a call when they spotted a home on fire located at the intersection of Wilhelm Street and Parnassus Way in Fire Zone 1-17. A full first alarm structure assignment was then dispatched. Arriving units found heavy fire throughout the one and a half story vacant home. Command advised dispatch that no firefighters were to enter the structure and a defensive at-
JUMP TO FILE #042015101 tack would be established using master streams. The fire was placed under control in about 45 minutes. City of Pittsburgh arson investigators were called to the scene. There is no word on what may have started the fire. No injuries were reported. - ERIC RASMUSSEN
Paxtang Rescue 40 and crew after helping out on a fire in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County
TIMOTHY COOVER
Middletown Truck 88 on the scene of a dwelling in Elizabethtown, Pa
TIMOTHY COOVER
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
Simple Things Chaplain’s Corner Didymus McHugh
There are so many people who have challenges, so many ways. So many times people do not know how to interact with them. People see them as oddities and it upsets me. Where is the love or the compassion for those who we do not understand what their life is all about? They may have physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual challenges. Maybe they have a lot on their plate and don't know how to cope. Yes, a person with cerebral palsy cannot do everything that the "norm" of society would expect. Talk to them, understand that they delight in the simple pleasures they we take for granted. When was the last time that you looked at the wonder of a storm? How do you react when you get your favorite meal after not having it for so long? My daughter is a special needs woman, who was born with multiple challenges. She used to hold onto her dolls or stuffed animals that gave her comfort. What do you have that gives you comfort? Is it that one jacket that you always wear? Your hat? Something that you have in your pocket? So you have your rituals that you have to do? Do you feel off if you do not have your phone, or certain jewelry? My daughter reinforced in me the need to slow down and just enjoy the simple things, like walking and looking at what God has created. I now get the pleasure of visiting people who may not fit into our idea of "normal," but how blessed am I. I am a student of what they see, how they think, and what they feel. Just because they may make you uncomfortable at first, is no reason to discard them. Take the time, talk with them. Their minds are still going and you can learn from them. We are to love all of our brothers and they are to love us. Appreciate one another and appreciate the small things in life, even that cup of coffee you may be drinking now.
Visit CILS at Booth 808-809 at this year’s Harrisburg Fire Expo! May 15th-17th
For every piece of equipment sold by CILS, Inc. to any Fire Company, we will donate $100 to the NFFF. We’ve raised over $3,600 to date!
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
KEN SNYDER
Northampton dwelling fire
On February 28 around 5:40 p.m., Northampton and mutual aid companies fought a working dwelling fire at 640 Main St. in the borough. Fire damage was mainly in the attic and roof area of this three story half of a double. East Allen’s ladder tower master stream was used to knock down visible outside fire while North Catasauqua’s ladder crew checked on the adjoining roof. The fire was under control in about an hour.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? If you have photos you would like to see in our “Where Are They Now?” feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
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Colonial Park Fire Company Hosts Frank Viscuso’s Step Up and Lead August 30, 2015 (9AM - 4PM) Course Description: Every organization’s culture is either created by design or default. Creating a culture of exceptional service does not happen by accident. This seminar begins with a discussion on the highest rated emergency service leadership traits. Chief Viscuso will also cover the necessary leadership skills that are needed in order to motivate teams and maintain discipline within your organization. Topics will include; mentoring and succession planning, critiquing others, delegating, preventing freelancing, technical report writing, taking on administrative tasks, dealing with insubordination, conducting a post incident analysis, building morale, and leading an organization through change. Chief Viscuso will also introduce proven theories, methods and techniques that can help you and your organization provide exceptional customer service and make a great impression on the people you come in contact with on a daily basis. Chief Viscuso is a career firefighter from Kearny, New Jersey and co-creator of FireOpsOnline.com. He is a nationally recognized instructor and speaker, and the author of 6 books including Practice Scenarios, Common Valor, and industry bestsellers Firegound Operational Guides and Step Up and Lead. Over the past decade Chief Viscuso has spoken to audiences (in and out of the fire service) on many topics, including officer development, leadership, team building, and customer service. Frank has the ability to move people to action. It has become his trademark as a speaker and motivator. His seminars are designed to equip students with the necessary skills they will need to excel in their chosen field.
Live-in Program
FRANK ROBINSON
Covington, PA Fire Company operates a 2001 Pierce 100' Sky Arm 2000/300. The unit saw service in Clearwater, FL.
Local Schools - Harrisburg Area Community College, Penn State Capital Campus, Widener Law School, Dickenson School of Law, Millersville University, Elizabethtown College, York Technical Institute and several others. Features- Two Full Kitchens, (5) bathrooms, Washers and Dryers, Wifi, Day room, and more!
Contact the CPFC at 717-652-8378 or email: LT. Lemmons at klemmons@colonialparkfire.org Register at colonialparkfire.org DENNIS WETHERHOLD JR.
Old Forge, PA. Rescue 93 of the Old Forge Fire Department is now in its third home. The 1980 Mack R/Pierce started its career as FDNY Rescue 4. In 1992 it was refurbished by Northern Fire Apparatus and purchased by the Hazle Township Fire Department. Its third home was in Kiski, PA before coming to Old Forge, PA.
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
Leader of the Pack EMS ISSUE
CHELLE CORDERO
Chief 54 and New Philadelphia firefighters arrived in minutes and found flames coming from the front first floor window.
STEPHEN BARRETT
One female injured in house fire in Blythe Township Cumbola-Blythe Township, Schuylkill County, PA. On March 29, 2015 at 4:30 a.m., the New Philadelphia, Cumbola-Blythe Township, Kaska-Blythe Township, Port Carbon, St. Clair, Pottsville Phoenix Fire Companies, and Schuylkill EMS were dispatched to 199 Market Street in the Village of Cumbola, Blythe Township for a house fire. Chief 54 and New Philadelphia firefighters arrived in minutes and found flames coming from the front first floor window. The fire continued to spread quickly and began to move throughout the first floor of the exposure home. New Philadelphia Engine 5411 and Port Carbon Engines 59-10 arrived on scene first at the working fire. Engine 54-11 established a water supply. Engine 54-11 made an offensive attack to stop the fire. Engine 59-10 established a second water supply, backed up
JUMP TO FILE #040315105 the attack crew, and moved additional attack lines hose line to the home to stop the spreading fire. Cumbola Engine 2-16 and Saint Clair Engine 702 staged. The first alarm engines assisted with operations. Ladder 21 was placed into service and sent its 100 foot ladder into the air. A Pottsville City RIT team was requested. Humane Engine 32 responded to the fire scene for RIT. Tamaqua Rescue 992 was special called and stood by for cylinder refill operations. The fire was quickly was knocked down by the first attack crews. Firefighters entered the exposure home with additional hose lines to search for fire spread. The smoke and heat in the two homes was vented. The smoke conditions
improved and the fire was under control by 5:00 a.m. Firefighters continued to overhaul the double homes and search for possible hot spots. The incident was declared out shortly after 6:00 a.m. and ommand allowed some mutual aid units to be released. Firefighters continued to wet down all of the hot spots, protecting future rekindles. The fire chief reported that there was one serious injury to a female resident. She was treated by Schuylkill EMS for facial and hand burns. She was flown by the helicopter to the burn center in Allentown. The two homes received minor to moderate damage. The fire chief believes the fire started in the first floor of the home and appears to be caused by a malfunctioned electric heater. - STEPHEN BARRETT
The most effective leader is one, who can lead by example. In emergency services, like an ambulance corps, that means training, experience and skill. Never expect your subordinates to do something you are not willing to, or can’t, do. Depending on your corps chain of command, you might have administrative and well as operation officers; while the level of certification may not be the same across the lines, every person who participates in leadership needs to be informed and familiar with the responsibilities assigned to members. For a salaried employee, a paycheck is definitely an inducement to do the job although even a decent salary doesn’t negate poor leadership. In a volunteer agency other inducements need to be offered. Volunteer or paid, no one wants to feel unappreciated, and no one wants to feel deceived or used. When leadership stops putting the needs of the ambulance corps and its members first in lieu of self-serving interests, the membership will respond with less effort, less commitment and far less loyalty. In EMS response, the crew member(s) who is less dedicated will reflect poorly on the ambulance corps and this will be evident to the people they treat. The leader should be perceptive and able to recognize potential problems before they can damage the work environment. A leader needs to be fair, just and consistent. Reward and recognize based on actual performance and not because someone is, or is NOT, a friend or family member. While other members may air their displeasure if you reward someone close, the solid member (who
might be your relative or friend) will get discouraged and may lose some of his loyalty and dedication. By kowtowing to members, who are disconnected from the agency mission and who do not make a concerted effort to do the job to the best of their ability and ignoring the accomplishments of high achievers (for whatever reason), leaders will find they will start losing members, beginning with the ones that the agency needs most. A good leader must be able to make a decision after thought and valuation, and callous as it may sound, retaining employees/volunteers who can support the agency mission is more important than keeping the ineffectual hangers-on happy. Ideally the leader is intuitive Everyone needs to adhere to the same rules — even you. Teamwork, especially in emergency services response, is imperative. Encourage everyone to work together as equals. Honesty is also important don’t lie to your members, not about the agency and not even about your own life; trust is a hard-won commodity and once shaken is very fragile. This is important if you expect your members to take the risks involved in our risky profession. A leader’s personal attitudes need to be “left at the door”; volunteer agencies, where most members serve in the communities they have lived in, are especially susceptible to personality differences. It is not unheard of for a leader/community-parent to react to another parent whose child might have had differences with the leader’s child. Reactions and attitudes are normal; it is up to the leader to manage control and keep the work environment free of animosity. Some of the attributes that should be sought when selecting someone to fill leadership shoes are: dedication; skill; people skills, integrity, confidence, trustworthiness, the ability to control emotions and reactions, and reliability.
Memorial service held for Red Hill Fire Co. fire policeman
TERRY RITZ
On Friday, April 17, 2015, at 11:00 a.m., Fire Police Lieutenant Gary Horning of Red Hill Fire Co. was memorialized. He passed away on April 13, 2015. He was 56 years old and just two days shy of his 57th birthday. Gary was battling leukemia since last October. He received a bone marrow transplant in late February and was on his road to recovery. Unfortunately, Gary lost his courageous battle against leukemia when he went into car-
JUMP TO FILE #042015133 diac arrest due to the extreme stress to the heart. He will not be forgotten, both at home and at the fire station. He leaves behind his wife of 27 years, Lori and two children Janine and Justin. He also volunteered as a helper with North Penn Goodwill of Souderton. - TERRY RITZ
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
TIMOTHY COOVER
MVA in East Donegal Township On April 12, 2015, crews were alerted for a vehicle accident involving a motorcycle. Crews arrived to find one car with heavy rear end damage and one motorcycle laying on its side. Crews helped with patient care and controlled fluids.
NICK MARKOWITZ JR.
Prius catches fire after blowing oil line in Blairsville Hill An older couple almost home and going up the steep on US22 in Blairsville appears to have blown an oil line. Hot oil caught the vehicle on fire. Luckily, the couple was able to safely get to side of road. Black Lick and Blairsville Fire Departments along with PA State Police responded. Because this area is remote, the vehicle was a total loss by the time firefighters arrived.
Aerial 2 absorbs some smoke and water
KEN SNYDER
Bethlehem battles smokey three alarmer Slightly before 4:00 a.m. on March 25, the 911 Center dispatched companies for a smoke condition in the north side center city area. Several minutes later, the source of JUMP TO FILE# the heavy smoke 042115118 was located coming from Monocacy Fabricators at 1150 Mauch Chunk Road near Moravian College. This industrial style building varied in height between one and two stories and is where dampers were produced. The location was somewhat isolated with no exposure problems. Crews made an inside attack, but had to withdraw due to worsening conditions, with extra alarms going to three. Allentown’s Truck 2 was requested to the scene and went into service. For firefighters safety, PPL was contacted and the electrical power was shut down in the fire area. Heavy smoke from the blaze could be seen for miles and produced a haze condition in some Allentown areas. The blaze continued to burn out of control until about mid morning, with hot spots lasting for several more hours. The cause of the fire is considered suspicious. - KEN SNYDER
Firefighters work off a one story roof
KEN SNYDER
Visit us on the web! www.1rbn.com
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Boyer Fire Apparatus, Equipment and Fire Department Supplies ON THE BOOK SHELF
by John Malecky
Boyer Fire Apparatus, Equipment and Fire Department Supplies By Rodger J. Birchfield Available from: FSP Books & Videos 188 Central Street, #4 Hudson, MA 01749-1330 1-800522-8528 E-Mail: support\@firep o l i c e - e m s . c o m www.fire-police-ems.com Price: $44.95 This is a hard cover book measuring 8 ½ inch by 11 inches and as 208 pages. In some respects it may qualify to be called a coffee table book! It tells the story of the history of Boyer Fire Apparatus of Logansport, Indiana. The author was a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis for many years. When papers merged, he was assigned to the fire and police beat for a few years until he retired. Shortly after retirement, he became the assistant to the Indianapolis fire department’s public information officer as a write and photographer. We can say that he is a buff and held memberships and office in a number of clubs. He owns some fire apparatus as well. He did a great job of putting together this book. In 1905, a patent was issued to build a chemical fire extinguishing apparatus. The first motor fire apparatus was built in 1916. The company had a couple of names in their early history which you will read about in the book. Their parent company was Universal Fire Apparatus. Their last apparatus sale was in 1991 and the plant was auctioned off in 1993. The book’s history includes a full list of deliveries alphabetically and is loaded with black and white and color photos. The company did sell equipment as well as apparatus and so some of the equipment photos are mixed in with the history and the apparatus. Most of the apparatus was built on commercial chassis. The custom chassis was mostly Spartan’s. There were a number of unique vehicles sold and included in this book which include those with Grove and Fire Spire aerial ladders. One of my favorites is a quad I photographed in Kokomo, Indiana back in the 1980’s while passing through. It was a 1988 “C” Model Ford chassis with a
500 gpm pump as well as a 100 gpm booster pump plus storage for ground ladders under the hose bed and a 35 foot extension on the side. There are several photos of this vehicle on page 196. If you are an apparatus buff, you should enjoy this book and if you’re an “old goat” like me who has photographed apparatus for 40 years you will see many trucks that you remembered from those years as well as from reading magazines like Fire Engineering wherever they were advertised. In short, thank you Mr. Birchfield for your contribution!
Brush and woods fire in Upper Hanover Township Upper Hanover Township, PA. On April 13, 2015 at 2:50 p.m., Pennsburg Fire Co. was dispatched along with several other fire companies to a working brush JUMP TO FILE# and woods fire off 041415110 Kutztown Rd. between Layfield and Church Rd. Pennsburg Fire Chief Scott Seip radioed to Montgomery County Dispatch for additional tankers and brush trucks and set up command. The fire was contained within a half an hour. There were no injuries. Assisting Pennsburg were companies from East Greenville, Eastern Berks, New Hanover, Hereford, Upper Frederick, Pennsburg Fire police and Upper Perk EMS. - TERRY RITZ
TERRY RITZ
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
TERRY RITZ
Brush and Cornfield Fire in Upper Hanover Twp. Upper Hanover Township, PA. On Monday April 13, 2015 at 3:40 p.m., an Upper Hanover man was burned on his legs while trying to put out a fire that got out of control on his property. With the help of the 25 mph winds, his fire spread into an ajacent cornfield behind his house. He was taken to the hospital by Upper Perk EMS unit. East Greenville Fire Company was assisted by fire companies from Red Hill, Trumbauersville, Eastern Berks, and New Hanover. The fire was contained within 25 minutes
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? If you have photos you would like to see in our “Where Are They Now?” feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
FRANK ROBINSON
WARD - NEW HANOVER FIRE RESCUE
New Hanover Fire Rescue Firefighters (front) work to remove the driver and passenger from a Honda Civic while Limerick Fire Rescue Firefighters (rear) work to remove the driver from a Ford van during a head-on crash.
Three rescued from head-on crash in New Hanover Township Three patients in a two vehicle head-on crash on Swamp Pike in New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania had to be cut out of their vehicles by fire-rescue and flown by medevac to trauma centers. A passenger in one of the vehicles was transported to a local hospital by ambulance. Fire officers from New Hanover Volunteer Fire & Rescue Station 37 arrived on the scene within two minutes of the call and immediately dispatched Limerick Fire Company Station 54 with a second rescue and an engine to assist. Three medic ambulances from Gilbertsville Ambulance 332 and Trappe Fire Company Ambulance 324, along with two medevac helicopters were also dispatched right away. New Hanover Fire Rescue firefighters were able to remove the passenger after removing the passenger door and roof of the Honda
JUMP TO FILE #032415101
Civic. The passenger, who received moderate injury, was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. At the same time, New Hanover Fire Rescue firefighters removed the driver’s door while ambulance medics attended to the driver, who was in serious condition. After removing the doors and roof, firefighters moved the dashboard and steering wheel to free the driver. Once removed, the driver was transported to a waiting medevac and flown to a trauma center. Limerick Fire Rescue firefighters had to remove the door off a Ford van to free the driver. They then assisted ambulance personnel in removing the driver from the vehicle. The driver was transported by ambulance to a waiting Medevac and flown to a trauma center. After freeing the single occu-
pant of the van, Limerick Fire Rescue firefighters assisted New Hanover Fire Rescue firefighters with freeing and removing the driver of the second vehicle. In addition to New Hanover Volunteer Fire & Rescue Station 37 and Limerick Fire Company Station 54, additional crews from the New Hanover Volunteer Fire & Rescue second fire station and Upper Frederick Fire Company Station 87 stood by and handled the medevac landing site in the parking lot of a nearby supermarket. Fire Police from New Hanover Fire & Rescue 37, Limerick Fire Rescue 54 and Upper Frederick Fire Station 87 assisted with the closure and detour of traffic on Swamp Pike during the accident. Fire crews were on scene about an hour while Swamp Pike was closed to traffic for over two hours. - ROBERT WARD
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Liverpool Fire Company operates a 1997 E-One 1500/750. The unit saw service in Elkins Park, PA.
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LITTLE BIG GUYS If you have photos you would like to see in our Little Big Guys feature please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
FRANK ROBINSON
East Pennsboro NE Fire Rescue utilize a 2002 Ford F550/Pierce Brat 150/400 brush truck.
ROBERT WOHLMAKER
First alarm fire affects three homes in Millersburg FRANK ROBINSON
Exeter Township Fire operates a 1974 Jeep CJ 50/80 brush truck.
Millersburg Borough, PA. On March 22nd, at 1:40 p.m., Dauphin County Communications dispatched Box 20-1 to the 200 Block of Union Street, Millersburg Borough for a reported residential structure fire. An officer from Company 20 (Millersburg) reported that he had a visible column and requested the first alarm be dispatched. Ambulance 20-1 (Millersburg EMS) arrived on scene first and advised of heavy smoke showing from the front of the structure. Engine 20 arrived on scene and started stretching handlines while Truck 20 set up and went to the roof.
JUMP TO FILE #032215110 Within a short period of time, master streams were utilized for a brief period of time. Engine 29-1 accessed the Charlie side of the structure from an alley in the rear and stretched multiple lines to the rear of the structure. Due to it being a breezy day, fire did extend into the structures on both the Bravo and Delta sides of the original fire building. Perry Truck 2 was positioned by Engine 20 and also placed their master stream in service on the main fire building, while Truck 20 started
working on the exposure building on the Bravo side. One civilian was transported from the scene to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Millersburg Fire Company was assisted on the scene by units from Companies 21 (Elizabethville), 26 (Berrysburg), 29 (Halifax), 216 (Fisherville), Perry 2 (Duncannon), EMS Co. 20 (Millersburg), EMS Co. 13 (Halifax EMS), and EMS Co. 6 (Life Team-Medic 6). Engine 28 (Pillow) transferred to Station 20 during the fire. - JESSE SHUTT
APPARATUS IN ACTION If you have photos you would like to see in our Apparatus in Action feature please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
ERIC RASMUSSEN/FIRST DUE PHOTOGRAPHY
Woman sets boyfriend’s house on fire A woman set her boyfriend’s home on fire for revenge after he went back to his wife in North Braddock. The fire started shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at the home located in the 200 block of Lobinger Avenue and quickly went to two alarms. On Thursday, investigators determined that the fire had been deliberately set and is believed to have started in the living room of the home. Everyone made it out safely, but the family’s pit bull perished in the fire. The 28 year old woman has been charged with arson, harassment, burglary and cruelty to animals. The American Red Cross is assisting the family, who lost their home.
Hempfield Fire Department tanker delivering water to a 2 alarm barn fire
TIMOTHY COOVER
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
NICK MARKOWITZ JR.
Brush fire possibly from passing train keeps Cambria County firefighters busy
A small, but stubborn fire along railroad tracks in Mineral Point kept Coneamough Valley firefighters busy on a unusual warm and sunny day in Mineral Point area, which may have been sparked by a passing train.
JASON BATZ
Vehicle rolls and catches fire
Reading, PA. Early in the morning on April 14th, the Berks County Communications Center dispatched firefighters to a motor vehicle accident with fire at 12th and Walnut. Chief Lessar (C6) on scene with a car on fire after a rollover wreck. Police officers reporting the occupant self extricated. Engine 1 took care of the fire, and the patient was transported to Reading Hospital with minor injuries.
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STILL IN SERVICE
If you have photos you would like to see in our “Still in Service” feature, please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
Marshalls Creek Fire Company still runs this 1981 General/Pierce 400/2000 Pumper Tanker.
FRANK ROBINSON
J. KRIESHER
Two vehicle crash in early morning snowfall Schuylkill County, PA. At 7:19 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, Schuylkill County 911 dispatched Fire District 9 to the area of 489 Main Boulevard in East Union Township for a motor vehicle crash with entrapment. Mahanoy City Rescue 993 and Shenandoah ALS were also dispatched. Chief 9 with Engine 09-10
JUMP TO FILE #043015117 found a two vehicle crash with one vehicle on it’s side on an embankment. Upon further investigation, it was determined that all occupants had self-extricated from the vehicles and were walking wounded.
Rescue 993 was subsequently cancelled from the call and Medic 6401 came in to the scene to evaluate the patients. No patients required transport to a hospital and EMS went available. The Pennsylvania State Police were on scene to investigate the crash. - JC KRIESHER
GABE SHOEMAKER
Glenside Fire Company's 1982 Mack pumper designated Engine 1-1.
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AWOGS is HIGHLY reflective and glows to heat and/or light Visit AWOGS at the FIRE EXPO 2015 In Harrisburg May 15-17th See us in the Hall - N, Booth 733
Facemask Identifiers * Air Bottle Bands Helmet Shields * Many other products!
www.awogs.com steve@awogs.com
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1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
JASON BATZ STEPHEN BARRETT
Multiple row homes burn in Pottsville Pottsville, Schuylkill County, PA. On April 4th at 1:10 p.m., the Pottsville Fire Department and Schuylkill EMS were dispatched to 714 West Market Street for a possible structure fire. Pottsville Police and assistant fire chief reported heavy smoke showing from the roof of a row home. Some residents were found standing on the street after evacuating. The first fire officer on scene reported a working fire requested an operations channel. Good Intent New Engine 11 established a water supply and took hose lines into the home to search. Attack crews found the fire on the upper floors of the home. It was quickly vented through the roof and started to spread throughout the attic area. West End Ladder 51 sent its crew into the home and to the roof. West End fir fighters threw ground ladders to the front windows. Yorkville Engine 62 and Ladder 51 deployed hose lines in the exposures west of the fire building. Phoenix Ladder 21 sent it main ladder to the rear roof. A number of firefighters were able to gain access to the roof to start cutting holes. The smoke condition from the row homes continued to grow and
JUMP TO FILE #040715110 command requested the RIT team from Schuylkill Haven. He also requested Minersville Engine 521 for additional manpower. Schuylkill Haven RIT responded with Engine 732. The windy conditions helped the fire continue to spread in the exposure homes and quickly involved five other homes. The interior fire conditions on the upper floors of the homes worsened causing all firefighters to nearly evacuate the burning homes. Pottsville incident command requested that the second alarm be dispatched to Pottsville City to stand by. Fire companies from Minersville, Port Carbon, Marlin, and Saint Clair responded to the City of Pottsville. The fire continued to grow and overrun the next door home’s attic. Command ordered Minersville Tower 519, Minersville Engine 528, Port Carbon Engine 59-11, Saint Clair Tower 701, and Marlin-Norwegian Township Engine 20-10 to respond to the scene. Command requested the third alarm dispatched and requested
that the Englewood-Butler Township Engine 369 be sent to the scene to assume RIT. Orwigsburg Engine 56-10, Mahanoy City Humane Engine 452 and Frackville Ladder 43-20 were dispatched to the Pottsville Humane Station 30 to stand by. In 20 minutes, the heavy volume of fire on the third floor and attics was knocked down with interior hose lines. The windows of the upper floors were knocked out to allow the smoke and heat to vent out. Firefighters were then able to enter all of the structures to overhaul and extinguish the stubborn blaze. The fire was placed under control before 3:00 p.m. Schuylkill EMS and the American Red Cross provided care and comfort for the fire victims and exhausted firefighters. Commander reported that several homes received major fire and water damage. The fire chief believes the windy conditions and the row home building construction was a major challenge for the firefighters. The fire chief reported no serious injuries to residents or firefighters. - STEPHEN BARRETT
JASON BATZ
Cumru firefighters drill at storage facility Cumru Township, PA. On Monday night, April 13th, the Cumru Township Fire Department conducted a power saw drill at a fire damaged storage facility on Route 10. The facility had been the previous site of fire and is awaiting demolition. The owner has graciously allowed the fire department to conduct several training sessions before it is demolished.
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DEPARTMENT PROFILE
If your department has photos you would like to see in our “Departmnt Profile” feature, please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
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June, 2015
e h t r o f g n i c i r p Special ’s n e m e r i F y t n u Lancaster Co ! O P X E E R I F 5 1 Association 20
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TIMOTHY COOVER
Truck overturns in East Donegal Township On March 18, 2015, crews were alerted for a MVA involving a tractor trailer that was on it’s side. Crews arrived on the scene and assisted the driver out of the truck through the back window of the truck and then controlled fluids.
PAUL GARRETT
Two injured in three vehicle crash near Salladasburg A three vehicle accident in Mifflin Township sent two people to Williamsport Hospital on March 23rd at around 4:00 p.m. One was trapped for about 15 minutes in her vehicle. The accident happened at the intersection of 287 and 973 just outside Saladasburg across from the Saladasburg Elementary School. According to PSP on scene, a silver Ford F-150 was traveling northbound on Route 287 and was making a left turn onto 973 when it
JUMP TO FILE #032415103 slammed into a black Jeep Cherokee heading south on 287. The impact sent the Jeep into a black Dodge Ram Pick-up truck, but only did minor damage to the bumper of that vehicle. However, the Jeep continued to careen down an embankment trapping the female driver. Rescue personnel from Citizens
Hose Company and Jersey Shore EMS responded to the call and had to remove the roof of the Jeep to free the female driver freeing her after about 15 minutes. The male driver of the Ford was transported to Williamsport Hospital along with the driver of the Jeep. Traffic along 287 was stopped for almost an hour so crews could clean up the scene. PSP is investigating the incident. - PAUL GARRETT
JOSEPH LENNON
Lake Harmony runs multiple extrications and crashes Lake Harmony, PA. Carbon County Communications had their hands full on March 20th with multiple crashes throughout the county due to a spring snowstorm that dropped over five inches of snow in the area. Hardest hit was Kidder Township along the Interstate 80 corridor. Rescue 17 performed two extrications and checked on many other crashes during the four hour afternoon spent on the interstate. Approximately 15 to 20 crashes were reported throughout the afternoon hours on the Interstate and nearby Route 940. Lake Harmony Rescue Squad and Lehighton ALS transported multiple patients.
MICHAEL BRUNNER
Top floor fire in Reading
Reading, PA. As the B platoon was just starting their first night shift, the Berks County Communications Center dispatched a box alarm assignment to 824 Locust Street. Engine 9 and Ladder 3 arrived at a two and a half story MOR with smoke showing from the third floor. One line stretched into the dwelling with the fire knocked down at 6:20 p.m. All searches clear, with no injuries reported. The building was unoccupied, and the fire marshal's office is investigating. Chief Nefos (C4) was in command.
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NIK KNAUER
Smoke rises from the mountain during the second fire on the north side of the Mount Penn Fire Tower.
ERIC RASMUSSEN/FIRST DUE PHOTOGRAPHY
Red flag conditions Mount Penn Fire damages Reading, PA. On Wednesday, April 15th, warm, dry, and windy conditions would come together to keep firefighters busy for several hours. At 11:49 a.m. the Berks County Communications Center sent an assignment to an area east of 14th Street, and south of the Mt. Penn Fire Tower. With smoke visible for miles around, the assignment was upgraded to include brush units from Lower Alsace, Alsace Manor and Muhlenberg
JUMP TO FILE #042515103 Township. An acre of woodlands burned and placed under control at 1:18 p.m. With crews still operating, another assignment was dispatched to north of the fire tower for additional smoke coming from the mountain. With wind conditions picking up, the fire began to rapidly spread up the mountain.
Multiple units from Mount Penn, Oley, Amity, Birdsboro, Laureldale, Earl, Gibralter, Exeter, Western Berks, Ruscombmanor, Cumru, Brecknock and Strausstown were requested to assist. This fire was placed under control at 5:06. During the fire, three air drops were made from aircraft to assist ground units. Members from the PA Forestry team also assisted at both fires. - JASON BATZ
125 year old home Around 10:30 a.m. on March 30th, firefighters were alerted to a residential structure fire on Fern Hollow Road in Moon Township, Allegheny County. Arriving units found heavy fire showing and quickly requested a second alarm. The fire was quickly brought under control. The residents were inside the home at the time of the fire but
JUMP TO FILE #040315102 managed to escape without injuries. Fire investigators are currently investigating what may have started the fire. - ERIC RASMUSSEN
PAUL GARRETT
Avis firefighters help Make-A-Wish With the help of the Make-AWish Foundation and a few Avis volunteer firefighters, a six year old and her siblings will be able to enjoy swinging, sliding and enjoying themselves this summer. Kali Winkleman, six and her twin sister Kera, along with her younger sister Cassi one and a half, will have a new swingset in their backyard. Kali and her twin were born with a chromosome disorder called Criduchat Syndrome. When their nurse supervisor from Bayada referred Kali to the Make-A-Wish foundation, her parents, Brooke and Shane Winkleman, of Avis had
JUMP TO FILE #050115119 to make the wish for her because her condition leaves her non-verbal. "They asked us what she would want since she is non-verbal and because she likes to play on the swings, we suggested a swing set," explained Shane Winkleman. So, three firefighters from the Avis Volunteer Fire Company gave their time to put together the massive swingset. "It has swings, a slide, a ramp, a sand box, and a little clubhouse
on top," said Avis Chief Chris Irvin. The foundation is also providing a layer of mulch to go around the entire swing set. The two other helpers included the Captain of the company, Rich Camerer and Assistant Chief Matt Stover. "It makes me feel good. It's for a good cause. It's what we do at the fire hall we help out," said Stover. The set came in 17 boxes and took the trio 14 hours to complete, but it was worth it they say. "It makes you feel like you've made a difference and helped someone out. - PAUL GARRETT
STEPHEN BARRETT
Vehicle overturns on Vulcan Hill during icy conditions Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill County, PA. On March 2, 2015 at 8:30 a.m., the Mahanoy City Fire Department (West End Rescue Companies), Shenandoah ALS, and Mahanoy City EMS were dispatched to a vehicle accident on Route 54 in the area of Vulcan Hill. Mahanoy City Ambulance 4802, West End Engine 465 and West End Rescue 993 found one vehicle that was overturned. The driver
JUMP TO FILE #040315106 was out of the vehicle talking to a fire officer. Mahanoy City EMS evaluated the driver for injuries. Engine 465 and police directed traffic while the roadway was blocked with emergency units. - STEPHEN BARRETT
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MUTUAL AID GORDON WREN
Early on February 28th, the auditorium at the Rockland County Fire Training Center was filled with firefighters from Rockland County and surrounding counties from NY and NJ. The firefighters gave up a Saturday morning to attend a very timely seminar that gave them insight into the significant hazards and challenges created by train derailments involving Bakken crude oil. The seminar became a reality when Rockland County Deputy Fire Coordinator Dan Moran and Hazmat Team Officer Jerry Knapp attended a New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control sponsored hazardous materials conference back in November in Cooperstown. Dan and Jerry came back very excited by one of the presentations in which they participated. They recommended that we reach out to the speaker and try to make arrangements to have him give his program locally. The speaker was Fire Chief Tim Pellerin of the Rangeley Fire Department in Northern Maine. On July 5th, 2013, Chief Pellerin and his department responded with other Maine departments to a mutual aid request at the Quebec town of LacMegantic, for a disastrous train derailment involving Bakken crude oil. At the time of dispatch, the Maine units were told to prepare for a long-term deployment and an 80-
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
plus mile response. Chief Pellerin indicated that they were on scene about 2 1/2 hours after dispatch. He utilized superb video and photographs throughout his presentation, starting with video taken from his chief's vehicle as they approached the incident from several miles away until they arrived on scene. Any 1st responder could place themselves in the front seat of that vehicle as it gets closer and closer to the large column of black smoke. He then gives a chronological summary of the overall incident, along with details of the strategy, tactics and problems they encountered, emphasizing the loss of infrastructure, i.e. water, sewage system, drainage system, etc. Chief Pellerin began his description of the incident by starting with the local fire chief, whose fire department pager was activated for a possible house fire. While the chief was getting dressed, his wife looked out the window and called out that the entire town was on fire. The local Chief thought it was just a large building until he took a look and quickly determined that his wife was not exaggerating. Much of the business section of their town was destroyed, along with the infrastructure. In addition, 47 lives were lost. This was a major disaster for any fire department, let alone a small volunteer department in rural Canada. It turns out that this was not a typical derailment like we see so frequently, where a train hits a vehicle at a crossing and derails or jumps the tracks due to a malfunction or a problem with the rails. It appears that the prior evening, several miles away, the
same train experienced a serious fire. That fire department was dispatched for a locomotive fire. When the fire department responded, it found a working fire in a locomotive that was running while attached to a very long train carrying over 100 of the older D.O.T. 111 tank cars, each carrying approx 30,000 gallons of Bakken crude oil. What got my attention was the fact that the fire department found the train to be totally unattended, with the locomotive running. It became apparent that to extinguish the fire, the fire department would need to shut down the locomotive engine and cut off the fuel supply. Because the train was unattended, they reached out to the railroad, who advised them on the steps to take. They were successful in shutting down the locomotive and were able to extinguish the fire. They apparently left the scene not knowing that the train would lose its brakes and would start to roll down the tracks, creating a catastrophic series of events. A subsequent investigation revealed that the engineer, who was questioned, had stopped the train earlier that evening, setting some but not all of the brakes and leaving the locomotive running to maintain the braking system. The crew left the train totally unattended for the night. After the fire department left the scene, Chief Pellerin indicated that the brakes could not hold the tremendous weight of the train; and it started to roll, picking up speed as it went. When the train derailed in the middle of Lac-Megantic, the investigators indicated the train was traveling ap-
proximately 63 miles per hour. Why in the world would a company allow a train containing large amounts of hazardous materials to be left unattended for any amount of time, let alone for hours and hours? Apparently, this railroad filed for bankruptcy right after the accident, according to Chief Pellerin. I believe that this is a common practice and widespread here in the US as well. Just last summer, I was notified by a local police chief that a freight train had been parked unattended for four days, blocking an emergency access road to a local tourist site. He indicated that the locomotive was left running for the first two days, and at some point it was shut down. I asked the police chief what the cargo was, and he indicated containerized garbage. A few miles north of this location, I also received complaints about trains blocking a private road going into a construction site, restricting emergency responders' vehicles getting to the site. While investigating this complaint, we found out from the railroad supervisors that this newly created siding was used to park trains while the crews were rotated or went for a break/meal. They also indicated that unattended trains were left at this location for long periods of time. I would like to add that both of the local locations are extremely remote and surrounded by woods. In this age of increased concerns and awareness related to terrorism or even vandalism, how can we allow railroads to continue with this practice? How easy are we making it for the bad guys to take advantage of
these unattended mile-plus long trainloads of hazardous materials? I should add that I have not studied the report from the Canadian disaster but wonder why the train would be parked on a grade, not on a flat surface or blocked somehow. Wouldn't it make sense to require parking trains at secure locations and at least have security guards who can keep an eye on these potentially large-scale hazmat incidents? I just read a study where it is estimated that there will be ten or more accidents involving Bakken oil tank cars each year in the US. The report states that if a similar situation to the Canadian incident took place in an urban area, hundreds of people could potentially die; and the cost associated would be in the billions. Our county has formed a task force and so far has developed a grid map of all areas stratling the railroad tracks, pre-identifying high-risk buildings like nursing homes, hospitals, and schools that would present challenges if evacuations were needed. They are also working on a system for delivering maximum water and foam supplies to any potential derailments in our area. Our county has hundreds of these Bakken oil trains traversing through our county, many if not most, containing over 100 tank cars and nationally it's thousands of communities. After taking part in this training, our fire service leaders have a better appreciation for the magnitude of the problems associated with such an incident. If you are able to attend one of his seminars, I would highly recommend that you take it.
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June, 2015
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June, 2015
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
Vehicle News
Lehigh County Special Operations Rescue 42 is a 2015 Bethlehem HazMat is a 2014 Pierce Saber Spartan/Hackney which carries advanced rescue and hazmat equipment. KEN SNYDER
DENNIS WETHERHOLD JR.
Pittston Township, PA 166-Engine-2 is a 2014 Ferrara with 2,000 gpm pump and 750 gal tnak. DENNIS WETHERHOLD JR.
The Han-Le-Co volunteer fire company in Lehigh County Marietta Squad 10 is 2006 F 350. They will be using it as Laury's Station Fire Company No.1 operates a 2014 Innow operates this 2015 Pierce Quantum 2000/500/105. a QRS along with water rescue calls. ternational/ KME 1500/500/30F. KEN SNYDER
TIMOTHY COOVER
FRANK ROBINSON
Fogelsville Fire Company now operates a 2015 Spar- Tatamy Fire Company Squad 22 is a 2012 Spartan ERV Citizens Fire Co #1 of Tamaqua operates a 2014 KME tan/Smeal 4x4 2000/750/60 Foam. Ex Demo unit equipped with a 1,500 gpm pump and 750 Predator 2000/600/20 Foam. gal tank. FRANK ROBINSON
DENNIS WETHERHOLD JR.
FRANK ROBINSON
Weisenberg Twp. operates this 2015 KME Predator 4x4 Warminster Twp., Bucks County PA. Hartsville Fire Co. The West End Fire Rescue Company 15’s new twin 2000/980/20 . purchased two 2014 Ford Explorers. The chief and pumpers are now in service as Engine 15-1 and 15-2. deputy chiefs vehicles are now lettered and in service. They are both 2015 Pierce Arrow XT Pumpers. KEN SNYDER
JOHN G. ENGLAND IV
EVAN WEBSTER
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? If you have photos you would like to see in our “Where Are They Now?” feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
STEPHEN BARRETT
Englewood reunited with rescued fire chief Englewood-Butler Township, Schuylkill County, PA. On March 25th at the Friendship Fire Company of Englewood, a special meeting took place. It was the first time that a number of firefighters from that company personally met another firefighter they saved from a fire. The four Friendship firefighters; Stephen Oravitz, David Malloy, Mark Cuttic and Scott Taylor; were standing by as the RIT team in Mount Carmel on March 16, 2015. A radio call of “nayday” was put out over the fire ground radio. Friendship’s RIT sprang into action and entered the burning home to search for the firefighter.
JUMP TO FILE #040315104 The team located an unconscious firefighter lying face down in the second floor bathroom. The RIT extricated the unconscious firefighter from the second floor. He was treated by EMS personnel in front of the home, using CPR to revive him. Paramedics called for an air medical helicopter to transport him to a trauma center in Danville. He was later transferred to a burn center in Allentown for possible respiratory track burns. The firefighter remained in the burn center for a few days until he was released.
The lucky to be alive fire fighter was Mount Carmel Assistant Fire Chief Reed. He remembers operating in the fire building when he became in distress and called a “mayday”. He later remembers waking to EMS personnel prior being placed in the air medical helicopter at the Mount Carmel High school. Chief Reed met his rescuers in person at the Friendship Fire Company during his surprise visit. The special reunion was slightly interrupted when the Friendship firefighters were dispatched to a fire alarm. - STEPHEN BARRETT
GEOFFREY WETHERHOLD
Hughestown, PA, Engine 2 is a 1986 Mack CF/Ward 79 which was originally purchased by Western Salisbury Fire Company in Salisbury Township, PA.
MID STATE PHOTO
The Logan Fire Company has just placed this 1991 Ottawa/Marion pumper in reserve status after placing into service a new KME. This engine was formally from Palmyra, PA.
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FACES OF PENNSYLVANIA’S EMERGENCY SERVICES To see your action shots in the newspaper upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com
TIMOTHY COOVER
Middletown Firefighters Kody Krupilis, Jeremy Bollinger, and Zachary Cleland at a working chicken house fire
Maytown Fire Department Chief Engineer Steve Rettew
TIMOTHY COOVER
JASON BATZ
Members of the Temple Fire Company pose in front of Rescue 11 after completing a forcible entry program.
JASON BATZ
Cumru Assistant Fire Chief Robert Snyder practices with a forcible entry saw to remove a padlock.
Middletown Lieutenant Chris Clouser
TIMOTHY COOVER
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
STILL IN SERVICE If you have photos you would like to see in our Still in Service feature please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
FRANK ROBINSON
Weisenberg Fire Company still operates a 1977 Kenworth/KME 1000/4000 tanker
Citizens Fire Company No.2 of Mahanoy City still operates a 1987 Mack/Swab heavy rescue.
FRANK ROBINSON
June, 2015
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ACTION SHOTS FROM AROUND THE STATE
June, 2015
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
To see your action shots in the newspaper upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
FRANK ROBINSON
Howard Hershey is a long time Volunteer and Ex Chief with the Lafayette Fire Company. He is shown here operating the pump of Engine 633 at a working fire recently.
Firefighter John McKay from Hartsville Fire Co. coming for rehab after being on the initial attack hose line.
JOHN G. ENGLAND IV
WARD - NEW HANOVER FIRE & RESCUE
Gilbertsville Fire & Rescue Chief Ricky Smith operates Utility 67 with New Hanover Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Bill Moyer who operated as command during a 16 acre woods/field fire in New Hanover Township, Montgomery County.
DENNIS WETHERHOLD JR.
J. KRIESHER
Mahanoy City Captain Bill Killian (right) and Safety Officer Mike Wall on the scene of a house fire in Mahanoy City
Greenawalds Firefighter Bryan Pfenning takes a break after working on the interior at a dwelling fire at 4519 Peters Avenue in North Whitehall Township on April 11th.
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
June, 2015
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June, 2015
1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
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JEFF LECOMPTE
Reading firefighter runs half marathon in honor of 9/11 fallen Allentown, PA. On Sunday April 26th, Saint Luke's Hospital held their annual half marathon through the Lehigh Parkway. Reading Firefighter Jeff LeCompte joined other firefighters in protective gear to run in honor of FDNY firefighters and Welles Remy Crowther.
1989 FMC Pumper Spartan Chassis, Hale Pump 1500 GPM, 500 Gallon Tank 48137 miles, 4688 hours Pump test updated. Ladder is UL certified $25,000 Contact information: District Manager, Wallace Doyna 631-499-6690 x112.
1996 Ford Service Vehicle. Pls. take notice, Uniondale Fire District will accept sealed bids until 2pm., May 18, 2015 for the sale of one (1) 1996 Ford E350 Van, good condition. Bids open 3pm. Vehicle sold “as is conditon.” Min. accepted bid $3,500. Sealed bids must be marked “Bid for 1996 Ford E350 Van” and accompanied with check for 10% of bid or bid will not be accepted. Final pymt-certified/bank check. For info call District Secretary at (516) 481-8411 Mon-Fri ONLY.
1994 Grumman Van. Pls. take notice, Uniondale Fire District will accept sealed bids until 2pm., May 18, 2015 for the sale of one (1) 1994 Chevy P30 Grumman Van. Bids open 3pm. Vehicle sold “as is condition.” Min. accepted bid $3,000. Sealed bids may be delivered in person to 501 Uniondale Ave, Uniondale, NY 11553. Sealed bids must be marked “Bid for 1994 Chevy P30 Grumman Van” and accompanied with check for 10% of bid or bid will not be accepted. Final pymt-certified/bank check. For info call District Secretary at (516) 481-8411 Mon-Fri ONLY.
2011 Chevy Tahoe. Pls. take notice, Uniondale Fire District will accept sealed bids until 2pm., May 18, 2015 for the sale of one (1) 2011 Chevy Tahoe, good condition. Bids open 3pm. Vehicle sold “as is condition.” Min. accepted bid $12,000 private sale or with Emergency Equip Pkg $15,000. Sealed bids may be delivered in person to 501 Uniondale Ave, Uniondale, NY 11553. Sealed bids must be marked “Bid for 2011 Chevy Tahoe” and accompanied with check for 10% of bid or bid will not be accepted. Final pymt-certified/bank check. For info call District Secretary at (516) 481-8411 Mon-Fri ONLY.
2005 Ford Expedition. Pls. take notice, Uniondale Fire District will accept sealed bids until 2pm., May 18, 2015 for the sale of one (1) 2005 Ford Expedition, good condition. Bids open 3pm. Vehicle sold “as is condition.” Min. accepted bid $4,000 private sale or with Emergency Equip Pkg $6,000. Sealed bids may be delivered in person to 501 Uniondale Ave, Uniondale, NY 11553. Sealed bids must be marked “Bid for 2005 Ford Expedition” and accompanied with check for 10% of bid or bid will not be accepted. Final pymt-certified/bank check. For info call District Secretary at (516) 481-8411 Mon-Fri ONLY.
For Sale First Priority Renaissance Wheeled Coach Type 1 Ambulance on a 2014 Chevrolet K3500 4x4 Diesel Chassis. This unit was completely refurbished. Some upgrades include new FPEV RCT Electrical System, hoseline 12v Heater/AC Unit, new LonPlate Mica Grey Floor, Interior LED Lighting. $115,000 For additional information or photos, email vsales@emergencyvehiclecenter.com or call 800-247-7725.
NICK MARKOWITZ JR.
Driver in serious condition after pickup hits pole The driver of a newer white custom Chevy pickup lost control of the vehicle and drove into a Duquesne Light Company power pole along PA Route 366 in Plum Boro. Plum Boro station from Renton responded along with Plum EMS to the scene. Duquesne light stabilized the pole. No word on the condition of the driver.
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June, 2015
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Vehicle News
JASON BATZ
DENNIS WETHERHOLD, JR.
The Good Intent Fire Company of Pottsville recently The Goodwill Fire Company #1 of Germansville opertook delivery of a 2015 KME Predator pumper 1500/500. ates this 1990 AM General five Ton as Brush 1061. The rig was photographed at FDIC. Brush 1061 carries a 250 gpm pump and 600 gal tank. It formerly served the US Army.
JASON BATZ
The Cumru Township Fire Department has taken delivery of 2015 Spartan/Toyne Rescue Pumper 1500/500. The rig was photographed at FDIC.
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