Story on page 9. - Fire News photo by Jason Coleman-Cobb
In this issue...
Allentown 3-Alarmer
Lehigh County Communications transmitted Allentown Box 2422 sending crews to a reported house fire.
See story on page 4
Fighting EVFires
SOPpoints to be considered when fighting electric vehicle (EV)fires.
See story on pages 6-7
2-Alarmer
at
Springfield School
The Springfield Fire Company responded to a fire on Saxer Avenue, at the Saint Francis of Assisi School.
See story on page 8
House Destroyed in Andalusia
Firefighters made quick work of a fire that destroyed a dwelling in Andalusia.
See story on page 12
3 Displaced in Mount Union Apartment Building Fire
Mount Union crews were met with heavy fire upon reaching the second floor of the house.
See story on page 14
Hot Day for a Fire
Firefighters were alerted to reports of smoke coming from the eaves of a Mt. Lebanon Subway restaurant on one of the hottest days of the year.
See story on page 15
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Attic Fire in New Kensington
Around 1400 on August 30, 2024, crews were called to an attic fire on Kenneth Avenue in New Kensington. The roof was vented while crews worked inside, rescuing several pets from the home. This two-alarm fire had over50 volunteers on scene, and the fire was brought undercontrol in less than an hour.
-
Allentown 3-Alarmer
At 2355 on September15, 2024, Lehigh County Communications transmitted Allentown Box 2422 sending crews to area of 12th and Hamilton streets fora house fire. While crews were en route, the Communications Centerreceived numerous reports of a baby trapped on the third floor. Engines 4 arrived to a three-story middleof-the-row structure with heavy smoke showing from the front of numerous houses and heavy fire in the rearof three houses. Battalion Chief 43 arrived and struck the second alarm. He also asked fora County LadderCompany to be dispatched, as the city’s second aerial device was out of service. Crews began making a push into the house with the reported entrapment and started to make headway. Engine 6 arrived in the rear
and found a row of three garages, and multiple cars on fire. Truck 1 sent members to the roof to start trench cutting. Primary searches proved negative as conditions rapidly deteriorated, and crews were evacuated. Athird alarm was struck, bringing crews to the scene and to cover. The fire rapidly spread through the initial houses and made its way into the cockloft. Despite efforts the fire continued to run in void spaces as well. Command then asked foran additional two engines and anotherladderto the scene. The fire burned out of control fora little overthree hours. Crews remained on scene well into the afternoon hours of the next day hitting hot spots.
- Fire News photo by Geoffrey Wetherhold
Fire News photo by Steve Matto
Being Prepared forEVFires
By Matthew Pruitt EVGoat01@gmail.com
Firefighters are no strangers to new technologies. In fact, most of us pride ourselves on being able to improve our tactics and strategies using the most up-to-date, state-ofthe-art equipment. It’s really no different in any other industry. Since the late 90s, car manufacturers around the world have been working tirelessly to bring consumers an engine that is safe, energy efficient, and great for our environment. The internal combustion engine evolution from the Model T, to the Prius and now to fully electric vehicles has created a need in the fire service to be prepared for some of the most dangerous, albeit somewhat low frequency, fires we’ve ever encountered. The infrequency and increased risk of electric vehicle fires makes it impossible to ignore and necessary to train for.
Extinguishing the typical, traditional car fire is pretty straightforward. We pull a bumper line, and go to work. Electric vehicle fires are vastly different, as you will read in this article. Extrication of a patient trapped inside an electric vehicle is delicate, for sure. You have to be extremely careful when cutting on an electric vehicle. The orange cables may be charged if the car’s safety mechanism has failed. Also the top of the battery tray, which is basically the entire floorpan of the car, could be charged. And, in my experience, thermal runaway can begin as soon as an external source - the accident or your extrication equipment - damages the battery, so you have to consider how long it has been since the accident happened. In addition, when fighting EV fires, it seems that the more water we put on them, the longer they burn. That’s true actually because the water only cools the battery cells, and will simply slow down the fire, causing it to last for hours and hours because, when burning, lithium-ion batteries create their own oxygen. Just like a fish is able to “breathe” underwater, so is a lithium-ion battery. You can’t drown either one of them.
lably hot and propagates to the next cell, eventually spreading to all the cells in the module. Even at the point of ignition, there may be no way to know where, exactly, the problem starts.
Also, unlike traditional car fires, when an EVis in thermal runaway, the motor (s) lock down. As you may know, an electric car’s battery weighs at least 1,000 pounds by itself. When added to the regular weight of a car, you’re looking at a paper weight that weighs up to 9,000 pounds. This excessive weight of a car with locked wheels presents a plethora of difficulties, to say the least.
So, what do we do? How do we fight an EVfire? What are the safest and most effective tactics? After having the opportunity to train on live EVfires in controlled environments, and having responded to multiple EVrelated incidents, we have been able to test some strategies. Some have worked better than others. I’d like to share with you some of the most impactful takeaways from my experiences.
(this is only the latest measurement of an EV fire temp, it could be hotter).
First and foremost, you will need to always make sure to wear your gear when approach-
“The heat of a Li-Ion battery fire is a threat, but an equally dangerous threat is the toxic emissions from the fire”
The heat of a Li-Ion battery fire is a threat, but an equally dangerous threat is the toxic emissions from the fire. You need to be aware that Li-Ion batteries in thermal runaway can give off hydrogen fluoride gas. When we apply water to the gas, it becomes hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid is a colorless, odorless liquid that is acutely dangerous. It can damage your eyes, your lungs and your skin. The danger is that hydrofluoric acid is slow burning. You may not have symptoms of exposure for several hours.
Another difference is that getting water to the origin of the fire is nearly impossible. The composition of an electric vehicle battery tray looks something like this: thousands of battery cells are put together in water-tight sets called modules, the modules are placed into a battery tray which is encapsulated in a watertight shell. There are vents in the tray to allow smoke and gases to escape, but the vents will not allow water or foam inside the tray. Think of a battery failure inside the tray like a winddriven fire. One damaged cell gets uncontrol-
ing a wrecked electric vehicle, even if you don’t see fire or smoke. I have witnessed an electric vehicle go from not burning, to fully involved, within minutes. On the other hand, I have also seen this progression take several hours. Time starts the instant that the battery is damaged, not when you learn about the incident. When you respond to an EVemergency, you have to be dispatched, get out of the station and make it to the scene. You may not know the exact timeline, so it’s always best practice to be safe and wear your gear. It is also important to consider how hot an EV fire actually is. An electric vehicle that is in thermal runaway can burn as hot as 2700°F
Now, you’re on scene, have your gear on, and you’re ready to put some water on the fire. What’s best? In my experience, I have found the use of an EVblanket to be vitally important. The EVblanket is designed to limit the oxygen available to the fire, but the burning batteries create their own oxygen so the blanket itself will not extinguish the fire. Before deploying the blanket, you must knock down the fire on the inside of the vehicle just like you would on a traditional car fire. This step immediately begins cooling the car so that it will be less likely to burn through the blanket. Once the car is extinguished, throw the blanket over the vehicle. Make sure to throw the blanket high so that it is not damaged by sharp edges or parts of the vehicle that may be protruding. EV blankets, depending on the brand (Continued on next page)
Being Prepared for EVFires...continued
and type, come in a variety of sizes. Depending on the brand of blanket that your department uses, your team may need to open up the blanket before use to mark the front, rear and center. Some brands of EVblankets have already marked the front and rear of the blanket for you, which would save you a step. Sometimes EV blankets are rectangular, rather than square, which can cause difficulty on scene if you have not previously marked them. Once the blanket is deployed and covering the car, tuck it under the vehicle to keep it from blowing up so that it will continue to limit the oxygen that the fire can use. It is very important to keep the blanket cool. The best way to do that is with the line you used to knock down the fire initially.
I also recommend, and have had great success with, an EVnozzle placed under the car with a second line. Again, you are not trying to put out the fire, you can’t. The fire has to burn itself out. The purpose of the EVnozzle is to cool the battery tray. Cooling the tray will not extinguish the fire, but it will make the scene safer and more manageable. You do not really want to cool the battery too much because it will only prolong the incident. I recommend using an EVnozzle with low gallonage because it cools the battery while still allowing it to burn safely.
from previous page
Using these tactics have been successful for us in the past. I am often asked about the time frame between extinguishing the fire and moving the car from the scene. Although there is no good way to determine with absolute certainty that it is completely safe to move the damaged vehicle, I do have a few tips and tricks that might help. The first, and most obvious, is that there is no visible sign of fire, including no evidence of smoke or off-gassing. Make sure, too, that you no longer hear the sounds of cells popping (sounds like popcorn in the microwave). In addition, it may be helpful to monitor the temperature reduction of the battery using a Thermal Imaging Camera. Although nothing is for certain, in my experience, my crew and I have been able to safely transport a damaged vehicle after a couple of hours. This may seem like a long, drawn-out event, but this method is much quicker than submerging the vehicle into a large, watertight container - a separate method of EVfirefighting that can take several days to weeks before the vehicle is safe and is not necessarily feasi-
ble in a crowded city or on the side of the interstate.
“The fire has to burn itself out. The purpose of the EVnozzle is to cool the battery tray. Cooling the tray will not extinguish the fire, but it will make the scene safer and more manageable.”
Still, if you move too quickly then the threat of reignition is very great due to the stranded energy in the batteries. Stranded energy is when the batteries have not expelled all of their energy. Since the cells are already damaged, stranded energy in them creates a greater threat of reignition. This threat is why it is important that you escort the tow. If the car reignites while being towed, disconnect it from the tow truck so you don’t have two car fires. Knock down the fire and then continue the tow, Make sure to tell the tow yard management that the car you’re leaving with them is an electric vehicle.
Ultimately, the decisions you make on a fire scene belong to you and your department. These suggestions have worked for my department. We have had great successes when dealing with EVincidents using these strategies and tactics. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me at EVGoat01@gmail.com.
Mill Road Brush Fire
On September5, 2024, at 1228, Limerick Fire Department was dispatched fora brush fire on Mill Road. Field 51-1, Field 51-2, Engine 51, Tanker51 and Fire Police responded. Crews arrived to heavy smoke in the area and saw that a sizable portion of the property was burned and started watering down hot spots
- Photo courtesy Limerick FD
Lewistown House Fire
Shortly after1600, Lewistown and surrounding stations were alerted fora house fire on West 4th Street. First arriving units found heavy fire on the first floorand basement.
- Fire News photo by Patrick Shoop
2-Alarmerat Springfield School
Elizabeth Township Fire
On August 23, 2024, at 1023, a first alarm was transmitted for multiple callers reporting fire from the roof of a dwelling on Smithfield Street in Elizabeth Township. As units arrived, a second alarm was transmitted. Awatersupply was established and crews went to work. Crews were able to bring the fire undercontrol within 30 minutes. The residence was unoccupied at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was underinvestigation by the Allegheny County Fire Marshal.
- Fire News photo by Nick Kurta
On October7, 2024, the Springfield Fire Company (FC) responded to a report of a fire at the Saint Francis of Assisi School on SaxerAvenue, along with Morton-Rutledge FC, Clifton Heights FC, Collingdale FC and Springfield Ambulance. Upon arrival, they found heavy fire conditions from the second floor, extending to the roof. Due to conditions deteriorating quickly, a second alarm was struck, bringing in crews from Garrettford-Drexel Hill, Primos Secane, Holmes , Bon Air, Middletown, Broomall, Garden City, Manoa, Swarthmore and Rose Tree. Initially, the school janitorwas reported to be missing, however he was accounted for, unharmed. There were no injuries reported.
- Fire News photo by Sherry Tappan
Garage Fire Extends to House in Colonial Park
On August 18, 2024, at 2057, in LowerPaxton Township Box 33-4 toned forCompany 33, Engines 301, 32 and 34, Tower1, and Rescues 37 and 36-1 (RIT) to Ford Avenue in the Colonial Park section of the township fora structure fire. Chief 32 arrived to a
two-story, single-family home with fire in the carport that had extended into the house. Engine 33 stretched two lines. Down power lines and arcing hampered initial efforts. Truck 33 opened up the roof as crews found fire on the first and second floors. Lower Paxton Chief 82 assumed incident command upon his arrival. Three lines were stretched and operated, knocking down all visible fire in about 15 minutes with the fire being placed undercontrol at 2137.
- Fire News photos by Jason Coleman-Cobb
Bradford Township House Fire
The Bradford Township VolunteerFire Department was dispatched to a house fire on West Corydon Street at 0650 on October14, 2024. Also dispatched on the initial alarm was Bradford City forstandby and tankers from Lewis Run and Corydon. Firefighters arrived to a working fire and used two, 1-3/4 inch attack lines. Additionally, Lewis Run, Corydon Township and Lafayette Township were on standby at theirstations. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit and Bradford Township Police were investigating the fire. Firefighters were on scene forthree hours. Police from Bradford Township, Bradford City and the University of Pittsburgh assisted with traffic control. West Corydon Street was closed forapproximately three hours. - Fire News photo by Jay K. Bradish
CarFire in ButlerCounty
On September4, 2024, around 2204, ButlerCounty 911 received a call fora vehicle on fire endangering a garage on Freeport Road in Summit Township in ButlerCounty. Station 10 (Herman), Station 1 (Butler Bureau of Fire), Station 9 (East Butler) and Station 44 (East Butler Ambulance) were dispatched. Aportable unit arrived on location advising that the fire was in the engine compartment and being controlled by the homeownerand not endangering anything at the time. Butler Bureau of Fire arrived and extinguished the remaining fire that had made its way into the passengercompartment. The fire was knocked down and the call was held to Stations 10 and 1. One civilian was checked out by EMS forburns to the hands. All units cleared the scene around 2300. - Fire News photo by Artie Osniak
House Destroyed in Andalusia
Firefighters made quick work of a house fire that destroyed a dwelling in the Andalusia section of the township. No one was injured. Companies called in to help included Croydon from Bristol Township. The fire started in the front of the house and ran the length of the structure.
- Fire News photo by Dawn Altstatt
Duplex Apartment Fire in Lykens
At 1313 on LaborDay September2, 2024, a call was struck foran odorinvestigation in the 500 block of Market Street in Lykens. Chief 22, a block away, observed a column of thick black smoke and found the front of a home on fire with fire coming from the doorand window area, and advised that the fire was spreading to the second floor. County added additional units to the box. Chief 22 then advised that the fire was spreading to a second structure. Crews placed multiple handlines in service and were able to darken down a majority of the exteriorfire on side A. as the flames entered the home and rose to the attic, flames, were now replaced by thick smoke billowing from roof down to the street. Command was advised that the second floorwas compromised and forall to exit. As crews continued working, Truck 22’s bucket pulled tin roofing from the home which revealed a double layerroof hiding remaining fire. With control of the fire finally marked operations turned into overhaul with firefighters chasing hot spots. During the blaze firefighters rescued pet sugargliders but a pet cat perished. Numerous crews from Lykens, Wiconisco, Gratz, Elizabethville, Fisherville, Millersburg, Williamstown, Sheridan and Muiroperated as well as Williamstown EMS and Life Team EMS. - Fire News photo by Seth Lasko
House Fire in LowerBurrell
On September5, 2024, multiple companies were called to a well-involved house fire on Michigan Avenue in LowerBurrell, Westmoreland County. Initial attack efforts were slowed when a five-inch line was struck and punctured by a vehicle, and the laddertruck wasn’t able to be used until powerlines were disabled. Once an adequate watersupply was re-established, crews aggressively attacked the fire from three sides and brought it undercontrol.
- Fire News photo by Steve Matto
Hay Bales Burn forDays in East HanoverTwp.
On September9, 2024, at 2320, in East HanoverTownship, Grantville Company 39 and Union Deposit Attack 47 were dispatched on Box 39-7 to Trail Road fora report of hay bales on fire. Attack 39 reported a large stack of hay bales on fire. Attack 39 could see the headeren route and requested the upgrade adding Attack 48, Tanker47, and Brush 36-1. With three rows of bales becoming fully involved, Command 39 requested the first alarm assignment (Engine 48, Rescue 2, RIT91-5, Air48). Engines 36-1, 34 and 46, and Tanker47 all laid lines and supplied water. Wagon 1 set up a fill site on Trail Road. Companies focused theirefforts on protecting the barn utilizing two aerial streams and multiple handlines. Asecond alarm foradditional resources was requested,bringing companies from Dauphin and Lebanon County to the scene. Command reported an hourinto the incident he had three rows, of hay bales burning. At 0110, command requested an additional fourtankers to the scene (Tankers 23, 71, 3, Schuylkill 21). Crews remained on the scene throughout the night and well into the next morning and performed fire watches forthe next several days as the pile continued to burn and smoldercreating a smoky haze that drifted into suburban Harrisburg. This location was the scene of anotherhay bale fire that burned in similarfashion on in 2011.
- Fire News photo by Jason Coleman-Cobb
Fast Moving Blaze Destroys Hegins Twp. Home
At 1231 on August 26, 2022, a call was dispatched fora reported house fire in the 1300 block of East Main Street in Hegins Township in Schuylkill County. Units from Hegins Valley Fire Rescue, Sacramento, Mahantongo, Donaldson, Tremont and Pine Grove North End, Joliett and Gratz fire companies were dispatched. Fire Police 22-84 advised that the house was fully involved. County advised command there was reported to be two dogs within the home and the ownerwas not home. Initial crews were able to knock down most of the exteriorfire on the Aside, however, fire was pushing out almost every window and roof eaves and there was heavy fire on the C side. Due to the structural integrity of the home being compromised the fearof the chimney collapsing initiated a collapse zone. With Ladder58-25 arriving on scene and beginning to open up the roof as well as masterstream operations, crews began to make headway. As crews continued, working one of the dogs were found alive. Crews rapidly requested the Stoke’s basket and pet oxygen mask. Tremont Fire transported the dog to a nearby vet, which then transferred it to an emergency vet clinic for furthercare. The following day units were called back to the scene fortwo separate rekindles, which finished destroying the home and contents. Sadly, anotherdog, seven puppies and fourcats perished in the fire.
- Fire News photo by Seth Lasko
Harrisburg Duplex Fire Displaces 8
On September11, 2024, at 2203, Box 1-4 toned sending Squad 8, Wagon 4, Tower1, Truck 2, and Captain 2 (Feldman) to Swatara Street formultiple calls reporting a house fire. While en route, Captain 2 advised of people trapped, including three children, and that there were now two houses on fire. With this information, the first alarm was started, adding Wagon 3, Truck 32, Rescue 69, Air13, and Chief 1 (Enterline) to the assignment. Captain 2 arrived to a 2-1/2 story, occupied duplex with heavy fire from both sides in the rear. As lines were being stretched, companies were advised that all occupants were accounted for. Crews had fire on all floors of two buildings prompting Captain 2 to special call two additional engines formanpower. The bulk of the visible fire was darkened down in about 20 minutes with crews performing extensive overhaul and mop up before command marked control. The fire displaced two adults and six children.
- Fire News photo by Jason Coleman-Cobb
3 Displaced in Mount Union Apartment Building Fire
Three residents were displaced aftera fire in an apartment building on South Jefferson Street in Mount Union. Mount Union Assistant Chief Sam Raffensbergerreported fire coming from windows on the second floor. Initial crews from Mount Union were met with heavy fire conditions upon reaching the second floorof the house, which had been converted into three apartments. The fire was reported as undercontrol around 2300. Crews remained on scene until around 2400. Firefighters from Mapleton, Smithfield, Three Springs, Shade Gap, Mill Creek, Newton Wayne, Huntingdon Regional. Mount Union EMS assisted at the scene. The American Red Cross helped those displaced. The fire investigation was turned overto the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall’s Office.
- Fire News photo by Samuel Baumgardner
Mobile Home, Work Shed Fire in Lehigh Twp.
Firefighters from Lehigh Township along with several othercompanies from Northampton and Lehigh counties were dispatched to a reported shed fire on Duke Street in Lehigh Township recently. Additional calls reported a work shed fire with extension to a mobile home. Upon arrival, Commissioner4750 advised of a working fire. Engine 29 was ordered to pass the dwelling and deploy a handline on the delta side while Engine 47 was ordered to deploy a handline on the bravo side where the majorfire was. Crews from Engine 47 deployed two lines. Crews make an aggressive attack and made a quick knockdown of the fire.
- Fire News photo by Dennis Wetherhold, Jr.
Greensburg Station 79-1
Open House
Greensburg Station 79-1 held theirannual Open House event on September21, 2024. The event had trucks from 79-1, as well as a couple from neighboring Station 501 from Hempfield, which were featured in a Touch-A-Truck setting. There was also a kid’s firefighterobstacle course, games, amazing free food and more.
- Fire News photo by Steve Matto
Jimmy Ellis Fire Training Weekend
Instructors and staff from the Truck Company class held at the Jimmy Ellis Fire Training Weekend in ButlerCounty on the weekend of August 16 to 18, 2024.
- Fire News photo by Artie Osniak
Hot Day fora Fire
Firefighters were alerted to reports of smoke coming from the eaves of a Mt. Lebanon Subway restaurant on one of the hottest days of the year. The Mt. Lebanon Chief confirmed the smoke condition. Between the temperatures and building construction two additional companies (Dormont and Castle Shannon) were added to the call. The fire was brought undercontrol without any injuries. - Fire News photo by Ken Lager
PopularBarAnd Grill in Andalusia Destroyed
Atwo-alarm fire ripped through the Andalusia Barand Grill during the early morning hours of October10, 2024, in Bensalem. The baris located in a strip mall and several exposures sustained damage. First-in companies encountered a medium smoke condition, which turned into fire through the roof in a matter of minutes. No injuries were reported. The roof collapsed during interior operations causing a building evacuation. Some 15 businesses were affected by the fire. - Fire News photo by Alex Lloyd Gross
Early Morning Fire Sends 2 Civilians to the Hospital
On October13, 2024, firefighters from Yeagertown Fire Company were summoned to CloverAvenue around 0615, forreports of a kitchen fire. Yeagertown Fire Captain HunterSnook arrived within a minute of the initial call and confirmed a working fire with fire visible in the kitchen and spreading. The bulk of the damage was held to the kitchen and living room area. and the cause of the fire was under investigation by Mifflin County Regional Police’s Fire Marshall. Crews remained on scene until almost 0800. Assisting were firefighters from Burnham Fire, Chief Logan Fire, Reedsville Fire City Hook and Ladder, Fame EMS, local fire police, and Mifflin County Regional Police. - Fire News photo by Samuel Baumgardner
Applebee’s Smoke an Electrical Issue
At 2208 on August 6, 2024, multiple departments were dispatched to a reported fire at Applebee’s in Limerick Township on BuckwalterRoad. Employees reported a possible fire in the ceiling, saw some smoke, and smelled a strong burning odor. Ladder 63, Ladder98, Engine 68-2, Squad 68, Engine 51, Ladder51, Engine 98, Special Service 51, Squad 51, Fire Marshal 84, Fire Police 51, and Deputy 51 responded. Crews arrived, checked the restaurant ceiling, and found an electrical issue.
- Photo courtesy of Limerick FD
Duquesne 2-Alarmer
On August 24, 2024, Duquesne Station 133 was dispatched to the intersection of Catherine Street and Sherman Street fora fully involved structure fire. Police confirmed the working fire. First-alarm crews came from Dravosburg, Homeville, United, Lincoln Borough and Duquesne. Due to the extreme heat, a second alarm was called formanpower, bringing in West Mifflin, Wilmerding, Homestead and RITs from Glassport and Jefferson Hills. Crews were on the scene formultiple hours battling the blaze and waiting foremergency demolition. Duquesne Police, Munhall 1 Rehab 200, the Salvation Army and McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service 620 were also assisting. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal was investing the fire.
- Fire News photo by Nick Kurta
Long Fight in Northampton Co.
Just after0430 on June 9, 2024, the Northampton County Communications Centersent units to Beth Bath Pike fornumerous calls reporting an apartment building on fire with fire showing. Chief 46 declared a working fire en route, then a second alarm. He arrived to a two-story mixed-occupancy with fire showing from the Charlie side. Engine 4611 arrived as did Truck 2722. Eventually, crews were evacuated from the building as the fire rapidly gained headway. The fire was finally darkened down with multiple handlines and a deck gun in about two hours. The fire wasn’t brought undercontrol foranothertwo hours as it ran in multiple hard to reach voids. Crews remained on scene well into the late morning hitting hot spots.
- Fire News photo by Geoffrey Wetherhold
NewtoTHEM
in Catasauqua
- Fire News photo by Dennis Wetherhold, Jr.
Fire News photo by Patrick Shoop
- Fire News photo by Seth Lasko
- Fire News photo by Dawn Altstatt
Limerick Goes to Work
DriverFlees Horse and Buggy Crash
- Fire News photo by Steve Matto
- Fire News photo by Samuel Baumgardner
- Photo courtesy of Limerick FD
- Fire News photo by Seth Lasko
- Fire News photo by Seth Lasko
Fire News photo by Nick Kurta
Gratz 100th Anniversary Parade
Gratz Fire Company 27 celebrated its 100th anniversary on August 24, 2024, with a parade followed by food and ice cream as well as a dunk tank and games. Penn State Health Life Lion also flew in for attendees to get a up-close look at the helicopterthat frequents the
Gratz area. Awards were given to selected apparatus in the parade and also awards given to a formerfire chief and a current fire chief fortheirdedication and service to the company.
- Fire News photos by Seth Lasko
LowerMacungie 100th Anniversary
RapidSOS Aquires eDispatches
Move Aims to Provide the Critical Situational Awareness Needed in an Emergency.
RapidSOS, the intelligent safety company, announced the acquisition of eDispatches, an industry leader in providing communication services to emergency responders. This strategic move aims to provide the critical situational awareness needed in an emergency by leveraging RapidSOS’intelligent safety platform and eDispatches’communications technology to field responders in an emergency.The acquisition of eDispatches joins RapidSOS’2022 purchase of IamResponding.
For the past decade, thousands of public safety agencies have shaped RapidSOS’technology roadmap.
eDispatches addresses limitations in traditional two-tone paging systems often used by emergency responders, which can be hindered by range or topography.
The collaboration between RapidSOS and eDispatches marks a significant milestone in the evolution of first-response technology. eDispatches has been dedicated to providing value-driven, secondary notification services to the emergency responder community. By joining forces, RapidSOS and eDispatches are poised to deliver next-generation communication solutions that can improve emergency response times and outcomes on a broader scale, benefiting more communities and individuals in need.
“One of the critical benefits of this acquisition is the expansion of intelligent safety data to field responders. By providing additional context in an emergency, first responders will have the information they need to facilitate more efficient and effective responses,” said Michael Martin, CEO and cofounder of RapidSOS.
CFSI Symposium and Dinner
The 35th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner is expected to draw over 1,500 fire and emergency services leaders from across the country. Participants will attend seminars, conduct meetings with their members of Congress and network with their colleagues.
The Symposium and Dinner will be held on February 12 and 13, 2025 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC.
At the conclusion of the two-day event, you will join together in the Washington Hilton ballroom to hear national political leaders paying tribute to the dedication and commitment of our nation's firefighters and emergency services personnel.
Individual tickets are $475 and include a seat at the dinner as well as access to all seminars. If you order before 12/1/24, the Early Bird Sale ticket price is $425. If purchasing 10 or more tickets, please see the table level options on our website. Order tickets at https://cfsi .org/annual-symposium-and-dinner/tickets/.
The 100th Anniversary celebration and open house of the LowerMacungie VolunteerFire Department was held on October12, 2024. - Fire News photos by Steve Lenz
The Legacy of Currierand Ives
by Jamie Smith Quinn, Executive Director, FASNYMuseum of Firefighting
As we approach the holidays, we will all be receiving holiday cards. Probably at least a few of these cards feature scenes by Currier and Ives. Sentimental winter scenes by Currier and Ives are often reproduced on holiday cards and featured on calendars. Prints by Nathaniel Currier and and James Merritt Ives have become an American institution, even recognized in song. Here are some selected lyrics from the holiday classic tune “Sleigh Ride”:
There’s a happy feeling
Nothing in the world can buy
When they pass around the coffee
And the pumpkin pie
It’ll nearly be like a picture print
By Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things
We remember all through our lives….
The quaint prints by the two offer us a window into the lives of Americans during the 19th century. Their prints helped America define its national identity. Describing themselves as “publishers of cheap and popular pictures,” Currier and Ives were the leaders in lithograph printing during the nineteenth century.
Lithography was a method of printing used in America beginning in the early 1800s. Lithographers used specially prepared stones as printing plates, which were drawn on with special lithographic crayons.
Nathaniel Currier opened his own lithograph firm, N. Currier, in 1835. He had a knack for accessing the public taste and a shrewd business sense. In 1852, he hired James Merritt Ives, a relation by marriage, as the firm’s bookkeeper. Ives was adept at using an idea to its best advantage. Often he would combine the best features of several sketches on a subject, by various artists, into a final master work. Ives became such an asset to the company that in 1857, he was made a partner in the firm; and thus the lithography company of Currier and Ives was born.
Currier and Ives used many artists to sketch scenes of American life.
Each artist’s initial master sketch was critiqued and approved by Currier, Ives, or both men before being lithographed in one color ink. After this process, each individual print was colored by hand. Many prints were also available uncolored.
ACurrier and Ives catalog could contain over 1000 images at any one time. Billing their work as “Colored Engravings for the People,” they sold thousands of prints ranging in price from a few cents for smaller prints, to a few dollars for the larger folios. Although a multitude of other lithograph companies did exist, during the heyday of the lithograph print, 80 percent of all American lithographs sold publicly were Currier and Ives prints. They made their way into practically every home in America.
The subject matter of prints by Currier and Ives varied widely. They portrayed every aspect of American life, as well as American history: from hunting and fishing, presidential portraits, ships, railroads, political cartoons, sporting events, disasters of the day to reproductions of famous artists’masterpieces and more. And of course, there were the wonderful portrayals of volunteer firemen in action.
Currier’s early lithographs of fire disasters, specifically the burning of the steamboat Lexington, the burning of the Planter’s Hotel and the Conflagation of 1835, were particularly popular in his time and helped establish his firm as a leader in the lithograph business. Currier was very civic minded and it has been established that Currier was in fact a volunteer firefighter. The series of lithographs “The Life of a Fireman” were extremely popular when first printed and they are still among the most sought after prints of the era by collectors today. Perhaps this is because this folio offers such a vibrant, visual picture of the volunteer firefighters of the time. The Currier and Ives later lithograph series, “The American Fireman” also aptly represents firefighters of the era.
Did you know that the museum has several original Currier and Ives lithographs, as well as lithographs from lesser known companies? These prints are part of the fine art collection that the Museum holds and cares for. These prints and fine art pieces are rotated out on exhibit from time to time, so to catch them all, visit the FASNYMuseum of Firefighting Museum regularly. Find the Museum’s hours of operation at fasnyfiremuseum.com - Submitted by Jamie Quinn
