1st Responder News PA July August Edition

ST

Find us on

R espo n der N ew spaper

Facebook

The Pennsylvania Edition

PUBLISHING SINCE 1 9 9 3

HOME SUBSCRIPTION - $24/Y E A R

W W W .1RBN.COM

JULY/AUGUST, 2 0 2 6

KEN SNYDER

WALNUTPORT, PA- The Diamond Fire Company and neighboring fire companies were dispatched to a dwelling fire at 715 Williams Ave. at 3:47 a.m. on May 9th. Police on scene confirmed a working fire to the 911 center. As firefighters left the station several blocks away from the fire, they could see a header in the sky and immediately requested a second alarm.

-

See full story on page 4

Join our Team of Dispatchers Paging with a Rewards Program!

Visit our website to fill out an application.

w w w .1rw n .com

i

R espon d er W ireless

July/August, 2026

PAGE 2

ADVERTISER INDEX

Count Your Blessings

A guide to finding great companies

C om pany

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

P a ae

1st Out Specialty

3

Chaplain’s Corner Didymus McHugh

Armor Tuff Flooring

11

Command Fire App.

14

Dalmatian Fire Equip.

27

Dival Safety & Supplies

15

ESI Equipment

5

Fire Flow Services, Inc.

25

Mid Atlantic Rescue

13

Single Fin Golf Co.

52

I have gone to resiliency train­ ing, and they talk about having gratitude, but why do we need a program to learn how to appreciate things. I have heard that gratitude is basically appreciating the life that you have.

I know people who have gone through major events in life and then they learned to appreciate things. Why do some people need a major event? After I had my major event, I have learned to appreciate each morning and look at things a lot differently than when I did be­ fore.

Do you know how many times the Bible discusses that we need to be thankful? It's over one hundred fifty times. Psalm 107:21 states "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his won­ derful deeds for mankind."

Have you noticed deer or other animals watching you as you are in the traffic?

Some of us need to be re­ minded that even our now is not promised and if we wake up tomor­ row, it is definitely a gift from God. We may make plans for our life, but everything can change in less than a heartbeat.

Have you even taken the time

to smell the head of a baby or really listened to children as they laughed or really listened to children as they laughed or really sat down and lis­ tened to the stories of someone else, especially those with much life ex­ perience or going through chal­ lenges.

There are many people that can appreciate having food and shelter.

James 1:17 states "Every good and perfect gift is from above, com­ ing down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Many times, I think about sitting on a porch reading a good book and just enjoying a nice cup of tea and just watching the day unfold.

The story got to me of a woman who face flooding of a hurricane. In the shelter, she was surrounded by her family, and she had all that she needed in life.

There are people that I know that love foul weather. To them, they enjoy the smell and the sound of the rain falling and thunder and watch­ ing the lightning.

Is there something that you carry that is a reminder to appreciate things. Do you carry a picture of o loved one?

We may need reminders at times of how lucky we really are. We may not appreciate a situation as we are going through it but may look back later and say how that may have re­ ally changed our lives.

COURTESY OF CLEARFIELD FIRE DEPT.

Stay safe, Didymus McHugh didymus-mchugh.com

CORPORATE INFORMATION 1st Responder News (ISSN 1525-1683) - Pennsylvania edition - Vol. 30 No. 4 - is published bi-monthly, 6 times a year for $24 per year by Belsito Communica­ tions, Inc., 1 Ardmore Street, NY 12553. Periodicals Postage Paid at Newburgh, NY and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to 1st Re­ sponder News, 1 Ardmore Street, NY 12553. No fi­ nancial responsibility is assumed by this newspaper to publish a display, classified, or legal ad or for typo­ graphical errors except o f reprinting that part o f the ad which was om itted or in error.

A division of:

Read more articles from all of our

°m issions BB1SHTO

or errors com m u nicatio n s, inc. must be brought to the attention of the newspaper during the same month o f publication. Printed in Canada.

columnists online!

845-534-7500 • (fax) 845-534-0055 info@belsito.com

PURUCATION CONTENT Notice: The advertisements, articles, and letters contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of 1st Responder Inc. and Belsito Communications, Inc. Ad­ vertisements are sold pursuant to the "space available" and corresponding fee schedule. The mere fact that advertise­ ments are contained in this publication does not express nor imply that 1st Responder Inc. and Belsito Communi­ cations, Inc. vouches for the credibility of the claims made in the advertisements or the representations expressed or implied in them.

R esponder N ew spaper

www.1rbn.com

COURTESY OF CLEARFIELD FIRE DEPT.

Garage Fire Spreads to Brush Fire in Clearfield CLEARFIELD, PA - On A p ril 18th at a ro u n d 2:11 p.m., the C learfield Fire D epartm ent arrived to help C om pany 6 w ith a reported b u ild in g fire th a t had spread into a garage fire w ith e x p lo s io n s and th e n in to a b ru s h fire . Several 911 c a lls s h o rtly after d is p a tc h v e rifie d th at th ere was an active fire.

A fte r o b ta in in g the garage fire 's address, Squad 1 sta rted u sin g Engine-Tanker 6 to put it o ut. To c o n ta in the q u ic k ly d eveloping brush fire, Q uint 1 and Engine 5 p osition ed them ­ selves above the fire and used h andlines. W hen th ere w ere e n o u g h re s o u rc e s a vailable, p e rso n n e l a ctiva te d an aerial device to help w ith su p p re s s io n by ru n n in g a m aster stream .

A fter o pe ra tio n s w ere fin ish e d , all o f th e fire w as put o ut and u n its sta rted to clear the area.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

* ^ e CIALTY V E H l C ^

r/ A \ \ V

5PAR TAN

LOOKING FOR NEW TURNOUT GEAN? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN VIKING WARRIOR! WE ALSO HAVE THE ONLY DESIGNED FOR WOMEN VALKYRIE GEAR REACH OUT TO US TODAY FOR A DEMO!

LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT

0 C O N T A C T US

a

412 - 507 - 3 0 0 0 WWW.lSTOUTSPECIALTY.COM

PAGE 3

PAGE 4

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Two Homes Severely Damaged, One Cat Dies in Walnutport Three-Alarmer WALNUTPORT, PA- The Di­ amond Fire Company and neigh­ boring fire companies were dispatched to a dwelling fire at 715 Williams Ave. at 3:47 a.m. on May 9th. Police on scene con­ firmed a working fire to the 911 cen­ ter.

As firefighters left the station sev­ eral blocks away from the fire, they could see a header in the sky and im­ mediately requested a second alarm. It was then learned that there was yet another fire in an adjoining one-story rancher, initializing a third alarm. This happened as companies were al­ ready inbound from Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton coun­ ties.

During the fire, evacuation tones were sounded twice, with one of the activations being for live ammunition that was going off in the back bedroom of 723 Williams Ave. The fires took sev­ eral hours to control; six people had to be relocated which in­ cluded two children.

There were no injuries to res­ idents or firefighters; however, a dog was ok but a cat had per­ ished.

Assisting Walnutport fire­ fighters were Slatington, Lehigh Township, Emerald, Slatedale, Friedens, Germansville, Neffs, Palmerton, Aquashicola, Lehighton, Northampton, Woodlawn and Catasauqua.

KEN SNYDER

The original fire scene located at 715 W illiams Ave.

- KEN SNYDER

KEN SNYDER

Palmerton's ladder tower uses a master stream at 723 Williams Ave.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 5

Your Rescue Resource

JYD Industries is proud to arm the emergency response community with simple, portable, lightweight, and proven first-in equipment.

HEALTHS SAFETY

ESI Health and Safety focuses on protecting the first responders by providing products that reduce contaminants they are exposed to regularly.

ESI Equipm ent. Inc, is dedicated to supply the best products to perform the rescue tasks confronted by today’s rescuers.

ESI Apparatus Division offers mission-built Rapid Response Vehicles for first responders that understand today’s challenges.

D IV ISIO N

CONTACT US

267-803-1440

lnfo(g>esiequipment.com

www.esiequipment.com

PAGE 6

July/August, 2026

- S H S F 'S R esponder N ew spaper 1 ARDMORE STREET - NEW WINDSOR, N Y 12553 8 4 5 -5 3 4 -7 5 0 0 • (fa x ) 8 4 5 -5 3 4 -0 0 5 5 • N e w s @ 1 s tR e s p o n d e rN e w s .c o m

EXECUTIVE STAFF PUBLISHER

JOC BelsitO (Joe@1 stResponderNews.com)

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

In memory of those who gave a ll

GENERAL MANAGER

Kathy Ronsini (Kathy@1stResponderNews.com) MANAGING EDITOR

Lindsey Palmer (Undsey@1stResponderNews.com) PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Ashley Ramos (Ashley@1 stResponderNews.com)

1st Responder Newspaper honors and remembers emergency responders lost in the line of duty

OPERATIONAL MANAGER

Nicholas BelsitO (Nicholas@1stResponderNews.com) DISPATCHER RECRUITMENT & RETENTION (Rich@ 1stResponder.com)

EDITORIAL STAFF COLUMNISTS Rick Billings (Cartoon) Bob Long (Cartoon) John Malecky (Apparatus, Bookshelf) Didymus McHugh (Chaplain's Corner) Fernando Villicana (Chaplain's Corner)

CORRESPONDENTS Jim Alercia • Jason Batz • Dale Feehrer • Ted Hodgins • Alan Hoffman • Roman Isaryk • Ron Jeffers • Regina Jelsfc. • William King • JC Kriesher • Chuck Lowe • John Malecky • Eric Rasmussen • Lucas Richardson • Terry Ritz • Frank Robinson • Don Filippo Scicchitano • Shane Shifflett • Sharon Siegel • Darin Smith • Ken Snyder • Eugene Weber Jr.

EDITORIAL INFORMATION Join our team o f correspondents or columnists! 1st Responder Newspaper welcomes submissions by our readers. Send stories and photos to us at news@lstrespondernews.com. Or, give us a call or post it directly to www. lrbn.co. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any editorial or advertising material submitted.

8 45 -53 4-75 00 ext. 212 • (fax) 845 -53 4-00 55 News@ 1 stR es p o n d e rN ew s.co m

Oklahoma: Jim McCoy, 60 Rank: Fire Chief Incident Date: Nov. 1, 2025 Death Date: Nov. 1 ,2025 Fire Department: Alderson Fire Department Initial Summary: Fire Chief Jim McCoy was providing fire department standby for a drag racing event when a collision caused a vehicle to leave the racetrack, striking McCoy and a police officer, killing them both.

New Jersey: Julius Snyder, 55 Rank: Firefighter Incident Date: Feb. 1, 2020 Death Date: Oct. 27, 2025 Fire Department: Camden Fire Department Initial Summary: Firefighter Julius Snyder responded to eight emergency calls while working a 24-hour shift from January 31, 2020, to February 1, 2020. Shortly after his shift ended, Firefighter Snyder suffered a med­ ical emergency. He was taken to a local hospital and subsequently transferred to a regional medical center for emergency surgery. After suffering prolonged complica­ tions from the medical emergency he suffered in 2020, Firefighter Snyder passed away on October 27, 2025.

ADVERTISING INFORMATION If you would like information about how advertising in 1st Responder News can benefit your company call our advertising hotline at: 845 -53 4-75 00 ext. 211 • (fax) 845 -53 4-00 55 A d vertisin g @ 1 stR esp o n d erN e w s.co m

CIRCULATION INFORMATION 1st Responder Newspaper is delivered to all fire, rescue, ambulance stations and hospitals. I f you do not receive your papers, please contact our circulation department. Home subscriptions are $24 per year.

8 45 -53 4-75 00 ext. 220 • (fax) 845 -53 4-00 55 C ircu latio n @ 1stR es p o n d erN ew s .co m

GRAPHIC DESIGN/MARKETING 1st Responder News’ graphics team will work with you on your advera division of: tisement free o f charge. Addition­ ally, we offer a complete marketing department for all o f your printed U Usw needs. Whether they are posters, or c o m m unications, inc. single sheet handouts, full color or black and white, no one else delivers the high quality work at our competitive prices.

As a newspaper in the Belsito Communications Inc. family, 1st Responder News has a state-of-the-art production facility which utilizes the latest scan­ ning technology available. Materials are processed using Power Macintosh G4s. Output is handled on our HP Color LaserJet 8500 to produce the highest quality black and white or color prints on the market.

845 -53 4-75 00 ext. 214 • (fax) 845 -53 4-00 55

South Carolina: Jimmy Townsend, 61 Rank: Deputy Chief Incident Date: Sept. 27, 2025 Death Date: Sept. 28,2025 Fire Department: Moncks Comer Rural Fire Department Initial Summary: On September 27, 2025, Deputy Chief Jimmy Townsend responded to two emergency calls during his shift. The following day, Deputy Chief Townsend suffered a fatal cardiovascular event within 24 hours of responding to the second emergency inci­ dent.

Arkansas: Michael Z. Heithaus, 42 Rank: Firefighter Incident Date: March 29, 2025 Death Date: March 30, 2025 Fire Department: Evansville Volunteer Fire

Department Initial Summary: Firefighter Michael Heithaus re­ sponded to an emergency medical call in the after­ noon o f March 29, 2025. The following morning, Firefighter Heithaus suffered a fatal cardiovascular event.

New York: Michael J. Ryan, 61 Rank: Firefighter/Fire Commissioner Incident Date: Dec. 13,2025 Death Date: Dec. 13, 2025 Fire Department: Phoenicia Fire District Initial Summary: Firefighter/Fire Commissioner Michael Ryan was part of a crew that responded to a res­ cue call for an injured hiker. As the crew was carrying the hiker out of a wooded area, Firefighter/Fire Commis­ sioner Ryan suffered a cardiovascular event. Fellow first responders provided immediate lifesaving measures and transported Firefighter/Fire Commissioner Ryan to a local hospital where, despite all efforts, he was pro­ nounced deceased. Firefighter/Fire Commissioner Ryan served the Phoenicia Fire District as both a firefighter and the District Fire Commissioner.

Virginia: Linzie "Scott" Collins, 50 Rank: Firefighter-EMT Incident Date: November 15,2025 Death Date: November 16, 2025 Fire Department: Richlands Fire-EMS Initial Summary: On November 15, 2025, FirefighterEMT Linzie Scott Collins was on duty from 10:00 a.m. until 6 p.m. During this shift, Firefighter-EMT Collins responded to two calls. The following day at 1:15 a.m., the wife of Firefighter-EMT Collins found him in dis­ tress. Firefighter-EMT Collins stopped breathing and CPR was performed. Firefighter-EMT Collins was trans­ ported to a local hospital where he was pronounced de­ ceased at 3:24 a.m.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 7

Three-Alarm Fire Burns One, Displaces Several Families in Shamokin SHAMOKIN, PA - A threealarm fire tore through a row of homes Monday morning. May 4th, in Shamokin, displacing multiple families and send­ ing at least one per­ son to the hospital with serious in­ juries.

Emergency crews were called to 1019 North Franklin Street around 8:30 a.m., where they found heavy flames rapidly spreading through at­ tached row houses. Before arriv­ ing on scene, command reported that the incident was visible from multiple blocks out and immedi­ ately requested a second alarm.

The fire intensified quickly, prompting a third alarm for addi­ tional manpower and drawing firefighters from several neigh­ boring departments.

Officials said the blaze dam­ aged at least four homes and forced approximately a dozen residents from their properties.

One victim suffered burns and was airlifted to a regional burn center for treatment.

Firefighters worked for about one hour to bring the main body of the fire under control, though crews remained on scene for sev­ eral hours afterward to extinguish hot spots and conduct an investi­ gation.

The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.

Authorities have not yet deter­ mined the cause of the fire.

- DON FILIPPO SCICCHITANO

DONSCICCHITANO

Firefighter Douglas Katalinas w orks at removing siding.

PAGE 8

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Holiday Park Firefighters Rescue Patient from 30-Foot H illside

HBFC

PLUM, PA - On April 27th, the Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department responded to Kane Road with Assistant Chief 2, Res­ cue 236, Fire Po­ lice, along with Plum EMS and Plum Borough Po­ lice Department for an incident initially reported as a vehi­ cle stuck on a guardrail.

Upon arrival, the situation was upgraded to a technical rescue after crews located a patient ap­ proximately 30-feet down a hill­ side.

Firefighters quickly implemented a coordinated res­ cue plan, utilizing ropes, rigging, and a stokes basket to safely ac­ cess, package, and extricate the patient from the embankment.

The successful operation highlighted the importance of continuous training and prepared­ ness, as crews routinely drill on complex rescue scenarios involv­ ing specialized equipment and techniques. Throughout the inci­ dent, responders prioritized both patient care and scene safety, en­ suring a controlled and efficient rescue effort.

- 1RN NEWS TEAM HOLIDAY PARK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

EMERGENCY AIRCRAFT If you have photos you would like to see in our Emergency Aircraft feature, please upload them on our w ebsite www. 1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com .

HBFC

Honey B ro o k C rew s R escue R e sid e n t and Dog A fte r Tree C rashes In to Home HONEY BROOK TWP., PA On May 14th at 4:57 p.m., Station 33 (Honey Brook) along with EMS were dispatched to the 2700 BLK of Compass Road, in Honey Brook Township for a residential rescue.

Initial reports indicated that a tree had fallen into a residence, with at least one person and one dog trapped inside.

Chief 33 arrived confirming the report and established the Compass Road command. Rescue 33 arrived and immediately extricated one pa­ tient from the second-story win­ dow. Following the rescue, crews conducted a primary search where they would also locate and remove

.

^

Jump to file #05 19 2 6 1 3 5

3P

I

%

a dog from the home as well, fortu­ nately who was unharmed.

During the primary search, crews encountered an "odor of smoke" and located a small fire which was hidden from the debris.

R33 utilized a water can to quickly extinguish it, and Command deter­ mined the upgrade wasn't neces­ sary.

Fortunately, there were no in­ juries resulting from this incident.

- HBFC

ALAN HOFFMAN

Lehigh Valley Health Network Medevac 1 is based in Kutztown (Berks County).

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 9

Two W alnuttow n Fire O fficers K ille d in R eckless T ra ffic A ccid e n t WALNUTTOWN, PA - On April 4th, Walnuttown Chief Jeff Buck and Assistant Chief Robert Schick had joined forces with others who were searching for a missing 60year-old woman.

They were in the company's UTV along the side of 14577 Kutztown Rd (Rt. 222) in Rich­ mond Twp.,when they were struck head-on and killed by an out-of-control weaving Toyota Carnry.

The male driver and his 46year-old female companion imme­ diately tried to flee the scene, but were caught by the police. The 26year-old perpetrator was Alexander Sepulveda Rivera from the Bronx.

He had been recklessly driving on the highway before striking the UTV. Rivera told the police that he had fallen asleep at the wheel and that the crash woke him up. On the day of the incident, he allegedly had smoked marijuana and the police confirmed that a crack pipe found in the car was Rivera's. Also of note, he was driving without a license and had an outstanding warrant.

The missing woman was found later that day. Governor Josh Shipiro ordered that the flag be half staffed to honor the fallen firefighters.

- KEN SNYDER

KEN SNYDER

An entourage of tw o hearses and fire vehicles arrived in Cetronia fo r autopsies to be held at the Lehigh County Coroner's Office and Forensic Center. Along the route from Berks County into Lehigh County, numerous fire companies stood at attention as the entourage passed by, including some w ith aerial ladders arched.

Wa ln u tto M n FIRE GW

auntia 1

ENGINE68-1

KEN SNYDER

A standby company fills in while the Walnuttown Fire Co. was placed out of service due to the passing of the Chief and Assistant Chief.

PAGE 10

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Jefferson Hills Firefighters Handle Busy 72-Hour Stretch JEFFERSON HILLS, PA - Be­ tween May 16th and May 18th, Jefferson Hills Fire Rescue person­ nel finished a demanding 72-hour period of training and emergency re­ sponses.

Along with over 65 firemen and 13 pieces of equipment, four members took part in 24 hours of hyper-realistic res­ cue training during the 24-hour ERS Blitz in Cranberry, according to of­ ficials. Advanced technical rescue and firefighting scenarios were in­ cluded in the training.

Engine-1 helped with overhaul and cleanup operations when crews arrived at Whitehall for a working house fire with reported entrapment at 8:38 p.m. on May 17th. Firefighters were called to Homestead at 12:18 a.m. on May 18th due to three burning row houses. During the incident, crews established a water supply, per­ formed overhaul and fire suppres­ sion, and worked on the Charlie side.

Despite the demanding sched­ ule, firefighters later completed 2 Vi hours of engine company opera­ tions training at Station 2.

-1RN NEWS TEAM COURTESY OF JEFFERSON HILLS FIRE-RESCUE

COURTESY OF JEFFERSON HILLS FIRE-RESCUE

1st Responder Newspaper - PA_______________ July/August, 2026___________ PAGE 11

F L O O R IN G F O R T O U G H J O B S

ONE DAY INSTALLATION! LIFETIME WARRANTY 5:00 PM SAME DAY

AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR GROVES READY RACKS, PPE EXTRACTORS AND DRYERS m & m

ASK ABOUT OUR HEAVILY DISCOUNTED PRICES AND GET A QUOTE NOW!

WILL NOT: CRACK, CHIP, PEEL, FADE, ORSTAIN I ARMORtIo^TILES WILL NOTREONDERSofD§ ArmorTuffTiles@gmail.com • w w w .arm ortufftile.com • 908-917-7697

PAGE 12

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

WOMEN IN FIREFIGHTING I f you have photos you w ould like to see in our W om en in Firefighting feature please upload them on our w ebsite w w w .lstR esponderN ew s.com or em ail them to L indsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com

KEN SNYDER

Reading’s First Motorized Rig Returns Home COURTESY OF BLACK UCK VOLUNTEER FIRE CO.

On A pril 21st, Krystaleena Laney-Froum received recognition from the Black Lick Volunteer Fire Com pany fo r fu lfillin g the require­ m ents fo r candidacy and obtaining her firefig hte r shield. Firefight­ ers m ust pass NIMS, Essentials, Haz-Mat, and Vehicle Rescue tra in in g in order to be e lig ib le. A fter co m pleting the cu rriculum th ro u g h o u t the previous year, Laney-Froum finished her last re­ quirem ent w ith auto rescue training.

READING, PA - With the clos­ ing of the North Charleston and American La France Fire Museum and Education Center in South Car­ olina, a Sotheby's auction was held near Miami.

Members of the Reading Area Fire Museum were aware that Read­ ing and Berks County's first motor­ ized fire truck was about to be auctioned off. A winning bid was placed; and on March 9th, a flatbed truck brought their famous truck to

Jump to file # 0 4 1 0 2 6 1 5 8

the Reading Area Fire Museum, lo­ cated in the old Liberty 5 firehouse at S. 5th and Laurel St. When the rig was off-loaded, it was backed into its original spot in the Liberties, where it ran out of for many years. At that time, this unit was considered a great advancement in firefighting, as the response time

was three times quicker than what the horses were.

The Liberty No. 5 1911 ALF was known as a Type 5 Chemical and Hose Wagon. It had 23 karat gold leaf decoration, twin nickel plated copper chemical tanks and features a metal Statue of Liberty atop the bell. This unit reflects the unparalleled craftsmanship from that time period.

- KEN SNYDER

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES I f you have photos you w ould like to see in our “Em ergency M edical Services” feature, please upload them on our w ebsite w w w .lstR esponderN ew s.com or em ail them to L indsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com .

COURTESY OF ALIQUIPPA FIREFIGHTERS

A liquippa F irefighters B attle Challenging S tructure Fire ALIQUIPPA, PA - Members of the A liquippa F irefighters re­ sponded to several reports of a structure fire just before 9:00 p.m. on May 3rd. When Engine 91 arrived, fire was v is ib le com ing from the b uilding 's roof. A ccording to officials, per­ sonnel started suppression e fforts as soon as they were d is ­ patched and had water on the fire w ithin eight m inutes. Due to the b uilding 's co nstructio n and restricted access to some areas of the fire area, firefig hte rs faced d ifficu ltie s. The next m orning, crews came back to put out the last of a concealed pocket of fire. The departm ent acknow ledged the Beaver C ounty Strike Team and m utual aid partners fo r their support th ro ug h ou t the incident, and comm ended the efforts of all re­ sponding firefighters.

ALAN HOFFMAN

Unit 66-81 of Macungie EMS on the scene of a comm ercial structure fire in Lower Macungie Township, A pril 4th.

I st Responder Newspaper - PA

Juiy/August, 2026

PAGE 13

Deluxe Package Removable Seats Light bar mount Prop or Jet Dive Platform Fire Pump option Light tower option K9 Walkway option

■Double stack trailer ■Inflatable or Aluminum ■Spare motor mount Versatility • Surge Brakes ■Elec. Winch to lower to| Optional Light Tower

Shop online www. M id A tianticRescue. com

Inflatable Series 5 Chambers +keel Aluminum floor or Air floor Reinforced Kevlon TM Optional motors makes available All Welded seams

COSTARS

Mid-Atlantic Rescue Systems, Inc. PH 1-877-622-6277 - Fax 208-460-8648 www.MidAtlanticRescue.com

PAGE 14

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Limerick Firefighters Extricate Two Trapped Occupants After Morning Rollover Crash LIMERICK, PA - At 7:02 a.m. on April 10th, the Limerick Fire De­ partment was dispatched to a vehicle accident with injuries on N Lewis Rd. Two minutes later, dispatch up­ graded the incident to a vehicle res­ cue after a vehicle was reportedly flipped with one person trapped in­ side, unconscious. Chief 51, Deputy 51, Assistant 98, Rescue 51, Squad 51,51 Fire Police, Rescue 98, Lim­ erick Police, Freedom Valley EMS, and Friendship Ambulance re­ sponded.

Deputy 51 arrived on scene, as­ sumed N. Lewis Road Command, and reported two occupants trapped in an overturned vehicle. Crews from Rescue 51 operated on the dri­ ver’s side, while Rescue 98’s crews worked on the passenger side. To ac­ cess the patients, crews removed both the front and rear doors of the vehicle. The patients were safely ex­ tricated after the sides of the vehicle were completely removed and were then turned over to EMS for evalu­ ation and treatment. Rescue opera-

J ump to f iie #04 12 2 6 1 1 6

tik 3fP ! & tions were completed at 7:34 a.m.

The driver of the other involved vehicle was unharmed. Crews cleaned the debris from the roadway as tow trucks arrived to remove both involved vehicles. Fire Police di­ rected the traffic in the intersection for the duration of rescue operations, and the roadway was open at 8:17 a.m.

(Author's note: Please remem­ ber that our top priority during road­ way operations is the safety of our first responders. When a section of road is closed, motorists must follow the directions of fire police and use alternate routes to reach their desti­ nations. By working together and re­ specting traffic control measures, we can help keep everyone safe on the road—both drivers and first respon­ ders!)

- REGINA JELSKI

REGINA JELSKI

REGINA JELSKI

Command Fire Apparatus 1-866-238-6688 • Glenn@sellfiretrucks.com

REGINA JELSKI

July/August, 2026

1ST Responder Newspaper - PA

fS a fe ty & S u p p lies fo r Life DIVALSAFETY.COM

800.343.1354 - 24/7 SUPPORT

W HATEVER IT TAKES WE SERVICE WHAT WE SUPPLY -SCBA TESTING/REPAIRS -COMPRESSORS -BLOWHARD FANS -HOSE RECOUPLING -GAS DETECTION -CUSTOM TURNOUTS

WHEN EMERGENCIES STRIKE,

/ • \ 1^ • % S

YOU CAN COUNTON DIVAL. WE PROVIDE 24-HOUR ON-SITE SCBA FILLS AND EMERGENCY SERVICE CALLS, ENSURING YOUR CREWS REMAIN SAFE AND MISSION-READY.

AND MORE! ii'i

SCO TT

4 ';

Fire & Safety A u th o riz e d D is trib u to r

s

^"4*servi<^

’

\

^

- A

L •UiUW *n - $ f /l /,/

f*: VISIT US AT THE NEW JERSEY FIRE EXPO J i g g l IN WILDWOOD, NJ SEPT. 18TH & 19TH

DIVAL IS ALWAYS HERE TO KEEP YOU SAFE & READY AIT ALL TIMES! NY: 800.34 3.13 54 49 1 ONTARIO ST BUFFALO, NY 1 4 2 0 7

p a : 610.372.5077 2 0 1 8 NORTH 11TH ST, READING. PA 1 9 6 0 4

n j : 85 6.78 3.07 20 121 N. W H ITE HORSE PIK E, LAUREL SPRINGS, NJ 0 8 0 2 1

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

IN SERVICE I f you have photos you w ould like to see in our In Service feature, please upload them on our w ebsite w w w .lstR esponderN ew s.com o r em ail them to L in d sey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com .

FOUIfTAINDALE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT DALE FEEHRER

Fountaindale Crews Contain M u ltip le Brush Fires Along County Line Roadway

The Port Trevorton Fire Company operates th is 1997 Seagrave rescue-pum per (1500/750/Amkus) as Squad 60.

FOUNTAINDALE, PA - The Fountaindale Volunteer Fire De­ partm ent responded to a series of brush fire s along Way­ nesboro Pike near th e A dam s and F ranklin C ou nty line, A p ril 12th. Upon arrival, crew s encountered m u ltip le spot fire s b u rn in g alo ng th e roadside. C om pany 3, a lo ng w ith m utual aid departm ents, w orked to ge th er to q u ic k ly contain and e xting uish the fires, preventing fu rth e r spread into s u r­ rou nd ing areas.

ACTION SHOTS I f you have photos you w ould like to see in our “A ction Shots” feature, please upload them on our w ebsite, w w w .lstR esponderN ew s.com or em ail them to L indsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com .

FRANK RORINSON

Palmer M unicipal Fire operates a 2018 Pierce A rrow XT 2000/300/100' Tiller.

RLAINE HILL VFC

Crews from Blaine Hill Vol. Fire Com pany responded to assist neighboring departm ents during a m ulti-alarm structure fire in the G lassport d istrict, A pril 12th, p roviding coverage fo r Vigilant Hose Co. #1 of Port Vue (Station 237) and the Volunteer Fireman’s A s­ sociation of Liberty Borough w hile those u nits were actively en­ gaged at the scene.

DARIN SMITH/TRUCK18 PHOTOGRAPHY

The Centre Hall Fire Company, Centre County, has placed into service Brush 4, a 2023 Chevrolet GM515 (lnternational)/Mazwell Truck/DuraMag, 500/300/5 Foam. This replaces a 1986 Chevrolet from DCNR.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

|> O N D w B

l e g INJURY a l LAWYERS

Exposed to Firefighter Foam

Bladder Cancer

^

^

on the job & developed any of the following cancers / side effects?

PAGE 17

Kidney Cancer Testicular Cancer Prostate Cancer

'• H

Pancreatic Cancer Leukemia Lymphoma Live Cancer Neuroendocrine Tumors Liver Cancer Breast Cancer

Contact Bond Legal today for justice, and you may be entitled to compensation.

866 927-1261 -

Ovarian Cancer Colon / Rectal Cancer OtherTumors / Cancers

intake@bondlegalgroup.com

This is attorney advertising. Bond Legal is organized as an LLC in Illinois and as a Professional Corporation in California. Bond Legal LLC lawyers are licensed in AL, GA, IL, NC, NY, and SC. Bond Legal PC lawyers are licensed in CA, DC, FL, MN, ND, TX and WA. Candice Bond is licensed in CA, IL, TX & WA only and can be contacted at 17500 Red Hill Ave. #100 Irvine, CA 92614, 949-988-7100, cmbond@bondlegalgroup.com. Legal services are limited to the foregoing states. "Pay $0 Unless We Win For You," refers only to contingent fees charged by the attorney. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client. Some cases may be co-counseled with other lawyers. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

PAGE 18

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

PATCH OF THE MONTH If yoi have photos you would like to see in our “Patch o f the m onth “feature please upload them on our website, www .lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com .

ALAN HOFFMAN

Working Garage Fire Extinguished in Alburtis

EUGENE WEBER JR.

ALBURTIS, PA - On May 11th around 3:00 p.m., the Lower Macungie Fire Department, Topton Fire Company and Greenawalds Fire Company for RIT and Macungie EMS were dispatched for a structure fire in the rear of 133 West 2nd St., in the borough of Alburtis. An Alburtis P. D. car arrived and called in a working garage fire. Chief 30 arrived, confirmed a working fire and En­ gine-Tanker 1 arrived and went into service with two hand lines to to bring the fire under control.

The cause of the fire is pending the investigation by the fire marshal.

This patch belongs to Northam pton Borough Fire Department, located in Northam pton County, PA.

Put your scanner to good use

11 tmL-1IMI ilAb Join our team of dedicated dispatchers at

1RWN.com

APPLY

to day

S GN

Speak with our representative for a quick and easy sign-up interview.

USING OUR STATE-OF-THE-ART C.A.D. (COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH) YOUR ALERTS WILL BE BROADCASTTO EMAIL AND DEVICES EVERYWHERE!

SEND

Earn points for every alert you send.

Our Dispatcher Rewards Program is the best in the industry.

O

Incident Entry

Have an issue?

Q

Claim

Facebook Chat Display Region

SPEND

Choose from thousands of items at our online store to redeem your points Primary Outgoing Incidents

’T

R esponder

Secondary Outgoing Incidents

W ireless mews

Where the News Gets Its News.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 19

APPARATUS IN ACTION

i

If you have photos you would like to see in our Apparatus in Action feature please upload them on our website www.lstResponderNews.com or ;mail them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com.

COURTESY OF BLANDON FIRE DEPARTMENT

Rapid Response Lim its Damage in Blandon Shop Fire BLANDON, PA - On A pril 10th sh o rtly after 11:20 a.m., the Blandon Fire Department responded to a reported garage fire on Mount Laurel Road. Chief 12 arrived and discovered a 30' x 50' shop w ith fire visible from the Bravo side. Soon after, Engine 45, Engine 12, and Ladder 12 arrived and started w orking. While Ladder 12 forced entry and finished a prim ary search, crew s stretched tw o h andlines—one fo r interior fire attack and one for exposure protection. The fire was quickly contained thanks to w ell-coordinated efforts, and there were no reported injuries. The cause was investigated by the Penn­ sylvania State Police Fire Marshal. On-scene assistance was provided by mutual help organizations.

COURTESY OF COLONIAL PARK FIRE CO. #1

At a first-a larm apartm ent fire on A p ril 15th, Progress Fire Com pany 32 received assistance from Engine 33 and other Lower Paxton Tow nship Bureau of Fire units. A fter a rrivin g on scene, Engine 33 deployed a second line to help su pp re ssion e ffo rts after pickin g up the Progress u n its ' initia l handline. W hile a tte m p ting to stop the fire fro m spreading to nearby apartm ents, w orkers also evacuated a resident from an exposure apartm ent.

CHERRY CITY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY

Crews Prevent Spread of Hillside Fire in Pittsburgh PITTSBURGH, PA- C herry C ity V olunteer Fire Com pany u nits responded to a reported h illsid e fire in the area of Old Soose and Jordan Lane, A p ril 24th. The first-a rriv in g engine found an active brush fire and deployed a bum per line to q u ickly contain and exting uish the flam es. A ssistin g crews su pp orte d overhaul o pe ra tio n s and addressed rem aining hot sp ots to prevent rekindle. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

COURTESY OF CLEARFIELD FIRE DEPT.

On A p ril 17th, the M orris Tow nship Fire Com pany received m utual aid fro m the C learfield Fire De­ partm ent in response to a second-alarm house fire. A ssista n t 17 arrived, reported th a t there was a fire and asked fo r the second alarm. Squad 1 was tasked w ith se tting up a w ater su p p ly fo r su p ­ pression o perations by securin g a hydrant and in s ta llin g a s u p p ly line to Q uint 17.

PAGE 20

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Quick Response Follows Reports of Entrapment at Harrisburg House Fire HARRISBURG, PA - On April 20th, Colonial Park Engine 33 and mutual aid units responded to a re­ ported house fire with potential en­ trapment in the 5200 block of Laurel Lane.

When crews ar­ rived, they discov­ ered that both residents had left the house and verified that nobody was still inside, firefighters stretched handlines to start suppression op­ erations after spotting smoke and flames coming from a Cape Codstyle house.

While communicating with on­ scene mutual aid partners, units sought to contain the fire and moni­ tor its spread throughout the build­ ing.

Multiple calls reporting the inci­ dent, according to officials, ensured a prompt reaction and resource de­ ployment.

-1R N NEWS TEAM

Get your personal copy of

--

g R esp o n d er

a N ew spaper The PA Edition

COURTESY OF COLONIAL PARK FIRE CO. #1

Name:_____________________ Telephone:_________________ Address:___________________ C ity:_____________________ State:___ Z ip :_____________ _S24 for one year subscription _S40 for two year subscription

PAYMENT METHOD _Check _Money Order _Charge card Card # ____________________ Exp:___________ Signature__________________ Send payment to: 1 st R esponder N ewspaper 1 A rdmore Street N ew W indsor, NY 12553

^ A m o u n t enclosed:

For Credit Card Orders: just fax this to (845)534-0055 or subscribe online at

w ww.1RBN.com

COURTESY OF COLONIAL PARK FIRE CO. #1

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Juiy/August, 2026

PAGE 21

BROTHERS & SISTERS OF THE EMERGENCY SERVICES If you have photos you would like to see in our “Brothers & Sisters of the Emergency Sendees” feature, please upload them on our website, www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@l stResponderNews.com.

Bridgewater VFD Engine Co. 28 responded w ith both Engine and Squad 28 to a reported house fire in Freedom B or­ ough, q u ickly going to w ork upon arrival. A total o f 12 B ridgew ater vo lu ntee rs re­ sponded to the incident, co n ­ trib u tin g to the sw ift knockdow n and overall m an­ agement of the scene.

SEVU E VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY

BRIDGEWATER VFD - ENGINE CO. 28

Members of the Seville Volunteer Fire Co. successfully completed the State Fire Academ y’s Engine Academy 1, a multi-day course fo ­ cused on engine com pany operations at residential structure fires.

BRIDGEWATER VFD - ENGINE CO. 28

COURTESY OF ADAMS AREA FIRE DISTRICT

Tower 42 of the Adam s Area Fire D istrict was asked to help w ith a shed fire in Pine Township around noon on May 3rd.

PAGE 22

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

1LITTLE BIG GUYS I f you have photos you w ould like to ee in our Little B ig G uys feature, please upload them on o u r w ebsite w w w .lstR esponderN ew s.com o r em ail them to L indsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com .

COURTESY OF DRYRIDGE VFD

FRANK R0RINS0N

Plainfield Twp. Fire Company operates a 2015 Dodge 3500 300/150 Brush Truck.

COURTESY OF DRYRIDGE VFD

D ryridge F ire fig h te rs A ssist a t W estm oreland County Crash GREENSBURG, PA - D ryridge VFD personnel responded to a tw o-vehicle c o llis io n on Route 30 eastbound, close to the M ountainview in te rse ctio n , A p ril 18th. A ca r's a uto m a tic a le rt system was the firs t to n o tify th e c o llis io n . When Deputy 33 arrived, he saw tw o cars involved, one of w hich was a p icku p tru c k th a t had been tip pe d onto its side and may have had injuries. As soon as Rescue 91 arrived, te ch ­ n icians stabilized the car and set up scene ligh ts fo r em er­ gen cy o pe ra tion s. Before em ergency personnel co uld arrive, the d river of the crashed pickup g ot o ut of the car.

Before u nits cleared the scene, fire fig h te rs helped w ith tra f­ fic c o n tro l and scene safety w hile EMS assessed all o ccu ­ pants and provided on-scene patient treatm ent.

ALAN HOFFMAN

Squad 7 of the Emmaus Fire Department on the scene of a dw elling fire at 1255 West Broad Street in the borough of Emmaus, A pril 8th.

Action Videos Columns Features

Products and Services

A ll available a t

Incident photos and reports

w w w .1R B N .com

Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 23

UPGRADE YOUR DEPARTMENT WEBSITE IN 2026 Turn to the Team You Already Trust 1st Responder News Web Developm ent Benefits:

Regular R a te ^

$895

3 Secure, Reliable Hosting 3 Routine Updates & Maintenance

2026

3 Daily Backups 3 Performance Monitoring 3 24/7 Hosting Support

3 Mobile-Responsive Design 3 SEO Optimization

PROMOTIONAL RATE

S695A

Call: 888-235-7486 ext. 219 Email: Joe@1 stResponderNews.com

**

•*

A trusted partner of emergency services community for over 30 years

Includes hosting, maintenance, and full support

July/August, 2026

PAGE 24

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Firehouses of North America

by John Malecky

Firehouses of North .America: A Pictorial History by Photogra­ pher Jeremiah Herderich Available from: FSP Books 433 Main Street, Suite 2A Hudson, NLA 01749 1-800-522-8528 Email: support@fire-policeems.com www.fire-police-ems.com Price: $47.50 This is a hard cover coffee table book measuring eight inches by 11 Yz inches, with 208 pages.

The author has a colorful back­ ground beginning at an early age.

He has served as a volunteer and paid firefighter in the fire sendee and presently is a lieutenant in the Denver, Nebraska Fire Depart­ ment. The book features 350 sep­ arate firehouses, all of which were active when photographed.

Many are unique and historic.

The book also features interior and apparatus shots, some fire photography and some street scenes to illustrate the perspec­ tive of the neighborhoods in which they are. There are 22 chapters plus an index. The chap­ ters include West Coast Fire­

houses (a full chapter), and then separate chapters of San Fran­ cisco, Oakland, Los .Angeles City and County. Separate chapters cover the Los .Angeles City and County Fire Departments. County Station 127, which was the one that the television show “Emer­ gency” used, is in this book. A full chapter features Western U.S. Firehouses with separate chapters on Colorado firehouses and the Denver Fire Department. Two pages are dedicated to Midwest Firehouses, followed by full chap­ ters for Chicago, St. Louis and De­ troit. Chapters on Southern U.S. Firehouses, Florida Firehouses are next, followed by Eastern U.S. Firehouses, including Boston and Cambridge, NLA., and Baltimore, MD. The District of Columbia takes up a chapter. There is a Fire­ house introduction for the FDNY featuring information about the five boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. Photos of stations in all but Staten Island are featured.

Four pages take up firehouses in Canada. All photos are color and of excellent quality. Many have apparatus in them but there is no information about the vehicles, as this is strictly a firehouse book. I have one lame remark to make and that is one of the New York City boroughs is named “The Bronx”, not just “Bronx”, but the author not being from New York is ex­ cused for not knowing this. For the price, this is an excellent book and the reader will be well pleased perusing over it.

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.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com.

DALE FEEHRER

The Christiana Fire Company has acquired this 2015 Pierce Arrow XT pumper (2000/750) to serve as Engine 52-1. This piece originally served as Engine 66-1 in Lancaster Township, PA.

DALE FEEHRER

This 1974 Ward LaFrance Ambassador/’87 LTI pumper (1000/800) formally served as Engine 39-1 with the West Bradford Fire Company until being removed from service in the late 2000's. After sitting for many years, it was recently purchased by a new private owner who is restoring this piece back to it's original glory.

Read more articles from all of our columnists online! www.1rbn.com DARIN SMITH/TRUCK18 PHOTOGRAPHY

The Columbia Fire Company of Osceola Mills (Clearfield County), recently placed in service this 1997 Pierce Lance #EB1778 as Truck 22. The truck previously served Blazing Arrow Hook & Ladder, Tyrone.

It has a 2000 pump, 300 water and a 105' rear-mount ladder. This replaces a 1991 Pierce Arrow 105' rml, that formerly served State College.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 25

Equipment failure is NOT an option* Be Safe, Feel Confident* Choose FireFlow Services*

CALL TODAY: 87 7.30 2.64 72 www.FireFlowServices.com

PAGE 26

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

ON THE LITER SIDE I f you have photos you w ould like to see in our “O n The L iter Side” feature, please upload them on our w ebsite, w w w .lstR esponderN ew s.com or em ail them to L indsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com .

ALAN HOFFMAN

Lampeter Fire Co. Dedicates New Seagrave Squad DALE FEEHRER

The members of the Ickesburg Fire Company are well known for their fresh cut fries at com m unity events. This mascot was designed and placed on their m obile fry trailer.

LAMPETER, PA - On A pril 18th from 10am u ntil 4pm, the Lampeter Fire Company held an open house and apparatus dedication fo r Squad 54, their 2025 Sergrave Marauder Rescue Engine.

There were police, ambulance and fire equipm ent displays, an auto rescue dem onstration and food trucks.

i

ANTIQUE APPARATUS

If you have photos for Antique Apparatus please upload them on our website, www 1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@ lstResponderNews.com

COURTESY OF BOWMANSTOWN VOL. FIRE COMPANY

B ow m anstow n Crews Handle Brush F ire w ith V e h ic le In vo lve m e n t BOWMANSTOWN, PA - The Bow m anstow n Volunteer Fire Com pany responded to a reported brush fire on M unicipal Road, A pril 10th. When units arrived, they saw many burning autom obiles. In order to prevent the fire from spreading be­ yond the surrounding region, crews q uickly launched a fire attack. Suppression e ffo rts were aided by m utual aid from M ahoning Valley Fire Com pany No. 1 and the East Penn Tow nship Volunteer Fire Department.

DALE FEEHRER

Four m em bers of the Sanatoga Fire recently reacquired th e ir 1967 C hevy/Boyertow n Body w hich served as a u tility /s u p p o rt unit. The piece was sold in the m id-1990's loca lly and was later sold to a vehicle c o lle c to r in Cape May, NJ. A fter s p o ttin g the vehicle fo r sale online, the m em bers w ent in to ge th er and b ro ug ht the ve hicle back home. The new ow ners plan to restore the piece back to how it looked w hen it was Sanatoga's.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 27

FIRE EQUIPMENT I f y o ur departm ent has photos you w ould like to see in our “Fire Equipm ent” feature please upload them on our w ebsite w w w .lR E N .com or em ail them to Lindsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com

KEN SNYDER

A llentow n Has Fast-M oving Roof Fire BRIGHTON TWP. VFD - STATION 63

B righton Township Vol. Fire Department, alongside several neigh­ boring departments, conducted a large-scale hose and ladder te st­ ing operation as part of annual NFPA com pliance requirem ents.

ALLENTOWN, PA - On May 20th around 5:15 p.m., a fast-m oving roof fire broke out in a twosto ry apartm ent b uilding at 622 N. 22nd St. A ll five tenants escaped the blaze on th e ir own and there w ere no injures. D uring the fire, there w as som e extension to the second flo or. Extra alarm s were transm itted, w ith the th ird alarm going out at 6:04 p.m., w hile outside tem peratures hovered around 90-degrees and the hum idity w as around 46%.

THE AIR YOU NEED. A PRICE YOU CAN AFFORD.

FIRE EQ UIPMENT

pURSERVICES RENTALS TRADE IN S R E FU R B ISH M EN T HYDRO TESTING FLOW TESTING M A E TESTING FIN A N C IN G PURCHASING

$2,350.00 2013 4.5 SCOTT X3 $695.00 $695.00 $795.00 $895.00

$1,995.00 2013 5.5 SCOTT X3 MASK & CYLINDER INCLUDED

$2,900.00 4 .5 M S A G1 R IT SYSTEM R IT M A S K & N EW 60/4500 C Y LIN D E R IN C LU D E D

CALL FOR PRICING $385.00 SCOTT AV-3000 HT

DALMATIANFIRE.COM

$475.00 SCOTT C5

$850.00 SCOTT C5 RDI BONE CONDUCTION

800-436-6450

WE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF DRAGER, MSA, & SCOTT $215.00 MSA ULTRA ELITE CYLINDERS IN-STOCK!

SALES@DALMATIANFIRE.COM

PAGE 28

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Designing and Building Training Props IN THE FIRE ZONE JOSEPH CEA

B u ild in g tra in in g pro ps is part of fire fig h tin g . W hereas th a t is c e rta in ly a co m m o n a lity be­ tween all departm ents the im ­ p le m e n tatio n of w ha t p ro p s are b u ilt and how they are b uilt etc., va rie s co n sid e ra b ly and is as u n iqu e as each d e p a rt­ ment. D efined tra in in g p ro p s are specialized stru ctu re s that sim u la te c o n d itio n s , o b sta ­ cles, and hazards of real-world em ergencies.

Props can teach and reinforce e ssen tial s k ills like fo rc ib le entry, se arch/rescue, m ask co n fid e n ce , v e n tila tio n , and hose h an dling . O b viou sly, a num ber o f fa c to rs in flu e n ce p ro p c o n s tru c tio n .

These w o u ld in clu d e d ep artm en t f i­ nances, lo ca tio n (urban vs rural), the presence of a ju n io r fire fig h tin g p ro gram and the typ es o f ca lls to name a few.

The fir s t and m ost im p o rta n t c o n s id e ra tio n w hen b u ild in g tra in in g p ro p s is fire fig h te r safety. This is non- negotiable.

N F P A 1400 is set to replace in­ d ividual standards of 1402 and 1403 and do p ro vid e tra in in g safety guidance altho ug h they are m ore s p e c ific to live fire d rills . Because safety is para­ m ount there are several props th a t sh o u ld be purchased (as opp ose d to b u ild in g them ) such as any gas em ergency/hazm at sim u la ­ tio ns, a fo rc ib le e ntry d oo r and fla s h o v e r/b u rn s im u la to rs to name a few. When ta lk in g a bo ut p ro p sa fety you m ust a lso co n s id e r p lacem ent and set up relative to sa fety hose line s and p o s s ib ly having an EMT on site.

To start, b u ild in g a prop w here sa fety is a rg u a b ly m ore vita l w ou ld be a maze. F ire figh te rs navigating a maze are typ ica lly blacked o u t (w h ich sim u la te s sm okey co n d itio n s ) and m ust craw l to sa fety th ro u g h a se­ ries of narrow channels, tu rn s and s ta irs w h ile on air. They may a lso experience w ire s or o th e r o b sta cle s w ith in the maze th a t can a lso cause anx­ iety.

A w e ll-b u ilt maze w ill have in ­ stru c to rs having access to fire ­ fig h te rs at all p o in ts th ro u g h o u t the maze. T his is because mazes are fre q u e n tly used in fire fig h te r 1 co urses and fo r ju n io r fire fig h te rs .

Being inexperienced and more prone to needing guidance it is im p o rta n t th a t in s tru c to rs be able to v is u a lly see, to u c h and ta lk to fire fig h te rs as th e y go th ro ug h .

Props sh o u ld a lso be relevant and p u rp o se fu l fo r y o u r de­ partm ent. There are som e p ro p s th a t fit th is d e s c rip tio n a cro ss th e board su ch as an escape w in d o w o r th e a fo re ­ m en tion ed maze. A n o th e r a ll­ p urpo se p ro p is the d is e n ta n ­ g le m ent box w h ic h is s im p ly an 8 x 4 -fo ot box w ith bars, w ire s and o th e r o b s ta c le s th ro u g h o u t. In s p ite of the sh o rt distance, it is s till an ex­ c e lle n t m ethod fo r te a ch in g fire fig h te rs how to unta ng le th em selve s or not get tangled in the firs t place and not press the p anic button.

W ith all th a t said there are also p ro p s th a t are relevant based on the typ e s o f c a lls y o u r de­ partm ent ty p ic a lly gets and/or the typ es of stru c tu re s th a t are in th e co m m u n ity you serve.

For exam ple, if y o u r d is tric t has several o ffic e b u ild in g s c o n s tru c tin g a D enver d rill p ro p may be in order. Even if y o u r d is tric t does not w arrant th is kind o f p ro p a m utual aid d is tric t m ight so it’s im portant to co ordin ate w ith neighboring d is tric ts and departm ents.

Since any p ro p s are lik e ly g o in g to be b u ilt from the g ro u n d up th a t m eans th a t th e y can p o te n tia lly be m od i­ fie d to a llo w to be m ore easily p ut to ge th er, taken apart and p ut away in storage. By all m eans if y o u r departm ent has the storage th a t is great. How­ ever, if space is g o in g to be a problem , then again co o rd in a ­ tio n is key. C om bining the s to r­ age issue and m utual aid one o th e r p o in t to c o n s id e r is a d d in g to any agreem ent w o u ld be th e storage, access and use of any props. The firs t d ep artm en t I jo in e d d id not have a w all to tra in and q u a lify fo r b a ilo u ts but a neigh bo rin g d is tric t d id and we ro u tin e ly used th a t p ro p (as an aside New York State is th e o n ly

state th a t req u ire s a b a ilo u t q u a lifica tio n ).

The q u e s tio n th en becom es how to obtain the m aterials fo r all the pro ps you w ant to build.

If you are lo o k in g to b uy new lum ber fin a n cia l approval may be the firs t step altho ug h m ost w ooden p ro p s a re n ’t th a t ex­ pensive to b u ild (under $300).

C onsider asking fo r d on atio ns o f m ate ria ls as th ere may not be th e need to buy. In my expe­ rience m any local and chain hardw are s to re s w ill ju m p at the chance to a ssist a local fire departm ent fu ll w ell know ing in the long run it a lso b e n e fits them fro m a fire sa fety s ta n d ­ p oint but a lso from a p u b lic re­ latio ns angle as w ell.

A d d itio n a lly , th e re are g ra n ts that w ill a ssist w ith p urchasing new s u p p lie s the d ow nsid e of w h ich w o u ld be w ritin g a grant a pp lica tion . Your to w n Dept of P ublic W orks (DPW) may a lso be w illin g to d onate a c u lv e rt tu b e fo r pack escape d rills or as part of a m ask co n fid e n c e course. D on’t fo rg e t any online s ite s th a t a d ve rtise free s u p ­ plies - 1 lite ra lly have 50 pallets at my house being used in v a r­ iou s c a p a c itie s a ll o f w h ic h I have g o tte n free fro m Faceb oo k M arketplace or C raigs L ist and all o f w h ich c o u ld be re-purposed to b uild a tra in in g prop. Last but not least s im p ly keep y o u r eyes and ears open as som e d ep a rtm e n ts clean house and get rid o f sto re d un­ used equipm ent as th e ir needs evolve and change.

jp c g lcle fin d m ka j/https://drive.u s e rc o n te n t.g o o g le .c o m /d o w n load?id=1Q m GYzq3gBF16JggrXVx2vOI12YmRzF4v&authus er = 0 & a c r o b a t P r o m o t i o n S o urce=gdrive_chrom e-list Denver Hallway: c h r o m e extension://efaidnbm nnnibpcajp c g lcle fin d m ka j/https://drive.u s e rc o n te n t.g o o g le .c o m /d o w n I o a d ? i d = 1 IP Q1 Y92bbY41 hf m 9Shtc0f Fi9QW _ M T O n & a uth u ser= 0 & acro ba tP rom otionSource=gdrive_chro m e-list B a ilo u t p ro p w ith Deck and Denver A ttachm ent: c h r o m e extension://efaidnbm nnnibpcajp c g lcle fin d m ka j/https://drive.u s e rc o n te n t.g o o g le .c o m /d o w n l o a d ? i d = 1 a i j kS AVw J M5YY2Tc 1 Nu7lbF2E8N O pw K & authuser=0& acrobat-

P rom otionSource=gdrive_chro m e-list Hardware List fo r these fo u r p r o p s : http s://d ocs.go og le.co m /do cum ent/d/1 h n c 5 R H A G y g p O w J eXCagstMBi_TBQ3Yg/edit?usp =drive_web&ouid=11521969764 3576453793&rtpof=true T his lin k has p la ns fo r a w all breach, d ise n ta n g le m e n t box and w ind ow prop: Layout 1 (All links are posted on the w ebsite ww w.1R BN .com ) O ther tra in in g pro ps such as a m ask co nfid en ce course, mayd a y/flo o r C ollapse and a maze can va ry c o n s id e ra b ly so it m ig ht be best to s ta rt o n lin e searches fo r one w here even th e v id e o can p ro vid e enough g uidance. Stay safe and get b u ild in g !

But w hat about som e plans fo r som e o f the m ore ty p ic a l props? The Denver d rill prop is rea lly o n ly one p ro p th a t has s p e c ific dim ensions. A ll o thers can va ry ta k in g in to c o n s id e r­ ation departm ent needs and lo­ g is tic s . R etired fire C aptain Dale Pekel k in d ly p rovided the fo llo w in g b lu e p rin ts: Wall Prop: c h r o m e extensiony/efaidnbm nnnibpcajpcglclefindm kaj/https://drive.u s e rc o n te n t.g o o g le .c o m /d o w n l o a d ? i d = 1 K evfec2YH81xr1 LRYz9jQYunX4A f IpTb &au t h u se r=0 &ac robat P rom otionS ource=gdrive_chrom elist Pitched Roof: c h r o m e extension://efaidnbm nnnibpca-

JOSEPH CEA

This w ind ow prop was made by Past G lenville Hill Chief Craig Myers, using Dale Pelek's designs.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 29

IN SERVICE I f you have photos you w ould like to see in our In Service feature, please upload them on our w ebsite www. 1stR esponderN ew s.com o r em ail them to L indsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com .

The Lawrence Twp. Fire Co. now operates a 2025 Pierce Enforcer heavy rescue, 2000/500 as Rescue 5. They also have a 2016 Ford F-350/DuraMag 200/200 as Squad 5.

ALAN HOFFMAN

Crews Respond to House Fire in Upper Macungie Twp. UPPER MACUNGIE TWP, PA - On May 10th at 12:10 p .m , the Upper Macungie, Lower Macungie, and Cetronia Fire Depart­ ments, along w ith Greenawalds Fire Department fo r RIT and Cetronia EMS, w ere dispatched fo r a dw e llin g fire at 215 Krocks Road in Upper Macungie Township. A police officer arrived on scene, made sure everyone was out of the house and called in a w orking fire. Engine 56 arrived and the crew was able to q u ic k ly e xting uish the fire and com plete over­ haul. The cause of the fire is pending the investigation by the fire marshal.

DARIN SMITH/TRUCK18 PHOTOGRAPHY

This 2025 Pierce Enforcer #40289 is now running as Rescue 5 of the Lawrence Township Fire Company.

It has a 2000 pum p and 500 water.

COURTESY OF ALTOONA FIRE FIGHTERS IAFF LOCAL 299

Firehouse Subs Supports Altoona Firefighters w ith Grant Funding ALTOONA, PA - A long w ith a representative from TheFireStore.com, m embers of A ltoona Fire Fighters IAFF Local 299 received a donation check from Firehouse Subs on May 8th.

A cco rd in g to o fficia ls, new forced entry equipm ent fo r de­ partm ent operations was purchased using the donated m onies. A dditionally, m em bers conveyed g ra titud e fo r the meal that was served after the presentation. The departm ent expressed gratitude to both groups fo r th eir assistance w ith emergency response and local firem en.

DARIN SMITH/TRUCK 18 PHOTOGRAPHY

A 2016 Ford F-350/DuraMag w ith 200/200 now runs as Squad 5 at Lawrence Twp. Fire Company.

Submitting photos and press releases is EASY! Register at www.1rbn.com to begin posting directly.

Prefer emails? Email your press release and photos directly to lindsey@1strespondernews.com

PAGE 30

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

W ind-Driven Blaze Brings Heavy Fire C onditions in Jefferson H ills PLEASANT HILLS, PA Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company responded as part of the first alarm assignment to a residen­ tial structure fire in Jefferson Hills on April 22nd, after a chief officer arrived on scene and immediately trans­ mitted the working fire to dispatch.

What began as a small fire at the rear of the home quickly intensified due to windy conditions.

The first arriving engine stretched a handline to the rear for initial sup­ pression, while additional arriving crews established a water supply and deployed more lines. In total, five handlines were placed in serv­ ice as firefighters battled heavy fire conditions on both the first and second floors.

Command was initially held by a responding assistant chief be­ fore being transferred to a deputy chief. Crews operated on scene for an extended period before bring­ ing the fire under control. The cause of the fire remains under in­ vestigation by the Allegheny County Fire Marshal.

PLEASANT HILLS VOL. FIRE COMPANY

PLEASANT HILLS VOL. FIRE COMPANY

- 1RN NEWS TEAM

Tiny Lives Saved as Lim erick Firefighters Rescue Goslings from Drain LIMERICK, PA-At 2:58 p.m. on April 16th, the Limerick Fire Department was dispatched to res­ cue goslings that had fallen down a drain at Ambler Savings Bank on Ridge Pike. Chief 51, Assistant 51, Fire Police, Utility 51, and Squad 51 responded.

Bank staff reported that the usual number of goslings appeared to be reduced during their morning ap­ pearance by the bank. They then took it upon them­ selves to search for the missing goslings and found them trapped at the bot­ tom of the parking lot storm drain.

Firefighters arrived and used hooks and halligans to open the heavy grate before going down the storm drain and rescuing the little goslings.

Firefighters Gavin Hartman and Sean Lucas then carefully crossed the road to the cemetery and lovingly reunited the goslings with their goose family. Little res­ cue adventures such as these cer­ tainly prove that we help save lives, no matter the size!

- REGINA JELSKI REGINA JELSKI

REGINA JELSKI

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 31

► Earn Dispatcher Reward Points for paging incidents! ► No set schedule - Page at your convenience!^ ^^ ^ ► 24-Hour Access To Dispatcher CAD System ► Redeem Points In The Dispatcher Store!

DISPATCHER REW ARD » PO INTS Jy

-Km

r.1

f 0 0 O ^ 0 0 0

»cco

o 0 0 ® e> o —

E A R N P O IN T S & R E D E E M FO R S C A N N E R S , A N T E N N A S , GEAR & M O RE!

L APPLY NOW AT

iv w iv .l^ lV W .c o n i We d e live r b re a kin g in c id e n t new s alerts, 24 hours a d a y 365 days a y e a r

PAGE 32

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

HONORS & PROMOTIONS

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

I f you have photos you w ould like to see in our “H onors & Prom otions” feature, please upload them on our w ebsite, w w w .lstR esponderN ew s.com or em ail them to L indsey@ l stResponderN ew s.com .

I f you have photos you w ould like to see in our W here are they N ow ? feature please upload them on our w ebsite www. 1stR esponderN ew s.com or em ail them to L in d sey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com .

COURTESY OF GETTYSBURG FIRE

On May 14th, A lison Lintal visited the G ettysburg Fire Department to o fficia lly swear in tw o new Fire Police Officers. Frank Romanelli and John MacVicar joined the G ettysburg Fire Police during the ceremony, according to officials. Fire Police O fficer H. Weiss, Fire Police Lieutenant R. Weaver, and Fire Police Captain Mark Fruehan were also present. Following the swearing-in ceremony, Mayor Lin­ tal received a to u r of the fire station and the G ettysburg Fire De­ partm ent Museum from departm ent President W. Dempsey, including a brief overview of the departm ent’s history.

UARIN SMITR/TRUCK18 PHOTOGRAPHY

Houtzdale-Ramey has recently placed in service a 1991 Seagrave TB-50DH #Z-78341,1500 pump, 750 w ater as Engine 34-2. This engine p reviously served Pleasant Gap Fire Company.

OALE FEEHRER

The New B uffalo Fire Com pany has placed th is 1998 Seagrave pum per (1750/500) into service as Engine 9. This piece fo rm e rly served as Engine 34-1 w ith the Paxtonia Fire Company.

CUURTESY OF BLANOON FIRE OEPARTMENT

Dog and Owner Rescued from Embankment in Blandon BLANDON, PA - During a busy operating period on A pril 16th, the Blandon Fire Department handled several calls and per­ form ed a technical rescue. Station 12 was called to Pleasant Hill Road at approxim ately 11:45 a.m. due to a dog that was stu ck in a quarry. The dog and its owner were found by Chief 12 around 60-feet down a steep hillside. Crews established a rope rescue operation because of the terrain. Using a tree as an anchor, Ladder 12 staff used a dual tension rope system to descend a rescuer to bundle the dog and get the owner ready. In less than 45 m inutes, the dog and its owner were safely tran spo rted to the to p w ith the help of M uhlenberg Twp. Fire & Rescue 66. Shortly after clearing, Brush 12 and Engine 12 assisted w ith a brush fire in Richm ond Twp. O ffi­ cials reported five calls handled th ro ug h ou t the day.

OALE FEEHRER

The P ottsville Fire Company #1 now operates th is 2004 Seagrave as Engine 33 (2000/800/25A/25B).

This piece form erly served in Pearl River, NY.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 33

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.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com.

ALAN HOFFMAN

Engine 7 of the Em m aus Fire Departm ent on the scene o f a s tru c tu re fire at the Emmaus p u b lic w o rks b u ild in g on January 9th.

KEN SNYDER

AFD E ll in service at the second alarm W ashington St. dw elling, 1/8/26.

DALE FEEHRER

Linglestow n Fire C om pany's Engine 35, a 2017 KME (1750/850), is seen here operat­ ing at a m utual aid fire in Harrisburg.

DALE FEEHRER

Engine 75 of the FD of Mt. Joy, a 2005 Segrave Marauder (2000/500), is seen here "laying in" during a m utual aid dw elling fire in Mt. Joy Township.

KEN SNYDER

Phillipsburg, NJ ladder tow er in service on S.5th St., Easton,

PAGE 34

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

HONORS & PROMOTIONS If you have photos you would like to see in our “Honors & Promotions” feature, please upload them on our website, www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com.

On April 26th, the Aston Town­ sh ip Fire Departm ent hosted their yearly awards luncheon to honor members for th eir co n tri­ b utio ns and involvem ent d ur­ ing the previous year. The departm ent's leadership praised Barnaby's Aston fo r helping w ith the event and members, employees, and their fam ilies for th eir ongoing sup­ port.

Thom as Lafferty III received J u n io r Firefighter o f the Year, w hile Dave Durbano and Mike E llis Jr. received the Presi­ dent's Award. Tom Benson was chosen F irefighter o f the Year, w hile Kurt Tiger was given the Chief's Award. After spearhead­ ing EMS responses, Joseph Denney was named EMS Per­ son of the Year.

The departm ent also released its Top 10 Fire and Top 5 EMS response totals, h ig hligh tin g active participation across both d iv isio n s. Michael W ashlick was named Em ployee of the Year.

The event marked another year o f service and com m itm ent w ithin the department.

COURTESY OF ASTON TWP. FIRE DEPT.

COURTESY OF ASTON TWP. FIRE DEPT.

COURTESY OF ASTON TWP. FIRE DEPT.

COURTESY OF ASTON TWP. FIRE DEPT.

COURTESY OF ASTON TWP. FIRE DEPT.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

COMMAND VEHICLES If your Department has photos you would like to see in our “Command Vehicles” feature, please upload them on our website, www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com

PROVIDED BY JOE TEMARANTZ JR.

Hanover Area Fire D istrict (Luzerne County) recently to o k delivery of a 2025 Chevrolet 2500HD com m and vehicle. The vehicle was made possible by the Hanover Township Board of Commissioners.

July/August, 2026

PAGE 35

Crash Into Gas Meter Prompts Rapid Rescue and Safety Measures in Brighton Township BEAVER, PA - The Brighton Township Volunteer Fire Depart­ ment responded to a motor vehi­ cle accident involving injuries and a struck gas meter along the 5700 block of Tus­ carawas Road, April 29th.

Crews quickly extricated the pa­ tient and initiated medical care until EMS personnel as­ sumed treatment.

Firefighters secured the damaged gas meter and shut down service to prevent further gas release.

As a precaution, surrounding homes were checked with gas monitoring equipment to ensure the safety of residents.

Units remained on scene to assist with roadway closure and hazard mitigation until the vehi­ cle was removed and the gas company arrived.

Assistance from Brighton Township Police and Medic Res­ cue Ambulance Service supported operations throughout the inci­ dent.

- 1RN NEWS TEAM BRIGHTON TWP. VFD - STATION 63

FIRE COMPANY LOGOS If you have photos you would like to see in our “Fire Company Logos “feature please upload them on our website, www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com.

ALAN HOFFMAN

Quick Response Lim its Fire Damage a t Lower M acungie Twp. Edible Arrangem ents

ALAN HOFFMAN

The emblem of Salisbury Township Fire.

LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., PA - On A pril 4th at 1:20 p.m., the Lower Macungie Fire Department and Q uint 25 from the Upper Macungie Fire Department and Macungie EMS were dispatched fo r a com m ercial structure fire at Edible Arrangem ents at 6379 Ham ilton Blvd. in Lower Ma­ cungie Township. Crews arrived on scene to fin d the fire alarm sounding and the store evacu­ ated. There w as a sm all fire that was extinguished in the electrical box fo r one of the HVAC u nits in the rear of the store. An HVAC service person was on scene and PP&L Power com pany was also called to the scene.

PAGE 36

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Three-Alarm Pittsburgh Blaze Triggers Dramatic Rescue and M ultiple Injuries PITTSBURGH, PA - On April 16th, Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire crews responded to a resi­ dential structure fire on the 3400 block of Ligonier Street in Lower Lawrenceville, where the incident rapidly escalated to three alarms.

On arrival, fire­ fighters encoun­ tered a heavily involved structure with two occu­ pants inside. A male resident es­ caped to the top floor/attic area and jumped to a neighboring home, where he was rescued by crews using a ladder truck. He sustained first-degree bums to his face and second and third degree bums to his hands. A female res­ ident was transported to the hos­ pital in stable condition for smoke inhalation.

The fire also extended to an adjacent, unoccupied structure, causing significant damage. Dur­ ing operations, a MAYDAY was declared after a floor collapse in­ side one of the buildings, though all firefighters were accounted for and no injuries resulted from the collapse.

Two firefighters were trans­ ported to the hospital in stable condition—one with a hip injury and another for evaluation of minor facial burns. The Fire In­ vestigation Unit is working to de­ termine the cause of the blaze.

- 1 RN NEWS TEAM

PITTSBURGH BUREAU UF FIRE

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

PAGE 37

Rick Billings ^ E N YEAR OLD MARY MARGARET TAKES OYER...

0\\ 0 H/

Tea

BETHEL PARK VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY

C 2026 by Rick Billings bear59dog@yahoo.com inst - @jampony452

Enjoy takin g photographs?

Get the most out of your hobby.

1st Responder News compensates correspondents for their article & photograph BETHEL PARK VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY

submissions.

Bethel Park Firefighters Rescue Ducklings from Storm Drain BETHEL PARK, PA - Firefighters responded to an unusual call involving ducklings trapped inside a storm drain, prompting a coordinated rescue effort on May 3rd. Upon ar­ rival, crews located a distressed mother duck with one duckling, while the remaining nine were found inside the drain. Working alongside police, firefighters carefully ac­ cessed the storm system and safely removed each duckling.

All nine were successfully rescued and reunited with their mother before the family was returned safely to the wild.

Contact Lindsey TODAY fo r more inform ation!

Lindsey@1 strespondernews. com

845-534-7500 ext. 212

PAGE 38

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Shartlesville Community Fire Company #1 Adds New EVDL Tool to Enhance EV Response SHARTLESVILLE, PA May 20, 2026 - The Shartlesville Community Fire Company # 1 has placed a new Electric Vehicle Discharge Line (EVDL) into service to strengthen the depart­ ment’s response ca­ pabilities for electric and hybrid vehicle emergen­ cies.

With EV traffic increasing along In­ terstate 78, the de­ partment identified the need for a spe­ cialized tool to ad­ dress the unique hazards associated with highvoltage battery systems. The EVDL provides a direct method for delivering cooling water into compromised battery modules, supporting safer and more effi­ cient stabilization during thermal runaway events.

The equipment was delivered on May 6, 2026, followed by hands-on training for department personnel. Firefighters reviewed deployment procedures, safety considerations, and integration with existing suppression opera­ tions.

“Our department is commit­ ted to staying ahead of emerging risks and ensuring our firefighters have the tools and training needed to protect the community,” said Fire Chief Gene Spotts.

The Shartlesville Community Fire Company #1 continues to in­ vest in equipment and training that support firefighter safety and enhance service to the residents of Upper Bern Township and sur­ rounding communities.

PROVIDED

Members of the Shartlesville Community Fire Company #1 follow ing EVDL training on May 6, 2026.

- DR. JOHN T. CUSATIS

PROVIDED

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 39

Chickens Saved as Lim erick Firefighters Contain Explosive Shed Fire LIMERICK, PA-At 7:21 p.m. on April 8th, the Limerick Fire De­ partment was dispatched to a re­ ported shed fire on Deerfield Rd. Chief 51, Deputy 51, Engine 51, Tanker 51, Squad 51, Field 51-2, Fire Police, and Limerick Police re­ sponded. Reports stated that some­ thing had exploded in the shed.

Chief 51 arrived first and confirmed a working shed fire with no exposures.

Upon arrival. En­ gine 51’s crew immediately stretched a line and went into serv­ ice. The fire was found to have ex­ tended into nearby trees, and Field 51-2 accessed the area from an ad­ jacent property to assist with shed and brush fire operations beyond the property of origin.

Fire Marshals were requested to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire. The fire was placed under control at 7:38 p.m., with no injuries reported to homeowners or neighbors.

A few chickens were rescued from the adjoining burning coop; no chickens were harmed (or cooked) during fire operations.

- REGINA JELSKI REGINA JELSKI

REGINA JELSKI

REGINA JELSKI

PAGE 40

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Aston Crews Handle Six Incidents in 24 Hours ASTON TWP., PA - Over the course of a day, the Aston Town­ ship Fire Department responded to six fire occurrences on April 13th.

In the afternoon, the Concordville Fire & Protective Associa­ tion received assis­ tance from the Engine, Utility, and J ump to f iie # ATV at a sizable 042 52611 5 brush fire on Cot­ tonwood Drive in Concord Township.

For several hours, crews worked with the Pennsylvania Forestry Service and mutual aid agencies to con­ tain the fire.

Later that night, units went to a structure fire at the Crum Creek Valley Condos in Nether Provi­ dence Township. On the second level, they discovered a kitchenrelated fire with a lot of smoke.

The next day. Squad 17 helped the Upper Chichester Fire Department extricate a patient from a car accident involving en­ trapment.

*4

a*

- 1RN NEWS TEAM

COURTESY OF ASTON TWP. FIRE DEPT.

COURTESY OF ASTON TWP. FIRE DEPT.

COURTESY OF ASTON TWP. FIRE DEPT.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 41

Vehicle News

The Low er Providence FD now operates th is 2025 Pierce Enforcer (2000/750) as Engine 53.

The W ellsville Fire Company w ill soon be operating this 2025 E-One Cyclone eMax custom rescue-pum per (1750/780/Genesis) as Rescue 66.

DALE FEEHRER

DALE FEEHRER

The Lower Swatara VFD has taken delivery of th e ir 2026 Pierce Enforcer pum per (1500/750). This piece w ill serve as Engine 59.

The Rohrerstown Fire Company have placed this 2025 Pierce Enforcer 100' Ascen­ dant into service as Tower 67.

FRANK ROBINSON

DALE FEEHRER

M ount Penn Fire operates this 2024 Spartan 100' Tiller.

The Alliance Fire & Rescue Serv. has taken delivery of their 2025 Pierce Enforcer (1500/1000) to serve as Engine 77.

PAGE 42

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

JEFFERSON HILLS FIRE-RESCUE

Cat Rescued from Creekside Hole Escapes Moments Later in Jefferson Hills IRISHTOWN FIRE COMPANY

JEFFERSON HILLS, PA - On April 16th, Jefferson Hills Fire Rescue units responded to the 2000 block of Lewis Run Road along­ side Jefferson Police following re­ ports of a cat trapped in a hole.

Engine-1, designated as 180, ar­ rived on scene with police officers and was directed to a hole along the side of a creek, where crews dis­ covered the animal unable to free itself.

Firefighters and police worked together to carefully dig into the

,

Jump td file # 041 62614 3

enough to safely extricate the cat.

Once access was secured, rescuers successfully removed the animal from the hole.

However, the situation took an unexpected turn immediately after the rescue. True to its independent nature, the cat quickly sprang from the arms of its rescuers and fled the scene. Police and fire personnel

briefly pursued the animal on foot, but it ultimately evaded capture and remains at large.

Authorities confirmed there is no threat to public safety, noting that the cat appeared friendly, though clearly unwilling to remain in custody. The hole where the an­ imal had been trapped has since been filled to prevent similar inci­ dents involving other animals.

- 1RN NEWS TEAM

DRILLS/TRAINING To see your Drills in the new spaper upload them on our website www .lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@ lstR esponderNews.com

IRISHTOWN FIRE COMPANY

Quick-Acting Crews Stop Fire Extension Threat in New Oxford NEW OXFORD, PA - Irishtown Fire Company’s Engine 14 op­ erated as the second-due unit on an outbuilding fire in New Oxford Borough, May 17th, where flames extended toward a nearby apartment building. Arriving crews quickly deployed handlines and coordinated efforts to contain the fire, working to prevent further extension into the residential structure. Fire­ fighters focused on exposure protection, extinguishment, and checking for any hidden fire spread between the buildings.

RRIGHTON TWP. VFD - STATION 63

Brighton Twp. Volunteer Fire Department members conducted a focused training session centered on patient packaging and movement, refining techniques to safely handle and stabilize patients across a range of scenarios and challenging environments.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Juiy/August, 2026

PAGE 43

_________ DRILLS/TRAINING_________ To see your Drills in the newspaper upload them on our website www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com

On A p ril 30th, m em bers of the Carbon Volunteer Fire Departm ent participated in train in g centered on how to use newly acquired rescue airbags that were funded by an annual grant. During a num ber of practical rescue situ atio ns, fire fig h te rs studied equipm ent setup, sta bilizatio n techniques, and safe liftin g p rotocols. A patient s tu ck under a big object, an im pingem ent incident, and a victim -in vo lve d sim ulated tree or u tility pole collapse were among the tra in in g e volutio ns. A cco rding to de­ partm ent officials, the tra in in g enhanced team w ork, strengthened technical rescue a bilities, and prepared p articip a nts fo r com m unity-w ide s itu a tio n s inclu ding heavy liftin g , stabilization, and victim extrication.

COURTESY OF CARBON VOL. FIRE DEPARTMENT

COURTESY OF CARBON VOL. FIRE DEPARTMENT

On A p ril 12th, m em bers o f the Bow m anstow n Volunteer Fire Com pany w ent to the Neffs Volunteer Fire C om pany fo r a train in g session using a fla sho ver sim ulator.

Identifying fire behavior, com prehending fla sho ver situ atio ns, and enhancing fire g ro u n d decision-m aking were the main objectives of the practical train in g . A ccording to o fficia ls, the course gave p articip a nts real-w orld experience that w ould enable them to fu n c tio n more safely and s u c c e ssfu lly in the event of a structural fire. The departm ent praised Chief 16 and Neffs Fire Com pany fo r hosting the session and stated that such tra in in g o p p o rtu n itie s are s till crucial in preparing fire fig h te rs fo r em ergency response operations.

COURTESY OF BOWMANSTOWN VOLUNTEER FIRE CO.

COURTESY OF BOWMANSTOWN VOLUNTEER FIRE CO.

PAGE 44

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

ALAN HOFFMAN

Emmaus Apartm ent Fire Q uickly Contained BRIGHTON TWP. VFD - STATION 63

EMMAUS, PA - On May 7th around 4:30 p.m., the Emmaus Fire Department, along w ith the Vera Cruz and Western Salisbury fire companies, the Lower Macungie Fire Department and Emmaus EMS, were dispatched fo r an apartment fire at 144 Crest Way in the Borough of Emmaus. The dispatcher said m ultiple calls were being received. Chief 7 arrived and had smoke showing.

Engine 7 arrived, advanced a handline into the apartment and had a a fire in the bedroom. Em­ maus EMS provided treatment to tenants of the apartment and an additional ambulance from Macungie EMS was requested to the scene. The cause of the fire is pending the investigation by the fire marshal.

Brookville Crews Respond to Early-Morning Fire

BRIGHTON TWP. VFD - STATION 63

Trailer Fire Quickly Knocked Down in Beaver BEAVER, PA - The Brighton Township Volunteer Fire Depart­ ment responded to the 1000 block of Dutch Ridge Road on May 6th fo r a reported equipment fire. Units arrived to find a trailer fu lly involved in flames and immediately began sup­ pression operations. Due to the materials burning, crews de­ ployed foam to effectively control the fire. The blaze was brought under control w ithout further extension, and no in­ juries were reported.

BROOKVILLE, PA - The Brookville Fire Company re­ sponded to a working structure fire at Box 2M HH on May 3rd at 6:41 a.m. WhenAssistant 10-2 and Deputy 2 arrived, they verified that all of the building's residents had safely evacuated.

Units 2, 1, 6, 7, 8 and 10, along with DuBois Fire Department Engine 73, designated as RIT, were part of the response. Crews on Engine 7 and Engine 10 helped Ladder 2 extend a line to Division 2.

All mutual aid organizations and staff were recognized by of­ ficials for their assistance and re­ sponsiveness during the incident.

The Brookville Eagles were also acknowledged by the department for giving first responders on scene breakfast sandwiches.

- 1RN NEWS TEAM

COURTESY OF BROOKVILLE FIRE CO.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 45

_________ DRILLS/TRAINING_________ To see your Drills in the newspaper upload them on our website www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com

BRIGHTON TWP. VFD - STATION 63

COURTESY OF CLEARFIELD FIRE DEPT.

COURTESY OF COATESVIlif PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS IAFF LOCAL 3790

B righton Twp. Volunteer Fire D epartm ent m em bers Ten members of the Clearfield Fire Department finished com pleted an extensive refresher training and opera­ a 16-hour Pump Operations 1 course on A pril 19th. tional review in preparation fo r an upcom ing large-scale exercise at the Beaver Valley Power Station.

On May 6th, m em bers o f the C oatesville Professional F irefighters IAFF Local 3790 participated in a training session w ith the Cain Twp. Professional Firefighters to go over elevated m aster stream operations.

COURTESY OF AVONDALE FIRE CO.

COURTESY OF ADAMS TOWNSHIP VOL. FIRE DEPT. #2

COURTESY OF CIRCLEVILLE VFD

Members of the W est Grove Fire Com pany and the Avondale Fire Company participated in live burn train­ ing at the West C hester Fire Training Center on A pril 11th.

On A p ril 22nd, m em bers o f the Dunlo Fire D epartm ent and the Adam s Twp. V olunteer Fire D epartm ent #2 traveled to the R ichland Twp. Volunteer Fire D epart­ m ent tra in in g center fo r a com bined train in g session.

Training se ssio ns on hazardous m aterials response and d econtam ination techniques were attended by m em bers o f the C ircleville VFD in A p ril. F irefighters practiced setting up decon sites and scene safety p ro ­ cedures w hile reviewing how to appropriately d isin fe ct persons and equipm ent after a hazardous incident.

PAGE 46

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

DRILLS/TRAINING To see your D rills in the new spaper upload them on our w ebsite w w w .lstR esponderN ew s.com or em ail them to Lindsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com

ALAN HOFFMAN

Kitchen Fire Contained in Lower Macungie Twp.

______ !___ COURTESY OF KNOX VOLUNTEER FIRE CO.

In April, as part of pum p train in g exercises, members of the Knox Volunteer Fire Company Inc. tested a recently placed dry hydrant in the field. Crews practiced drawing utilizing Engine 2 and a tanker, concentrating on both air prim e and manual prim e m ethods. In non-hydranted places, training evo­ lutions strengthen water supply operations, guaranteeing dependable drafting capacities during in­ cidents.

LOWER MACUNGIE TWP, PA - On A pril 24th at 8:45 a .m , the Lower M acungie Fire Departm ent and the Upper Macungie Fire Department were dispatched fo r a dw elling fire at 1111 Pine Grove C ircle in Lower M acungie Tow nship. W hile re­ sponding, the u nits were advised that the caller said there was a fire in the kitchen. A M acungie EMS unit arrived on scene and had ligh t sm oke show ing, Engine 80 arrived shortly afterwards, advanced a hose line to the kitchen where they discovered a sm all fire in the kitchen and extinguished it. Crews checked fo r extension and com pleted v e ntilatio n before clearing.

COURTESY OF MIFFUNTOWN HOSE CO #1

Four V ehicles Involved in M ifflin to w n MVA

COURTESY OF RRIDGEWATER VFD - ENGINE CO. 28

In April, Liam Search and Rescue presented an animal safety training course fo r firs t responders at the Bridgewater VFD-Engine Co. 28. Pet CPR, basic firs t aid, and safe animal handling were all ad­ dressed th ro u g h o u t the train in g . Crews w ent over situ a tio n s that freq ue n tly arise in car crashes, building fires, and public gatherings where animals m ight be present.

MIFFLINTOWN, PA - The M ifflintow n Hose Co. #1 arrived at Box 2-01 fo r a car c o llisio n at 37 N. Main Street on A pril 12th at 2:25 a.m. At first, JCCC reported an autom obile crashing into a parked car w ith unspecified injuries. When Captain 2 (Boreman) arrived, he verified that fo u r autom obiles were in­ volved. One person was unharmed after self extricating. To­ gether w ith the Pennsylvania State Police, Rescue 2 and Am bulance 205-3 responded to the incident. Vehicle removal was aided by Gray's Towing and Parson's Towing. Until the to w in g process was fin ish e d and the route was reopened, one lane of tra ffic was closed.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 47

COMMAND VEHICLES If you have photos you w ould like to see in our “C om m and Vehicles” feature, please upload them on our w ebsite, w w w .lstR esponderN ew s.com or em ail them to L indsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com .

___ ALAN HOFFMAN

Fire Inspector 55 of Upper m acungie Twp. on the scene of a com m ercial structure fire, March 18th.

KEN SNYDER

The West Shore Bureau of Fire in Cum berland C ounty C hief's vehicle is a Ford.

ALAN HOFFMAN

This is the com m and vehicle fo r Fire Police Captian 57 of the Upper Macungie Fire Department.

FRANK ROBINSON

Coaldale Fire now operates a 2018 Ford Explorer as a Command Vehicle,

KEN SNYDER

The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire Battalion C hief's vehicle is a 2025 Ford Expedition.

KEN SNYDER

The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire Deputy C hief's vehicle is a 2022 Ford Expedition.

PAGE 48

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

DRILLS/TRAINING To see your Drills in the newspaper upload them on our website www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com

Munhall Central Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company trained alongside Munhall Volunteer Fire Co. #1 during a hands-on d rill focused on ladder operations and essential fireground tactics. Members rotated through m ultiple stations, practicing ladder throws, setting up Truck 200, and reviewing build­ ing co nstruction along w ith m ethods for checking fire extension. The training emphasized coordina­ tion, safety, and operational efficiency. The session was held at a local training facility, providing a realistic environm ent fo r crews to sharpen th eir skills and strengthen interdepartm ental teamwork.

HBFC

HBFC

Driver Extricated Following Serious Crash in Honey Brook Twp. HONEY BROOK TWP., PA - On April 23rd at 4:40 P.M., Station 33 (Honey Brook) along w ith EMS and Lancaster Squad 34 were dispatched to the 600 BLK of Twin County Road, in Honey Brook Township, for a MVA reported w ith entrapment.

Engine 33-1, w ith a crew of six, arrived first to find a tractor tra ile r vs. a sm all sedan, and confirm ed its operator was trapped. Lieutenant 33B (Riehl) established the initial com ­ mand while the crew from E331 stabilized the vehicle, initiated patient care, and removed the driver side door. Ultimately, due to the severity of the extrication, crews removed the roof and rolled the dash to safely extricate the patient from the vehicle, w ho was transported to a local area hospital. Fire Police units from 33 and Lancaster 34 w ould keep the roadway shutdown fo r several hours before it could be safely reopened. Chief 33 held the Twin County Road Command.

MUNHAU CENTRAL VOL. FIRE AND RESCUE CO.

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 49

COMMAND VEHICLES If your Department has photos you would like to see in our “Command Vehicles” feature, please upload them on our website, wwv.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com

COURTESY OF BLUE KNOB VOLUNTEER FIRE CO.

Fire C om m issioner 59 of Salisbury Fire on the scene of a dw elling fire at 2064 Gregory Drive in Lower Macungie Township, A pril 10th.

COURTESY OF BLUE KNOB VOLUNTEER FIRE CO.

Mutual Aid Crews Operate at Cambria County Structure Fire

E M

■SBMk -

PORTAGE, PA - A t a re sid e n tia l b u ild in g fire in Portage Tow nship on A p ril 11th, the Blue Knob Volunteer Fire Com ­ pany arrived to s u p p o rt the Portage Fire Company. M utual aid u n its w ere p re sen t w hen Engine/R escue 86 and Engine/Tanker 86 arrived and began operations. In a dd itio n to co m p le tin g overhaul o perations to check fo r extension and secure the stru ctu re , crew s a ssisted w ith fire supp re ssion .

ALAN HUFFMAN

A ssista nt 80 on the scene of a d w elling fire at 2064 G regory Drive in Lower M acungie Township, A p ril 10th.

PAGE 50

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

Music and Fun JOSEPH CEA

W hether y o u ’ re v o lu n te e r or career the bottom line is being a fire fig h te r is th e greatest jo b on th e planet. There are a m u ltitu d e o f reasons fo r th is in c lu d in g but not lim ite d to s e rv in g y o u r co m m u n ity and th e sense of s a tis fa c tio n kn ow ing you can o vercom e th e p h ysica l h a rd sh ip s of w ea rin g tu rn o u t gear, on air w h ile ca rryin g to o ls and haul­ ing a charged hose line. What o the r p ro fessio n can com bine the m ental challenge o f d e vis­ ing a plan to quash the flam es a nd /or rescue p o te n tia l v ic ­ tim s w ith the adren aline rush of actually e xting uishin g a fire.

Even tra in in g can be e xcitin g w hen you learn and a p p ly a new ta c tic on the fire g ro u n d .

A s if th a t w a s n ’t enough fire ­ fig h tin g also has som e in h e r­ ent and b u ilt in a sp e cts th a t provide balance and round out th e e xperience. There really are A LOT o f fu n a ng le s to being a fire fig h te r and part of a fire h o u se . S om etim es the fu n lite ra lly sm acks you in the face to th e p o in t you c a n ’t avoid having a good tim e but a lso rem em ber th a t like m ost o rg an izatio ns you get o ut of it e xactly w hat you put into it.

and b in d s us to ge th er in ord er fo r cam araderie to take roo t and su sta in its e lf th e re really needs to be an a ssociatio n be­ yond fire. M usic is such a fo r­ m idable co nn ectio n th a t it can bind fire fig h te rs to each o the r and to the fire h o u se in sp ite of any inherent d ifferen ce s. It is th o se e x tra c u rric u la r tie s th a t u ltim a te ly tran slate to the fireg ro un d h elpin g to fo rm a c o ­ herent team w hen b a ttlin g the flam es.

The key to m aking th o se c o n ­ n ectio ns, e sp e c ia lly w hen it com es to m usic is being open and w illin g to listen to a genre, song o r band th a t is m eaning­ fu l to yo u r colleagues. Having grow n up in the ‘70s and ‘80s I ca n ’t te ll you how m any o f my frie n d s th a t relative to m usic are lite ra lly s tu c k in th o se decades and even refuse to lis­ ten to a n yth in g new er than 1989. R id icu lo u s ! Of course, the flip side is a lso tru e fo r y o u n g e r g e n e ra tio n s co m ing up as E xp lo re rs and rookie fire fig h te rs. D on’t ju s t d ism iss a song as “ old people m u s ic ” .

T hin k about th is sce na rio : Its th a t tim e o f ye ar to g ive y o u r a pp aratus a th o ro u g h c le a n s­ ing and th e e n tire fire h o u s e d ed ica te s at least one maybe tw o d rill n ig h ts to g e ttin g it done. A w ho le y e a r’s w o rth of d irt and filth th a t needs to be gone and, in its stead, a s p a rk lin g fire tru c k everyone w ill be proud to d isp la y fo r the u pcom ing parade.

but already made a co nn ectio n w ith a n o th e r fire fig h te r in my d ep artm en t w ho w as a lso a p e rc u s s io n is t (in high school).

A s we all know the fire service a lso p laces a prem ium on p hysical and m ental and em o­ tio n a l health. M usic is a m ajor fo rc e in s tre s s re d u ctio n by lo w e rin g c o rtis o l w h ic h is the p rim a ry s tre s s horm one and in d u ce s relaxa tio n. It is a lso im p o rta n t in c a rd io v a s c u la r health by reducing blood pres­ su re and s lo w in g p ulse rates.

M usic can a lso a ffe c t and en­ hance y o u r m ood, acts as a d istra ctio n from pain and helps m anage d ep re ssion . Indeed, lis te n in g to m u sic h elps fire ­ fig h te rs p rocess em o tion s and p o s itiv e ly b oo st m ental health.

P itb ull - Fireball Pow er S tatio n - Some Like it Hot Talking Heads - B u rn in ’ Down th e House The D oors - L ig h t My Fire The Tram m ps - D isco Inferno So, relax fire fig h te rs ! We have

W ith all the general b en efits th a t m usic b rin g s to fire fig h t­ e rs th ere seem ed o n ly one th in g left to do - create a p la y lis t s p e c ific a lly fo r fire ­ fig h te rs .

In th e inclu de d p la y lis t the them e is clear and o f c o u rse not fin ite . A d m it­ tedly, s c o u rin g m y m u sic c o l­ le c tio n fo r fire related so ng s w as a blast. One notable item is the m u ltip le genres and gen­ e ra tio n s represented because it was designed in part to bring as m any people to g e th e r as possible.

Alabam a - There’s a Fire in the N ight

PROVIDED

Joseph at one of his drum lessons.

A lice Cooper - House o f Fire A lic ia Keys - G irl on Fire

If you take an a ctive role in open house and re c ru itin g events, th e M em orial Day Pa­ rade, fis h fry, BBQ and the pancake breakfasts y o u r expe­ rience as a fire fig h te r w ill in ­ crease te n -fo ld in a p o s itiv e d irectio n . Those are all events th a t b rin g yo u r co m m u n ity to ­ g eth er and p a rtic ip a tio n can be ve ry sa tis fy in g and a lot of fu n . These are w e ll know n events th ou gh so le t’s d iscu ss a lesser-know n and m ore per­ sonal aspect o f a fire fig h te r’s life th a t not o n ly is a lot of fun but a lso has th e p ow er to b rin g g e n e ra tio n s to g e th e r th a t’s rig h t m usic!

In any fire h o u s e th ere is in ­ e v ita b ly a goo d d em og ra ph ic m ix. A lth o u g h fire m a tic s is the stro n g lin k th a t assem bles

A dau ntin g ta sk to be sure but add som e m usic w h ile you w o rk and not o n ly does the ta s k go by q uicker, y o u ’ll see w ho likes to dance, w ho may have a great sin g in g v o ic e and w ho can play th e best air d ru m s (or actual instrum ents).

You’ ll see w ho likes Def Lep­ pard, The C harlie D aniels Band, A licia Keys, P itb ull etc...

OUR CALENDAR IS EXPANDING We Need Your Help!

B illy Joel - We D idn ’t Start the Fire

Post an event in your area at

B lack Hawk - Down in Flames

www.1rbn.com B rooks and Dunn - I C an’t Put Out This Fire B u ste r P o ind exter - Hot Hot Hot Def Leppard - Rock of Ages

Maybe you hear a so ng th a t you haven’t heard in years and it rem inds you o f a s to ry w orth sharing w ith o th e r fire fig h te rs .

Maybe you w ill hear y o u r a lltim e fa v o rite song - fo r me in sp ite o f being a huge c o u n try m usic fan th a t song is Dreams from Van Halen. Ju st recently I started ta king drum lessons a b ucke t lis t item to be sure

th e g re ate st jo b in th e w o rld but som etim es you g otta put it all aside, make a p la y lis t and listen to som e tunes. M ost im ­ p o rta n tly th o u g h share y o u r m usic w ith y o u r co lle ag ue s and help create that com radery and team firs t m ind set that w ill help in recruitm en t and reten­ tio n and m akes being a fire ­ fig h te r w o rth every m inute.

Dokken - B urning Like a Flame J e rry Lee Lew is - Great B alls o f Fire J o h n n y Cash - Ring of Fire Kansas - Fight Fire w ith Fire K iss - Heaven’s on Fire

Keep an eye out for National Events too! *

Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

ST

R esponder ^

W ir e l e s s n e w s

SECURE THE 1st RESPONDER WIRELESS NEW S 2 0 2 6 DEPARTMENT BUNDLE RATE BEFORE ITS TO O LATE!

T ake a d v a n ta g e o f these discounted ra te s to d a y !

5 PERSON PACKAGE

10 PERSON PACKAGE

$300

$499

Regularly $ 5 0 0

Regularly $ 1,000

Contact Nick to activate your account or prepare a customized proposal to fit your department’s specific needs: Call: (8 8 8 ) 2 3 5 -7 4 8 6 ext. 210 Email: Nicholas@1strespondernews.com

PAGE 51

PAGE 52

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

1IRILLS/TRAININIG To see y o u r D rills in the new spaper upload them on our w ebsite w w w .lstR esponderN ew s.com or em ail them to Lindsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com

GETTYSBURG FIRE

Ducklings Rescued from Storm Drain in Swift Gettysburg Response GETTYSBURG, PA - In April, G ettysburg Fire Department re­ sponded to an unusual but heartwarm ing incident at the Amblebrook developm ent after a group of ducklings wandered into a storm drain system. Crews acted quickly, safely retriev­ ing the stranded ducklings and bringing them back to the sur­ face w itho ut incident. After ensuring all were accounted for, fire fig h te rs reunited the young b irds w ith th eir m other at a nearby pond.

BROUGHTON VOL. FIBE DEPARTMENT - SOUTH PARK TWP.

SOUTH PARK, PA - Firefighters recently joined fellow students to com plete a W ildland Forestry Team C ertification program, strengthening their capabilities in handling brush and w oodland fire incidents.

Participants trained th rough m ultiple realistic scenarios, inclu ding a sim ulated large-scale w oods fire that required crews to construct an extended fire line, as well as operations focused on protecting nearby structures using portable water supply system s. Crews deployed high-pressure pum ps and utilized w ater sources such as stream s to su pp ort suppression efforts. The tra in in g also covered saw operations and the use of specialized ig n itio n equipm ent, p ro vid in g fire fig h te rs w ith a w ellrounded sk ill set fo r w ildland fire response.

A golf brand inspired by surf culture. Offering clothes and accessories meant to stand out from the rest.

singlefingolf.com ©

@singlefingolf

1ST Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 53

FIREFIGHTER PROFILES If your department has photos you would like to see in our “Firefighter Profiles” feature, please upload them on our website, www lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com

AIUANCE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES

COURTESY OF ADAMS TOWNSHIP VOL. FD #2

Firefighters Corey Brown and Dylan Kundrod were honored by the Adams Township Volunteer Fire Department #2 on May 4th fo r fin ­ ishing Module 4 Structural Burns and the Essentials Training Pro­ gram . A fter com pleting the course, both p articipants become qualified stru ctu ra l firefig hte rs, expanding the departm ent's re­ sponse team by tw o certified firefighters. A ccording to officials, the tra in in g prepared fire fig h te rs fo r stru ctu ra l fire operations th rough both classroom and practical education. Both members received cong ra tu la tion s from the departm ent, w hich also men­ tioned that they w ill continue to develop th eir skills through tra in ­ ing and fire service experience.

ALLIANCE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES

Read more features on our website! www.1rbn.com

Firefighters Contain Well-Involved Rarn Fire in Red Lion Area RED LION, PA - The Alliance Fire and Rescue Services responded to a ssist the New Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company at a reported high-risk structure fire in Chanceford Township, April 17th. A rriving units encountered a w ell-involved agricultural barn fire, w ith heavy fire conditions th ro u g h o u t the structure. Crews from Truck 77 and Engine 77 w orked alongside m utual aid companies, deploying m ultiple lines and operating fo r several hours to bring the blaze under control. Firefighters remained on scene fo r an extended period conducting suppression and overhaul operations. The cause of the fire is cu rren tly under investigation, and all units later cleared the scene after com pleting operations.

PAGE 54

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

ANTIQUE APPARATUS

i

If you have photos for Antique Apparatus please upload them on our website, www 1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@ lstResponderNews.com

FOUNTAINDALE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. DALE FEEHRER

Vehicle Fire Sparks Brush Fire Along Railroad Tracks in Fountaindale

Now privately owned, the Freeland Fire Department operated th is 1974 Seagrave/FWD w ith a 1994 refurb from ITE as Engine 53 (1000/1000).

FOUNTAINDALE, PA - On May 15th at a pproxim ately 12:50 p.m., crew s from Franklin C ounty Box 4-1 responded to a ve­ h icle fire on Charm ian Lane. D uring the incident, dow ned w ires from the vehicle ignited a brush fire along nearby rail­ road tracks. Brush 3 assisted Blue Ridge Fire & EMS crews in containing and extinguishing the spreading brush fire. No additional details regarding injuries or damages were imme­ diately released.

Stay on top of the news that m atters to Pennsylvania Emergency FRANK RORINSON

G rantley Fire Company once ran a 1958 Mack B 750/300.

Responders w ith a daily v is it to www.1RBN.com

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

July/August, 2026

PAGE 55

Brighton Twp. Crews Respond to Highway Crash Involving PennDOT Vehicle BEAVER, PA - On April 22nd, Brighton Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to a motor vehicle collision on Interstate 376 Eastbound involving a passenger vehicle that struck the rear of a PennDOT traffic control unit.

Operating alongside Chippewa Township Volunteer Fire Department and Medic Rescue Am­ bulance Service, crews quickly se­ cured the scene and established traffic control, including lane closures to protect responders and passing mo­ torists.

Firefighters and EMS person­ nel assessed the situation and pro­ vided patient care while maintaining a safe work zone.

Crews remained on scene until vehicles were cleared and roadway conditions were deemed safe, al­ lowing all lanes to reopen and nor­ mal traffic flow to resume.

-1RN NEWS TEAM BRIGHTON TWP. VFD - STATION 63

Firefighters Respond to Shed Fire Involving Lithium-Ion Batteries in Aston ASTON, PA - The Box Alarm was sent to the Stuart Drive unit block just before 10:00 p.m. on April 15th due to a reported do­ mestic fire, which was first thought to be in a shed at the back of the property.

When the Aston Township Fire De­ partment's first units arrived, they began operations using their own water supply and discovered that the fire had already been put out. Be­ cause of the possibility of re-ignition, crews confirmed that the incident involved a shed fire that contained lithium-ion batteries, raising further safety concerns.

The assignment was reduced to Station 17 units, and the Delaware County Elazmat repre­ sentative, FM-81, and BrookhavenFire Company Squad 52 were informed. To make sure the area was secure and risks were reduced, units stayed on scene for a little more than an hour.

[

- 1RN NEWS TEAM COURTESY OF ASTON TWP. FIRE DEPT.

PAGE 56

July/August, 2026

1st Responder Newspaper - PA

EMM Loans Joins Heroes M ortgage Program, Expands Financing Options fo r Community Heroes The Heroes Mortgage Program has announced that EMM Loans has jomed its platform as a par­ ticipating lending partner, further expanding fi­ nancing options available to community heroes nationwide.

The Heroes Mortgage Program is designed to connect first responders and other essential pro­ fessionals with lenders offering specialized mort­ gage products and financial support. The platform serves firefighters, police officers, EMTs, military personnel, healthcare workers, and educators, including both active and retired members.

“We’re very excited to have EMM Loans come on board as a participating lender of the Heroes Mortgage Platform,” said Joseph Belsito. “Their commitment to providing meaningful financial solutions aligns with our mission to support those who serve our communities every day.”

With its addition to the platform, EMM Loans

will provide a broader range of financial solutions beyond traditional home lending. In addition to residential mortgage financing and refinancing, the company will offer down payment assistance programs tailored to eligible borrowers within the hero community.

The partnership also introduces expanded fi­ nancial services, including home equity solutions such as HELOCs and cash-out refinancing, as well as commercial financing options for invest­ ment properties and busmess purposes. In addi­ tion, EMM Loans will provide access to SBA lending programs, allowing qualified borrowers to pursue small business opportunities and long­ term financial growth.

Industry observers note that the inclusion of commercial and SBA financing within a hero-fo­ cused lending platform reflects a growing trend of lenders offering more comprehensive financial solutions to clients, particularly those seekmg to

build wealth beyond homeownership.

The Heroes Mortgage Program mamtams a se­ lective network of lending partners, choosing in­ stitutions that demonstrate a commitment to service, transparency, and the ability to deliver enhanced benefits to community heroes. EMM Loans’ participation reinforces that mission, bringing additional resources and expertise to the platform.

For eligible borrowers, the partnership provides access to a wider range of financing tools from purchasing or refinancing a home to leveraging equity or securing funding for busmess ventures - through a single, streamlined platform.

Community members interested in learning more about available programs can visit www.HeroesMortgageProgram.com/EMMLoans or call 866-497-8833 for additional in­ formation.

Helping get you the home financing you deserve.

V

Heroes MORTGAGE® HeroesMortgageProgram.com/EMMLoans

Phone: 866-497-8833 Heroes Mortgage Program® is a marketing initiative and accompanying website owned and operated by Belsito Communications Inc. The Heroes Mortgage Program® is neither a lender nor a broker and does not originate or make loans nor make any credit decisions in connection with loans,but makes visitors to the site aware of licensed lenders that do. The Program is not an agent of either the consumer or any participating bank, lender or mortgage broker. There is never any charge to the consumer to use the Heroes Mortgage Program®. The Heroes Mortgage Program® does not guarantee that submitting requested information to participating lenders will result in the origination of a loan froma Lender, nor does it guarantee that the consumerwill receive a loan with the most advantageous rate or terms.