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ennsylvania Department o f General S ervices

Maintenance & repairs by E VT Certified technicians

D i s t r i b u t o r f o r M o s t M a j o r F ire a n d E m e r g e n c y R e s p o n s e B r a n d s

RAINMAN14

MAXATAWNY, PA - On N ovember 15th at 19:55, Kutztown Fire Company station 46 was dispatched with EMS to an MVA with unknown injuries at the intersection of Route 222 and Church Rd. in Maxatawny Township.

A short time later the call was upgraded to entrapment reported to be a tractor-trailer into a house. Within a minute the call was upgraded again to a structure fire, bringing several mutual aid com panies to assist. Chief 46 also requested Lehigh County 42 for a full technical rescue team response. With reports o f two people trapped a second MICU was also added.

Crews arrived to find the tractor portion o f the tractor-trailer completely into the house, with entrapment o f an occupant of the house and the driver of the tractor- trailer. The assignment was scaled back to station 46, Topton station 21, Fleetwood Rescue 45 and Engine 45, Kempton Rescue 44 and Blandon station 12 for RIT.

Fire crews immediately went Jum p to file # 1 1 2 5 2 1 1 0 7 m 3

to work stabilizing and lighting up the scene. Extrication efforts began for both patients. Several crews worked together to begin removing debris and tunneling towards the patients. At approximately one hour into the incident crews were able to extricate the homeowner that was trapped under the tractor-trailer.

Lehigh County Technical Rescue arrived and began assessing how to stabilize the building. Within 10 minutes crews were able to extricate the driver of the tractor-trailer. Once the patients and all fire crews were out of the building Lehigh 42 went to work with stablization and shoring up o f the house. Crews remained on location for over seven more hours until the house was stabilized and the tractor-trailer was removed.

PA BUFFING

NANTICOKE, PA - Around 2:00 P.M. on December 8th, the Nanticoke City Fire Department was dispatched to a residential structure fire with possible entrapment. Before arriving on scene a thick heavy smoke could be seen from a few blocks away.

When Nanticoke Fire arrived on scene they immediately called for the second-alarm box. Units from Nanticoke, Hanover Twp., Kingston Boro, Plymouth Boro, TO FILE # 1 2 0 8 2 1 1 1 1

Newport Twp., and Medic 9 all worked together on this fire. It was confirmed that everyone was out o f the house.

All crews, both interior and on the roof, were ordered out due to the roof becom ing very unstable and starting to cave in. A surround and drown was conducted until it was safe to enter the building again for extension checks and overhaul.

It took almost five hours to put the fire out and complete overhaul safely. The fire marshal is currently investigating the cause of the fire and the American Red Cross is helping the families that unfortunately lost everything in the fire.

CHANTELLANGAN

If you have photos you would like to see in our “Working Faces” feature, please upload them on our website, www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com D0NSCICCHITAN0

MOUNT CARMEL, PA - On Friday, November 19th, just after 10:00 PM., Mount Cannel Fire Department and surrounding areas were alerted to a working fire at Second and Walnut Streets in the borough.

While units began to respond they were given infonnation that police were on scene with a working fire and reporting possible entrapment of two persons. Before firefighters made the scene Patrolman Tyler Herbster, a borough police officer, and his ride along, grabbed an Jump to file # 1 1 2 4 2 1 1 0 9 * 6 3 ^ extinguisher and tried to make entry, but backed down and left the front door open when the fire came at them per the ride along.

Truck 2 was the first to arrive, followed by Atlas Engine 21 shortly after. Engine 21 laid down the block from the hydrant at Second and Chestnut Streets and deployed lines to begin to suppress the fire. During the fire it was learned that the occupants were not home, and were safely accounted for when they arrived on scene.

Patrolman Tyler Herbster was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation after trying to check for victims before fire department arrived. No other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was ruled accidental, with the fire originating in the flue of the furnace and spreading from there through the walls of the structure.

If you have photos you would like to see in our Women in Emergency Services feature please upload them on our website www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey @ 1 stResponderNews.com

DALE FEEHRER

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA-At 9:26 A.M. on Wednesday, November 10th, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched a first- alarm commercial assignment to 87 Tide Road at High w ood LISA for a structure fire. The first-alarm included Fire D istricts 25 (Rush Twp.), 26 (Ryan Twp.) and 65 (Tamaqua - American & Ladder).

Tamaqua EMS was on the radio right away and stated their unit was in the area and confirming a working fire. A fire officer then got on radio reporting a large column and requested a second-alarm. Chief 25-02 radioed that it looked pretty bad and requested a third-alarm before any units were on-scene.

Crews arrived to find an exterior fire burning pallets and plastic with extension into the large building. H ighwood produces plastic patio furniture. Thick black smoke could be seen for miles rising into the sky. Air monitoring crews from Englewood and Pottsville were sent due to the plastics burning. One crew was sent to the nearby Hometown Nursing Center to check the air quality in that area. 25-10 took the 'D' side where the bulk o f the fire was located with M cAdoo Ladder 49-22. Tanker 49-30 backed in and set up a water supply. Ryan Twp. Engine 26-10 took the 'A' side and stretched a two-and-a-half inch line into the building.

A Tanker Task Force was requested into the scene to supplement the municipal water supply. Crews worked to get water on the fire, which turned out to be difficult to extinguish due to the nature o f the materials burning.

Multiple times throughout the operation crews attempted to enter the building, but were pulled out due to deteriorating conditions. A crew from Ma- hanoy City and Hazle Township went to the roof and cut a 20’x4' vent hole close to the 'D' side wall. Additional ladders were moved closer to the 'D' side to help extinguish the fire using master streams. A foam operation was also initiated to help extinguish the burning plastic.

The fire was placed under control after 2:00 P.M.

LTnits from the follow ing communities responded to the scene: Rush Twp., Ryan Twp., Tamaqua, West Penn Twp., Ma- hanoy City, Engelwood, Shenandoah, Sheppton-Oneida, Harwood, Hazle Township, Sug- arloaf Twp., McAdoo, Schuylkill Twp., Walker Twp., Port Carbon, Pottsville, Lehighton, Lansford, Nesquehoning, Penn Forest Twp. and Coaldale. JC KRIESHER