9 minute read
Command Fire App
Shenandoah, PA – At 3:50 A.M. on Friday, January 17th, the Shenandoah Fire Department was dispatched with Mahanoy City West End Rescue 48-50 to the 200 Block of East Lloyd Street in Shenandoah for a possible commercial building fire.
Shenandoah Police arrived in the area and reported smoke showing from 125 East Lloyd Street. Squrt 64-20 and Ladder 64-25 arrived on scene shortly after and confirmed a working fire with all occupants out of the building.
Chief 64 arrived and assumed command of the incident, finding a two-story brick building that was formerly a cloth factory with smoke showing from all sides. The smoke was brown and lazy upon the fire department’s arrival.
Engine 64-12 came in and secured a water supply in the front of the building, as did Engine 64-11. Engine 64-10 secured a hydrant from the West side and positioned at the 'A/B' corner. The tiller set up at the 'A/D' corner with the Squrt in front of 64-10 at the 'A/B' corner. Crews worked to make it to the second floor and attempted to knock down the fire while a truck crew worked on opening the roof. At this point it was determined that additional manpower would be needed, which led Chief 64 to request a second-alarm to the scene. The building was laddered as crews continued their efforts to knock down the fire. The smoke continued to worsen and began escaping from between the bricks on the 'A' side. High winds whipped through the area, swirling the smoke from the fire throughout the surrounding streets.
Flames could be seen dancing through the second floor via the large windows on the 'A' side. The smoke worsened as the wind continued to howl through the scene. Around 45 minutes into the incident, Command ordered all firefighters evacuate the building and the roof. With no progress being made, Command decided that the attack would now transition to a defensive mode.
As firefighters were performing an accountability report outside, a MAYDAY was declared as the roof crew was missing a member. RIT began to activate, but moments later the MAYDAY was cleared. The firefighter on the roof became separated from the crew and disoriented by the low sitting smoke. Once the smoke cleared, the firefighter was able to find the nearest
JUMP TO FILE #012420103
ladder and descend to the ground. After firefighters were evacuated from the building, the smoke picked up intensity and fire could be seen growing in the second floor. Within minutes fire began escaping from the second floor windows. A blitzfire quickly knocked down the flames, but the smoke returned and was now more turbulent than ever. After a few moments fire began breaking through all windows.
Flames shot 30-feet into the air and engulfed high tension power lines above the building. PPL Electric was on the scene and confirmed power was cut to all lines in the area of the fire.
A third-alarm was requested to the scene and also a second-alarm tanker task force. At this point in the incident, fire was consuming the majority of the 120'x70' building.
A dump site was set up on Center Street to feed the scene where Mahanoy City Tower 48-20 set up for master stream operations in front of the building. Water was slung onto the fire from all sides of the building, including deck guns on 64-10 and 64-11, master streams from 64-20 and 64-25 and Frackville Ladder 43-20 was set up on the 'B/C' side.
Even with the master streams in operation, fire continued to blow through the roof of the building. The 'D' side of the building was in the backyard of a row of homes on Bower Street which had potential to be compromised.
Englewood Engine 4-19 positioned near the row and began to stretch lines to the rear to protect the exposures. Supply line was laid from Washington Street down to 4- 19. A third-alarm was struck for tankers.
Crews continued to pour water onto the fire throughout the morning. Tankers from all over Schuylkill County and some from Luzerne and Columbia Counties shuttled water to the scene until 11:00 A.M.
Shenandoah fire units remained on scene throughout the day working on hot spots, however due to the construction of the building, it would be impossible to extinguish all pockets of fire. The department was called back to the scene numerous times for flare ups.
- JC KRIESHER Firefighters arrived on East Lloyd St. in Shenandoah to find smoke showing from a brick factory building, 1/17/20. JC KRIESHER
Flames shoot from the second floor of the factory as firefighters work to set up additional master streams.
If you have photos you would like to see in our “Patch of the Month” feature please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@1stResponderNews.com.
This patch belongs to Goodwill Fire Company #1, located in Germansville, PA. JAY SCHEFFLER
Fire Companies in Muhlenberg Township Merge Into New Department
Muhlenberg Twp., PA - With volunteer fire company membership dwindling across the commonwealth, many organizations have sought new and creative solutions to maintain some level of service within their respective communities.
The Township of Muhlenberg is no exception to this issue, as recently the township leaders faced the task head-on with the creation of a merger committee in 2017. The group consisted of local elected officials, legal council and representatives of the Goodwill and Temple Fire Companies.
As the group reviewed data and looked to the future, the realization of funding two individual fire companies with low membership was not sustainable. Parttime drivers were added a few years prior to ensure apparatus would be able to respond during daytime hours.
In 2019, the Township began a search for a paid Fire Chief to oversee the merger process and continue moving the department into the future. In September of 2019, Reading Fire Department Deputy Chief Larry Moyer was hired by the Township to serve in a part-time capacity.
The Muhlenberg Twp. Fire and Rescue Department Company 66 is set to begin service on March 1st of 2020. The department operates from three stations with four pumpers, heavy rescue, rear-mount ladder, and several
MUHLENBERG TOWNSHIP FIRE & RESCUE The newly created patch for Muhlenberg Twp. Fire and Rescue Services. The organization was formed from the Goodwill and Temple Fire Companies. brush and support vehicles. New officers for the department were interviewed and selected by an independent panel of people from the community and other fire departments.
The Goodwill and Temple Fire Companies were organized in 1906 and 1910 respectively. Both companies have served proudly for more than a century and will continue serving well into the future. - JASON BATZ
CHANGE OF QUARTERS
If your department has photos you would like to see in our “Change of Quarters” feature, please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@1stResponderNews.com
TERRY RITZ
Upper Hanover Twp., PA - On Wednesday, January 22nd at 2:30 P.M., multiple fire companies from the Upper Perk Valley responded to a fire inside of a structure in Upper Hanover Twp. The fire involved an automobile on a lift inside of a pole building structure on Geryville Pike at "Harry's You Pull It". The fire was brought under control within 10 minutes. There was very minimal damage to the structure, but the automobile suffered major damage. The cause of the fire is unknown, pending the outcome of the investigation. Assisting the fire companies were Red Hill, Pennsburg, Green Lane, East Greenville, Milford Twp. and Trumbauersville. Red Hill, Pennsburg, and East Greenville Fire Police also responded, as well as an EMS unit from Bally.
VIDEO REVIEW
Video reviews by John Malecky
New York’s Rescues 5 DVD Set By Advanced Print & Video Available from: FSP Books & Videos 188 Central Street, Suite #4 Hudson,, MA 01749-1330 1-800-522-8528 e-mail: fire-police-ems.com www.fire-police-ems.com Price: $69.95 This five DVD set is sold for the above price and is activity recorded for all five of New York City Fire Department’s rescue companies. Each company has its own DVD. All are 60 minutes with the exception of Rescue 5, which is 45 minutes. We will be presenting each DVD separately for this first review of Rescue 1 and the next four.
For the review of Rescue 1, the coverage starts off in late 1997 and 1998. There is brief narration, however radio traffic can be heard so the viewer has a better idea of what is going on. It starts off with clips of various incidents in which the company operated with “Rescue Me” sung in the background by Fontella Bass. This goes on for a few minutes followed by a brief talk by a firefighter who has about 16 years in the department and has been assigned to Rescue 1 for the past six months. He describes the many types of calls the rescue company trains for and answers, and the many different types of diversions that make up the city. All of the action is in Manhattan where the unit is stationed. There is a fifth-alarm, a third-alarm and an all-hands, as well as horrendous accidents, a building collapse just before New Year’s Eve of 1997 (near where the ball would drop), and some training thrown in. The coverage is action packed but there is also some firehouse life scenes, such as preparing for a meal. I feel it is a good representation of the company and its pride all feeding to the interest of the viewer, especially if he or she is a fire buff with interest in the FDNY.
KEN SNYDER
Upper Frederick Twp. Fire Co. Acquires New Helmets
Upper Frederick Twp., PA - This fire company has become the first company in Montgomery County to order and use these 'jet' style fire helmets. The MSA Cairns XF1 helmet features full head protection utilizing a full face shield and a sleek no snag brimless shell. Chief Patrick Corcoran has also opted for his department to use these helmet accessories: internal googles, dual lights, internal communications and company helmet stickers. The helmet's modular design allows for quick disassembly and decontamination. No tools are needed for the removable, washable innards of the helmet. Eight of these helmets have been placed into service, with more to come in a future purchase.
LITTLE BIG GUYS
If you have photos you would like to see in our Little Big Guys feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@1stResponderNews.com.
FRANK ROBINSON FIRST DUE PHOTOGRAPHY
Westmoreland Firefighters Knock House Fire
Allegheny Twp., PA - At 1:06 P.M. on January 26th, fire crews were dispatched to a residential structure fire located along Bagdad Road in Allegheny Township. Police arrived onscene, reported smoke showing, and then reported a working fire on the first floor. Fire crews arrived, forced entry on the vacant home and encountered heavy fire on the first and second floors. Tanker operations were established for water supply as crews made an aggressive attack. The fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes. No one was injured and the fire is under investigation.
