Editorial

From the Editor’s Desk

Dennis Whittam, Editor How Are YourNew Recruits Doing?

In New York, the Fireman’s Association of New York has been encouraging fire departments throughout the state to hold a RecruitNYweekend. I am always amazed at the number of people who stop by the firehouse for this event and had no idea that, according to the National Fire Protection Association, 70 percent of firefighters in the United States are volunteers. This number used to be higher. I joined the volunteer fire service almost 30 years ago. As a kid who grew up in New York City, my wife had no idea that the fire service in our community was 100 percent volunteer. When I decided to join my department — with my wife's blessing of course —we soon realized that being a volunteer firefighter involved a lot more that riding on a truck and fighting an occasional fire. Almost 30 years have passed, and I still find my love for my department is still going strong. Unfortunately, my health has gotten in the way of being first due. I am still active in other ways and try my best to support the members who have followed in my footsteps. Before you take on new members, it is imperative that the Chief of Department sits down with the perspective new member to explain what their obligation to the community entails. I know most departments do this. Unfortunately, the new member doesn’t always realize that he or she may not have the time to volunteer. I joined at a time when my two children were active with school and community sports. I worked 50 miles away from my home. There were many nights that I arrived back home and found myself attending training classes at either my department or at the county fire academy. After I finished the basics, I realized that training never stopped. To maintain active status like most volunteer firefighters, you must participate and maintain your training, drills and response percentages throughout the year. This is where new recruits, no matter what their age, become a problem. I know I am speaking to the choir. If you are reading this, you are aware of the responsibilities of being a first responder. The problem I see is that when we take on new members they really do not understand how much time they need to fulfill their obligation to the fire service.

In my early years I always had to work a second job to pay the bills. Volunteering in the fire service is that second job that pays no bills. If you take on this second occupation, you must be passionate about your decision to protect the community! As a recruiter for the fire service, what do you do to make the person fully understand what their obligation is to your department and to the community that you serve, before they sign on the dotted line? If you find that your new recruits are not living up to your expectations, do not let poor service go by without addressing it immediately.

Recruiting volunteers takes time. Maintaining active, well-trained volunteers can be difficult. Volunteer recruitment is hard work! Volunteer retention is even harder work. Motivating and maintaining new recruits is the job of every member in your department. - Dennis

1800s Era Building Burns

On February 27, 2022, just before 2100, firefighters were dispatched to a building fire at the Valley Hotel located along New England Road in Jefferson Hills, Allegheny County. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and fire showing from the second floor. An offensive attack was established but crews were pulled from the building less than 15 minutes later. Due to hydrant issues in the area, drafting operations were set up along the Monongahela River. Crews battled heavy fire conditions forovertwo hours before the fire was finally placed undercontrol just before 2330. Crews remained on-scene throughout the night and returned to the scene several times the next day to extinguish hot spots. The Valley Hotel contained a barand restaurant on the first floorand apartments on the second floor. The barand restaurant just finished up renovations afterbeing vacant since 2019 with an opening set forMarch. The building has been around forover150 years, being built in the 1800s. One woman occupied an apartment and managed to escape safely. There is no word on what may have started the fire. - Fire News photos by First Due Photography and Ken Lager

FireNews.com Fire News, May/June 2022, Page 7 New Kensington

Duplex Fire

On March 6, 2022, the City of New Kensington Bureau of Fire was dispatched to the 500 block of 4th Avenue in the City of New Kensington fora house fire. Units arrived to fire in a two-story duplex and confirmed an entrapment in one of the houses. Fire crews located the trapped occupant and removed the person from the structure. Fire crews had extension from the building of origin to an additional structure on the Bravo side. This fire entered the roof area and fire crews were removed from all buildings due to a collapse. Crews went into a defensive operation. Afterthe fire was knocked down, crews re-entered the structures to work on extensive overhaul. The New Kensington Police and the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit were investigating. - Fire News photo by Artie Osniak

Fatality at House Fire in Middle Paxton Twp.

AMiddle Paxton Township resident died in a fast moving, early morning fire, that destroyed a home and sent one firefighterto the hospital with burns. At 0225 on January 10, 2022, Box 38-2 toned sending units to Sprucewood Avenue fora structure fire. Chief 38-1 requested the box be upgraded to a first alarm. Due to the heavy fire conditions, a powerline down, and a propane tank burning, crews led off with a 2-1/2 inch line. Members from Truck 32 and Company 38 performed a quick search but conditions forced them to retreat. All operations from that point were defensive with handlines. The bulk of the visible fire was knocked down in about 30 minutes with extensive overhaul, including being called out fora rekindle at daybreak. The house was destroyed and one occupant was found deceased. - Fire News photo by Jason Coleman-Cobb

Page 8, Fire News, May/June 2022 Cover Story TowerCity 2-Alarmer

TowerCity Chief 66 responded from his house to the station and, upon seeing a smoke column, immediately upgraded the box to second alarm. Engine 66-10 and Engine 22-12 were first on scene and laid approximately 600 feet of five-inch from a hydrant to the Delta side exposure and began deploying a line forexteriorattack and exposure protection. Engine 66-10 hit a hydrant and laid into the scene. Chief 66 set up the engine and began pump operations deploying the deck gun masterstream onto the Aside of the fire building, knocking down the heavy fire load that was blowing out of the second floor. Engine 22-11 arrived and sent manpowerto the scene foran initial interiorattack on the main fire building with a crew made from 66 and 22-11. Lykens Truck 22 arrived but was unable to get into position to fly theiraerial so additional ground ladders were thrown on the Alpha and Bravo sides. Truck 58-25 set up to begin aerial masterstream forattack and also exposure control. As crews continued to make a push, fire consumed the roof and flames roared out. As fire spread to the Delta exposure, crews quickly made theirway to the attic and extinguished it with minimal fire damage, howeverthe building suffered heavy waterdamage. Schuylkill station 13 Hegins/Valley transferred to Station 66 and stood by. Multiple firefighters from otherstations contributed to attack and overhaul efforts. Elizabethville Station 21 and Yorkville Station 60 provided RITcoverage. - Fire News photos by Seth Lasko

HARRISBURG FIRE EXPO E 171 - 174 E 203 - 208

Penn Township 2-Alarmer

On February 24, 2022, firefighters responded fora second alarm structure fire on Petersburg Lane in Penn Township. - Fire News photos by Seth Lasko and Jason Coleman-Cobb

1 Fatal in New Kensington 3-Alarmer

On March 6, 2022, several departments responded to a three-alarm fatal fire on 4th Avenue in New Kensington. The wind-driven flames spread to a neighboring building. A49-yearold woman died in the fire. - Fire News photos by Steve Matto

Fatal Fire in Lewistown

Just before midnight on April 18, 2022, Box Alarm 14-10 came in with a report of people trapped. First arriving units encountered heavy fire conditions on all floors with extension into two neighboring houses. This call resulted in fouralarms with units responding from five counties. Afterseveral hours the incident was placed undercontrol. Unfortunately, the next morning, a female’s body was located in the collapsed building. - Fire News photos by Patrick Shoop

Page 14, Fire News, May/June 2022

House Explodes

Occupants Survive

On April 22, 2022, firefighters were dispatched to the 5000 block of Hialeah Drive in Plum Borough fora reported of a house explosion. Crews found what was left of the home fully involved with a large debris field in the road. Crews quickly set up master streams to protect two exposure homes then began knocking the bulk of the fire down. The occupants were all found and accounted for, two adults and three children were inside the home at the time of the explosion. One of the children was flown by medical helicopteras a precaution due to burns. The rest of the family members were transported by ambulance to local hospitals forburns and lacerations. The cause of the explosion was being investigated by multiple agencies. - Fire News photo by First Due Photography

Wind Driven Fire Extends

On April 10, 2022, Marple Township firefighters responded to Warren Boulevard for a fire in an occupied dwelling. The winddriven fire extended to a vehicle and an exposure house received heat damage. - Fire News photo by Frank Wesnoski

2 Homes Destroyed, 3 More Damaged

Afast-moving blaze destroyed two homes and damaged three others on First Street, in Shamokin, on Good Friday morning. The second serious fire in three months in the Northumberland County city. - Fire News photo by Harry Deitz

Londonderry Township Building Fire

On March 8, 2022, Londonderry Township units responded to East Harrisburg Pike for a structure fire. Chief 54-3 advised the back of the building on fire with multiple calls being received. Engine 54 arrived to heavy smoke showing from a metal commercial building aerial operations. Several handlines, a portable monitor, and aerial streams attacked the fire before declaring it under control. - Fire News photo by Jason Coleman-Cobb

Vacant Home 2-Alarmer

Crews from Williamsport Bureau of Fire battled a two-alarm fire in a vacant home on Green Street in the city. The second alarm brought Ladder 20 from Montoursville and Squad 14 from Old Lycoming Township to the scene. - Photo courtesy of Old Lycoming Twp VFC; submitted by Joseph PHopple, NRP

Junk Yard Fire

Junction Truck 15 worked a junkyard fire on April 27, 2022. - Fire News photo by Patrick Shoop

Page 16, Fire News, May/June 2022 Lehigh Commercial Blaze

At around 1615 on January 29, 2022, the Northampton Communications sent Stations 47, 44, 45, 42 and 49 (EMS), Lehigh to Maple Drive in Lehigh Township fora structure fire. Fire Commissioner4750 struck a second alarm at this time, bringing in Engines 4813, Tankers 4831 and 4832, Cascade 1442, Lehigh County Engines 1211 and 3912, Squad 241, and Carbon County Engine 712. Truck 4221 set up on the D side of the building. Crews knocked down the bulk of the fire within 90 minutes. - Fire News photo by Geoffrey Wetherhold

Baldwin Fire Displaces 3

Ahome on Horning Road in Baldwin went up in flames and three people were displaced in the March 26, 2022 blaze. - Fire News photo by Ken Lager

Baltimore House Restaurant Fire Stopped

On a January 9, 2022, a call came in fora structure fire at the Baltimore House, a restaurant in Pleasant Hills. EMS on scene reported fire at the rearof the building. The call was upgraded to a second alarm and the fire was mostly contained to the exteriorwith some extension into the interior. - Fire News photo by Ken Lager

Allentown House Fire

Firefighters from the City of Allentown were dispatched to South Leh Street fora house fire. Companies responding were advised that EMS in the area was reporting smoke showing. Engine 10 went to work on fire suppression while Truck 1 went to the roof. The fire was located in a secondfloorbedroom. Crews were able to make a quick knock on the fire. - Fire News photo by Dennis Wetherhold, Jr.

Lafayette Township 2-Alarmer

Lafayette Township, Bradford Township and Lewis Run volunteers were dispatched on a firstalarm assignment fora residential structure fire at 1352 on February 26, 2022. First-arriving units immediately requested a second alarm bringing additional firefighters and equipment from Corydon Township, Hilltop, Smethport, Mt. Jewett and Hamlin Township. Firefighters used three 1-3/4 inch attack lines to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries and the cause was underinvestigation. - Fire News photo by Jay Bradish

7 Displaced at West Donegal House Fire

On January 12, 2022, Lancaster County Communications began receiving multiple calls reporting a dwelling fire in the 1100 block of Turnpike Road in West Donegal Township. All occupants were reported out of the dwelling. Command 74 requested two additional tankers to the scene. Three lines were in operation and companies were back down to the first floorwhile the masterstream from Truck 74 darkened the heavy fire conditions on the second floor. Shortly after, there was a partial collapse of the second floor. Two adults and five children were left homeless. - Fire News photo by Jason Coleman-Cobb At around 1700 on January 31, 2021, the Northampton County Communications Centersent Station 27 and Suburban EMS to Charlotte Avenue in Palmer Township forreported smoke coming from a building under construction. Fire Commissioner 2750 arrived to a three-story apartment building underconstruction with heavy smoke showing. Interiorcrews encountered heavy fire in the floors and the walls of the second and third floor. As the fire began working its way to the D side of the building a third alarm was struck bringing in Engines 2811 and 5413 (RIT), and Truck 5021. The bulk of the fire was knocked down within an hour. - Fire News photo by Geoffrey Wetherhold

Fire News, May/June 2022, Page 17 PalmerTwp. 3-Alarmer

Snowy Firefight

Units from Jersey Shore, Lycoming and Clinton Counties battled a working house fire during a recent snow storm. - Fire News photo by Joseph Hopple

Orwin 2-Alarmer

On April 28, 2022, a mid-afternoon call came in fora reported house fire on Deitrich Avenue in Orwin PorterTownship in a 2-1/2 story single-family dwelling with heavy fire from division 2 on both the B and D sides of the home as well as through the roof. Crews went to work stretching handlines to the B side where the heaviest fire seemed to envelop the whole side of the structure. Aftera few short moments a bulk of the exteriorfire had been knocked down with crews then turning theirattention to the fire load within. Crews were able to make entry into the home and within minutes all heavy fire had been extinguished. Three cats were saved. Units from both Schuylkill and Dauphin Counties assisted on the blaze - Fire News photos by Seth Lasko

Sawmill Fire in Brown Township

Brown Township units were alerted fora saw mill fire recently. Chief 6-2 arrived to find an active fire in the dust collection system. - Fire News photo by Patrick Shoop

Whitehall Twp. 2-Alarmer

At around 2200 on April 13, 2022, the Lehigh County Communications Centersent Station 38, Engines 3711 and 3912, Trucks 3631 and 231, and Station 62 (Cetronia EMS) to South 3rd Street in Whitehall Township fora dwelling fire. Multiple callers were reporting fire showing from the front of the house and people trapped on the secondfloorroof in the rear. Chief 3503 saw fire showing from three blocks out and struck the second alarm, bringing in Stations 11 (RIT), 2, Northampton County Rescue 1541 (RIT), and Cascade 3292. The bulk of the fire was knocked down within 15 minutes and crews remained on scene forabout an hour-and-a-half checking for extension and hitting hotspots. - Fire News photo by Geoffrey Wetherhold

Not a Good Time to Lose Plows

On February 6, 2022, around 0615, City of McKeesport firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire located at the city’s public works garage. Crews quickly arrived to find the garage heavily involved and requested a second alarm. Crews worked in singledigit temperatures to stop the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings before the fire was brought undercontrol at 0812. The garage housed several of the city’s snow plows and maintenance vehicles. No one was inside the garage when the fire broke out and no one was injured. The fire was underinvestigation. - Fire News photo by First Due Photography

FFInjured at Tarentum 2-Alarmer

Just before noon on February 21, 2022, fire crews were dispatched to the 200 block of West 11th Avenue in Tarentum Borough fora residential structure fire. Crews arrived to find heavy fire coming from a duplex-style home and a second alarm was quickly requested. Firefighters finally had to evacuate the building due to possible collapse and the rearof the home collapsed about 40 minutes into the incident. As defensive operations continued, a firefighteron an aerial device became pinned between two rungs while the aerial was being extended. Crews immediately came to the firefighter’s aid and began a lengthy extrication process in which the firefighter’s boots were cut off so his feet could be freed. Extrication took about an hourand the firefighterwas then transported to a local trauma centerwhere he was laterreleased with a broken foot. He is expected to fully recover. Both the fire and the accident are currently underinvestigation.

- Fire News photos by First Due Photography