On Sunday November 10 at 5:50 PM dispatched to a reported Commercial Building fire at 4557 Klinesville Road in the Township. Upon responding County Communications reported numerous calls on this fire. Upon arrival found a 40 by 40 building with total involvement. There were several small explosions inside the structure. Due to safety and no reports of any occupants an exterior attack controlled and extinguished the fire. Several Mutual Aid companies assisted at this fire. A Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. Damage was estimated at $125,000. The incident was terminated at 11:06 PM.

On Saturday October 26 at 7:46 AM dispatched by County Control to a reported vehicle accident with possible entrapment on the 500 block of Prospect Road in the Township. Upon arrival found a vehicle over an embankment and resting upside down. An occupant was found in the vehicle and required extrication. Members stabilized the vehicle and performed extrication. Occupant transported to Lancaster General Hospital by Susquehanna Valley Emergency Medical Services. Incident under investigation by West Hempfield Police Department.

Join us for our annual open house

-Firetrucks on display – Fire Prevention materials on hand – Candy scramble – Firetruck rides – Lunch is provided

Where: Our Fire Station 3519 Marietta Avenue

When: Saturday, October 26

Time: 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM

Members traveled to Elizabethtown on Monday evening September 23rd to attend a Special Vehicle Rescue Class. The class was sponsored by Cocker’s Towing and Eric Rickenbach was the instructor. In addition to our members, Mountville Fire Company and the Susquehanna Fire Company of Columbia participated in the special class using an old school bus to become more proficient in rescue, shoring, forcible entry and extrication situations.

The Fire Company will host it’s annual Rabies Clinic on Saturday September 28 from 8 AM to 4 PM. This is one of the many public services provided by the fire company and provides an economical way to vaccinate a pet against rabies.

In the Spring of this year, we received word that our application for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant from FEMA had been approved. This grant was specified for an exhaust removal system for our apparatus bays. After researching available options, it was decided to go with a Plymovent brand system. Whenever the apparatus is started, all exhaust and dangerous gases will be extracted out of the apparatus bays. Installation was completed by Air Cleaning Systems Inc., and modifications to the vehicles were completed by Phoenix Fire Apparatus. Total cost of this work was $50,000, of which 95% was covered by the grant. This system will be transferable to our new fire station to be built in the very near future.
Also, we recently replaced our older fluorescent lighting to energy efficient T-8 bulbs and fixtures. This was accomplished through funding available from PPL Electric Utilities. With this newer technology, we will see reduced electrical costs as well as improved lighting in our building. All work for this update was completed by Advanced Trade of Corporate Boulevard in West Hempfield Township. Thanks to the funding received from PPL, our expense for this work was less than $300.

Our members had the opportunity the week of February 18th to conduct some training over the past few days on some structures that were scheduled for demolition.  We were grateful that the landowner gave us permission to use these structures to simulate “real life” scenarios.  The structures were used to practice basic firefighting skills such as hose line deployment and ventilation.  Members also practiced self rescue and firefighter rescue skills that can be used in a Mayday event.  This opportunity was shared with our mutual aid fire departments as well.

A Christmas Gathering was held on Saturday December 29^th at the Station. Great evening of fun and socializing. Everybody had a great time. A special thanks to June Kreider and the Support Group for making this event a success.

The Company to sponsor a Public Safety Day on Saturday October 20th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Fairview Park located at 4380 Fairview Road.

Come join us for a day of fun and fire safety education.

See Fire Truck displays, obtain Fire Prevention learning materials, Fire Truck rides and a Candy drop from a fire ladder truck.

A free lunch and prizes for various games will be provided.

A Ropes and Rigging Class was held on September 25,27,29 at Chickies Rock in the Township. The class was a hands on type training conducted by PA State Instructors Richard Garber, Todd Kirkpatrick and Matt Grant.

The Chickies Rock area is a constant source of response to various rescue type situations this class enforced our skills in meeting high angle and environmental type rescues.

Completing the class was Fire Chief Barry Carter, Kirk Ament, Mark Kniesly, Randy Wissler, Duane Kline, Steve LeFever, Chris LeFever, Nate Charles, Andy Wright and Carol Wright.

Several of our members participated on Sunday September 16th  for the “Never Forget 9/11″Stair Climb at Clipper Magazine Stadium Lancaster City. The “Never Forget – Spirit of America” to commemorate the years of sacrifice for the terror attack on the World Trade Center  in New York City with the loss of life of 343 firefighters.

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in which volunteers from Lancaster County Departments climbed 110 flights of stairs wearing full protective clothing at the stadium.

We commend out members for their participation in this memorial event.

On August 18-19 several of our members attended Pennsylvania Weekend at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg Maryland.

Barry Carter and Steve Lefever completed  Leadership II.

Nate Charles completed National Incident Management System (NIMS) for Catastrophic Incidents

Duane Kline completed Operations for Small Departments.

West Hempfield Fire & Rescue to host a Rabies Clinic on Saturday October 20 from 8 AM till 4 PM at our Fire station located on Marietta Avenue, Silver Springs

Open RABIES CLINIC for further information

This summer has been an extremely high storm season and has kept us very busy responding to activated alarms, lighting strikes and power line transformer fires. Unfortunately on August 10 a Thunderstorm caused a power surge that affected our fire station. The Key Card entry system to enter the station was knocked out of service. The only ones able to enter the station were members with keys which are few. Problem was solved with one door operational for the present time. In addition the station alert system is inoperative along with our internet,  cable TV service, copier, microwave, remote control overhead door by Rescue. We are in the dark ages. Oh well things will get fixed.

On July 4th at 12;53 PM dispatched to reported Hikers in distress at Chickies Rock in the Township. Upon arrival found that 2 hikers had fallen approximately 20 feet. Hikers were attempting to climb the rock when they encountered a Wasp nest. The first hiker up the rock was being stung and when he batted at the Wasps he lost his footing and during the fall took the second hiker with him. Both hikers  appeared to be not seriously hurt. However one hiker complained of injury to his hip. He was packaged and our all terrain vehicle removed him from the area to awaiting Susquehanna Valley EMS. One hiker transported to the hospital and the other hiker was treated at the scene. Assisting us were units from Columbia, Marietta and Maytown. Incident terminated at 1:42 PM.