WHFR got two new AED's recently. The new AED's will now make it so that all of our apparatus have AED's on them. This means that no matter what truck we are out on, if we get a Cardiac Arrest/AED call, we will be able to respond without delay to have the best possible chance of helping the patient.
Over the weekend some members took some time to do some driver training on the Ranger and Towing the Trailer with the Squad. While out training on the Ranger the crew went through the trails at Chickies Park cutting apart and clearing debris that fell onto the trails from the heavy winds beforehand.
The First Chicken BBQ is coming up in less than a week. This Saturday, April 10th with sales starting at 11:00am. We will have meals which includes Half a Chicken, a Baked Potato, a Roll & Butter, Slaw, a Dessert, and a Drink. If you are not interested in getting an entire meal, we will also be selling just the Half Chickens too.Thank You for your continued support, every dollar makes a difference, we look forward to seeing you there.
Engine 7-6-2 recently went to 10-8 Emergency Services where it had all of its emergency lighting and running lights replaced with LED's. The change over was well over due, after having problems with the previous lighting setup for several years now. The new lights are much brighter and highly visible, which will provide for a safer traveling and safer operations on the scene for us. Thanks to 10-8 for doing a great job on the change over, and getting the Engine back to us as and back in service as quickly as possible. Pictures will be posted soon.
The past two Monday nights crews from West Hempfield Fire & Rescue, Washington Boro Fire Department, and Mountville Fire Company all trained together at a residential structure. The crews practiced wall breeching, roof cutting, RIT practices, and various other rescue practices. Everyone would like to thank Chief Rich Haines for providing the structure for the companies to use for this training.
Recently crews from 76 and our assisting companies responded to a reported Dwelling Fire on Oswego Drive. After arriving crews found that there was a small fire on top of the stove in the residence, that spread up into the kitchen cabinets above the stove. Luckily the resident had a small fire extinguisher in the kitchen that they used to put out the fire. Crews worked on scene for approximately a half hour, removing burnt items and checking for possible extension into the wall and surrounding cabinets.
The first BBQ of the year is now scheduled for Saturday April 10th. The BBQ had originally been planned for Saturday March 27th. The date was changed due a conflicting date with a mandatory department training class. Thank You for continuing to support West Hempfield Fire & Resuce and our BBQ's.
Early in the morning on Monday the 18th, Station 76 along with our mutual aide companies were dispatched for a reported fire in a mobile home. Deputy 76 and Chief 76 arrived to find smoke coming from the basement. Deputy Ney assumed the Command and had Engine 81-1 lay in from the hydrant. After laying in crews began to pull lines and go to work. Engine 79-2 was the next piece in, also pulling lines and going assist the crews working. Tanker 76 arrived and then supplied Engine 79-2. Additional Tankers being used for water supply included Tanker 78-1 and Tanker 79. Engine 76-2's crew arrived and assited the working crews with the fire attack. Rescue 76 and Rescue 84-1 established the RIT and Engine 84-1, Squad 87, and Squad 715 were used for additional manpower on the scene. Crews cleared the scene in just under 5 hours.
On Friday 1/16 Rescue 76 was dispatched for a Vehicle Accident on Marietta Avenue at Bridge Valley Rd. Deputy 76 arrived reporting a two vehicle accident. Once the Rescue arrived crews took care of spill control, debris cleanup, and depowering the vehicles. Crews departed the scene in just over an hour.
On Tuesday the 12th around 17:00hrs station 7-9 was alerted for a reported Barn Fire on Colebrook Rd. Before the responding Chief's arrived on-scene they could see a working fire from 1/2 mile out and asked for the 2nd alarm Tankers to be dispatched. This sent Tanker 76 to the scene where they supplied Truck 75 for the ariel master stream. A little bit later Command requested more Engines which brought Engine 76-1 to the scene. Once arriving the crew split up sending half to manpower staging while the other half stayed with the Engine to assist with the 5 inch. Engine 1 dropped 1000ft of 5 inch from Tanker 76 to Colebrook Rd & Donegal Springs Rd and set up a dump site. While supplying the Tanker and Truck 75m Engine 76-1 pumped 29,000 gallons of water before opperations were ended and the Engine was released by Command.
Company 76 was distpatched to a reported dumpster fire on Links Avenue a little before midnight on Monday the 11th. Deputy 76 arrived reporting a fully involved dumpster up against the building. Engine 76-2 responded with 5, follwed by the Tanker, and then Squad 76-1 with additional manpower. Once the Engine arrived crews pulled a line and began to fight the fire, while protecting the building. The Tanker arrived and supplied Engine 2 with additional water. Once the fire was put under control crews set up fans to remove the smoke from the building and thoroughly soaked the dumpster. Deputy Ney placed the box available just before 01:00hrs.
It didnt take very long for the first run of 2010 to come in for WHFR. The call was an Automatic Fire Alarm on Hempland Road just before 01:30hrs. Engine 7-6-2 was on the street in just over a minute with with 5 personnel. Deputy Chief Ney chauffered the Engine, while Captain Kline was in the officer's seat. The Engine arrived on scene with normal conditions showing from the exterior. As Chief Haines arrived and established the command, crews did a check around the exterior of the building until the building keyholder arrived and access was gained to the interior. After checking the interrior it was determined that there was no further need for fire department services. Chief Haines then put the box available.
The second call came in a few hours later as Engine 7-6-2 once again hit the street to assist station 7-19 on a reported Dwelling Fire. The Engine responded with 6 personnel, Deputy Chief Ney was in the officer's seat this time as Chief Haines chauffered the Engine. Once Engine 7-6-2 arrived on the scene, the crew went to work. As the water supply was secured and a handline was pulled and stretched to the door, Deputy Chief Ney went inside to investigate. After checking, the problem was determined to a a malfunctioning furnace, and there was no actual fire in the house.
The afternoon then brought two more calls. The 3rd call of the day saw Rescue 7-6 responding to assist 6-7 with a crash on Rt. 30. After being told to stage prior to getting onto Rt 30, the Rescue was then released and placed available by Command 6-7. The 4th and last call of the day came just 15 minutes after the 3rd call. Engine 762 and Rescue 76 responded to an Automatic Fire Alarm on Ironville Pike. Chief Haines arrived on scene reporting normal conditions, and then establishing Command. As the keyholder arrived the Engine pulled up and the crew went to investigate. Engine 7-6-2's crew along with Asst. Chief M. Ney checked the interior finding a bad detector head. No further fire department services were needed, and Chief Haines completed the incident.
The members of West Hempfield Fire & Rescue would like to give a heart felt Thank You to Chief David Ney for his many years of service and dedication to the department. Chief Ney was the Chief of Ironville Fire Company from 1993 till the merger in 2000, and has been the Chief of West Hempfield Fire & Rescue through its first decade in service. Although Chief Ney is retiring at the end of 2009, through all the hard work and service he has put in, Chief Ney will have a profound impact on West Hempfield Fire & Rescue well into the future. Thank You again Chief Ney!
On Thursday December 17th FF's Charles and Lebzelter conducted fire extinguisher trainging for the teachers and aides at Little Peoples Daycare. Everyone who went through the class learned alot and despite the cold weather enjoyed the practical evolutions outside.
Trick or Treat night is coming up this Friday in the township. If you're going out trick or treating please remember to be careful and have a fun, safe night. Some safety tips to remember would include: check both ways before crossing the street, carry a flashlight with you, have your parents check your candy before you eat it, and if you're out driving, drive slow and watch for people in or along the street. Keep an eye out for our apparatus as we will be out and about throughout various neighborhoods in the township handing out trick or treat bags filled with candy and fire safety goodies.
