Fire Prevention Week – October 2010

“Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!” is NFPA’s official theme for Fire Prevention Week (FPW), October 3-9. This year’s campaign is designed to educate people about the importance of smoke alarms and encourages everyone to take the steps necessary to update and maintain their home smoke alarm protection. Remember, smoke alarms are a very important means of preventing home fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal so you and your family can escape. For more information, visit firepreventionweek.com or firesafety.gov.

Basket Party – Sunday October 10th

Just a reminder that our 2nd Annual Basket Party is only one week away. Doors open at noon to our auditorium. Tickets are still available for a $5 donation. Click for more information.

Sunday Morning Vehicle Accident

Units were dispatched to a vehicle accident at Bridge Street and Hill Drive on September 26th at 0914 hours. Engine 5-1 arrived first to find that a sedan had struck a steel fence at a curve. The rescue/engine crew stabilized the vehicle, contained fluids, and assisted EMS with patient extrication and packaging. Squad 5-1 and fire police shut down and diverted traffic. One patient was transported to a local hospital by Ambul 88-4; Ambul 88-2 handled a patient refusal. The fire department returned to service at 0944 hours after the vehicle was towed.

National Preparedness Month – September 2010

September 2010 marked the seventh annual National Preparedness Month (NPM). The Ready Campaign sponsors this awareness month each September and encourages Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. This year focuses on encouraging Americans to work together to take concrete actions toward emergency preparedness, and in particular, focus on making an emergency plan. All Americans are encouraged to join the readiness team and truly help themselves, their neighbors, and their communities to be Ready. For more information, visit ready.gov or readypa.gov.

Another Second Alarm Fire

At 1214 hours on Tuesday August 31st, Truck 5-1 was dispatched as part of the first alarm for a structure fire on D Street Extension in Lower Yoder Township. Truck 5-1 responded with Engine 5-1 responding a few minutes later. Our crews combined to assist with exterior operations at the heavily involved house fire that was being fought defensively. The fire eventually became a second alarm for manpower to assist due to the extreme heat. Franklin firefighters were back in service at 1535 hours.

RIC Standby at Second Alarm Fire

On Wednesday August 25th at 1501 hours, Franklin’s rapid intervention crew was dispatched to a working structure fire on Spear Avenue in Westmont. Engine 5-1 responded within minutes to standby as the rapid intervention crew and was supplemented by Rescue 13-3′s rapid intervention crew when the fire eventually went to a second alarm. Both crews were released at 1725 hours.

Commercial Vehicle Fire

Franklin firefighters were dispatched to an unknown type fire at a River Avenue business at 1425 hours on Wednesday August 18th. Deputy 17 arrived first to report a trackhoe on fire. Engine 5-1 responded moments later and requested that Engine 13-1 be dispatched.

Upon arrival, Engine 5-1 found the fire to be at another River Avenue business that is undergoing demolition. While Engine 5-1′s crew was attacking the fire, Engine 15-1 was dispatched to assist with additional manpower and water since this business no longer has any fire hydrants. It took nearly 40 minutes for firefighters from the three engine companies to finally extinguish the fire which was fueled by full tanks of diesel and hydraulic fluid. Ambul 88-2 (Conemaugh Valley EMS) was also on scene for rehab and standby purposes.

Hazardous Materials Certification Completed

The hazardous material operations training was completed on Saturday August 14th. On this day, firefighters traveled to the Cambria County Fire School to complete the testing process which included practical skills and a written test.

Ten Franklin firefighters are now certified to the Hazmat Awareness Level and five are also certified to the Hazmat Operations Level. The Franklin Fire Department would like to congratulate the firefighters from Franklin, Cover Hill, East Taylor, West Taylor, and West Hills that have successfully attained the hazmat certification.

Two Calls Today

On Thursday July 29th, the department responded on two calls. The first, at 1450 hours, was a tree down at White Drive and Arthur Drive Extension. Squad 5-1′s crew assisted public works that was already on scene and returned to service within 20 minutes.

The second call was a rapid intervention crew response to a working structure fire on Luzerne Street in Westmont at 2028 hours. Engine 5-1 and Squad 5-1 responded to stand by as the rapid intervention crew and returned to service at 2100 hours.

Engine Transfers to Saint Michael

At 0512 hours on Friday July 2nd, Engine 5-1 was dispatched to stand by at Saint Michael’s fire station during a second alarm fire in Summerhill. Engine 5-1′s crew returned at 0925 hours without responding to any incidents.