New Rescue/Pumper Placed In Service

The Franklin Borough Fire Department has placed its new rescue/pumper in service, designated as Engine 5-1. The new rescue/pumper features numerous safety features, including a fully-enclosed cab, reflective striping on the front and rear of the apparatus, a ladder rack that lowers the ladders closer to the ground, and fire attack hose that is also closer to the ground which prevents firefighters from having to climb the apparatus to deploy hose lines. Engine 5-1 was ordered on December 13th, 2006 and since being delivered in late November 2007, firefighters have been busy getting equipment mounted and becoming familiar with the operation of the new rescue/pumper.

Engine 5-1 is a 2007 Spartan Gladiator Evolution/Four Guys rear-mount pumper/rescue with a 1500-gpm pump, 500-gallon water tank, and 30-gallon Class A foam tank. It carries 1200ft of 5″ supply hose, 800ft of 2½” hose, and 900ft of 1¾” attack hose. The rescue/pumper has a 4-bottle high-pressure cascade system, a 10kW diesel generator, a light tower, and a vast array of equipment to perform a wide variety of operations.

This new rescue/engine has been designed to perform firefighting, basic response level rescue, rapid intervention, fire support (truck company tasks), and first responder hazmat operations, as well as respond to assist ambulance crews. Go to the apparatus page for more information on Rescue/Engine 5-1.

Department Receives State Grant

The Franklin Borough Fire Department has received news that it was awarded a state grant of approximately $22,000 through the combined 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Volunteer Fire Company & Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program (VFCVASG). The grant funds will be used for debt reduction on loans for the department’s new UHF radios and new rescue/pumper truck.

The radios were purchased due to a new countywide public safety radio communications system that is currently under construction. The new UHF radio system will allow for a much needed improvement in radio communications while also providing for data transmission, radio interoperability between the county’s fire/rescue, ambulance, and police agencies, and more.

Truck Ends Up In River

At approximately 1445 hours, emergency personnel were dispatched to a vehicle into the Little Conemaugh River along the Norfolk Southern Railroad mainline tracks. Crews arrived to find a small railroad utility truck into the river with the driver self-extricated and uninjured; luckily the truck landed on its wheels after rolling down the steep riverbank. Truck 5-1’s crew retrieved several containers from the truck before they floated away and then awaited the arrival of tow trucks, along with the crews of Engine 15-4 and Truck 15-2. Water rescue personnel from the East Taylor Township Fire Department were brought to the scene to assist the towing company with removing the truck from the frigid 3-foot deep waters.

1st Call of 2008

Franklin Fire Department’s first call of 2008 was at 1539 hours to assist police with forcible entry on a check on the welfare call; the fire department was cancelled prior to response when police were able to get the resident to finally answer the door.