The Franklin Borough Fire Department expresses its deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and brother firefighters of Lieutenant Roy E Westover Jr. Lieutenant Westover of the Westover Area Fire Department in Clearfield County died Saturday October 24, 2009 after becoming ill while operating at a fire involving a vacant structure.
View the USFA LODD Announcement
Press release regarding funeral arrangements, etc.
Franklin Borough will conduct trick or treat for borough children, age 12 years and under, on Saturday October 31, 2009 from 6:00-7:30 pm. The event will officially begin and conclude with the sounding of the firehouse siren. We encourage residents who intend to hand out treats to identify themselves by turning on their porch lights. As always, the fire-rescue department, police department, and ambulance service will be patrolling the streets, however, we encourage residents to assist in looking after the children.
Here are some safety tips to remember:
For additional safety tips, visit www.trickortreatsafety.com, www.halloween-safety.com/halloween_safety_treats.html, or www.halloween-website.com/safety.htm.
The Franklin Borough Fire Department’s 2009 Annual Fund Drive is now in progress. Please support your fire department! Without your support, the fire department would not be able to provide the level of service we currently provide to the residents and visitors of the borough and vicinity.
Our first ever Basket Party was held on October 4th and has been deemed a resounding SUCCESS!! We would like to thank all those who made this a successful fundraiser, either by donating and attending the party. We hope to see you at next year’s party.
Below are a few pictures from the basket party and the fire department open house, which will held in conjunction with each other.
On the evening of October 1st, the local fire departments participated in Conemaugh Valley High School’s Homecoming Parade and Bonfire. The parade began in East Conemaugh and ended at the bonfire which was held at the Franklin Ballfield.
Franklin, Cover Hill, and Conemaugh firefighters were dispatched at 1031 hours on September 30th for a fuel spill. The fuel spill started on Truman Blvd near Frankstown Rd and ended 3-4 miles later on Route 271 in Parkhill. Engine 5-1, Squad 5-1, Rescue 13-3, and 5 Chief all responded. Due to the length of the spill, a PennDOT dump truck was requested to respond with sand to spread on the spill. Rescue 13-3 shut down the downhill lane of Truman Blvd (the only lane affected by the spill) while Engine 5-1 and Squad 5-1 staged at the borough line until PennDOT finished spreading the sand. Firefighters were back in service within an hour. Coincidentally, while refueling in Parkhill, Engine 5-1’s crew found the responsible vehicle which was then reported to police and the PennDOT supervisor.
At 0451 hours on September 20th, a first alarm was dispatched for a house fire on Lexington Avenue in the Bonair section of Conemaugh Township. A minute later the call was upgraded to a working structure fire. An CV EMS unit arrived first to find a fully-involved 2-story single-family residence.
Rescue/Engine 5-1 was the first-arriving fire apparatus and began deploying attack lines to fight the fire on the front and sides of the house. Engine 13-1 arrived next and deployed attack lines to the rear after laying a supply line from a hydrant. Truck 5-1 arrived fourth and provided its water to Engine 5-1 until Engine 13-1 finished establishing a supply line to Engine 5-1.
Due to the large amount of fire, Truck 5-1’s aerial master stream was set up to attack the fire through the partially collapsed roof after Engine 17-1 laid 1000ft of supply line from a hydrant to the truck company.
Rescue 3-1’s crew stood by as the rapid intervention crew while firefighters from additional companies assisted with defensive operations and overhaul. One patient was transported by EMS to the local trauma center and later flowned to a Pittsburgh burn center. The last units from 13 and 5 cleared the scene just before 0900 hours.
At 1048 on September 8th, Engine 5-1 was dispatched in place of Engine 15-4 to investigate an odor of home heating fuel in an East Conemaugh residence. Engine 5-1, Squad 5-1, and Chief 5 all responded with a total of 8 personnel. Having found the presence of an odor, firefighters flushed the drains and naturally ventilated the residence before clearing less than an hour later. This was one of many investigations of a home heating fuel odor that the East Conemaugh FD was dispatched to at several residences in a matter of a few days.
On the afternoon of September 4th, Engine 5-1 responded to a request for assistance from a borough resident. The property owner and neighbors reported that they have been hearing a cat inside a porch roof. The fire department was requested to see if we could find and free the cat. Firefighters created an access hole in the porch ceiling but were unable to see the cat inside. The hole was left open and a few days later the cat was seen escaping from the hole.
