The December 2009 Sub Sale will be held on Saturday December 19th due to the holidays.

On the morning of December 5th, Engine 5-1 was dispatched as a replacement engine for a vehicle accident with injury at the intersection of Clapboard Run and Beech Hill Roads in Gossard Hill (District 13). Engine 5-1 arrived to find that during a snowfall, an SUV sheared a utility pole on Beech Hill Road about 200ft downhill from the intersection.

 With the only patient already in an ambulance and the battery disconnected by an on-scene  firefighter, the rescue-engine crew stabilized the vehicle and checked for additional hazards. At this time, Rescue 13-3 arrived and was instructed to contain a significant oil leak with absorbent material. Both crews then stood by until the vehicle was towed away.

At 0622 hours on November 29th, Engine 5-1 was dispatched on the first-alarm upgrade of a flue fire to smoke in structure on Bayush Street in Cover Hill (District 13). Within minutes, Engine 5-1 responded with a full crew as Assistant 13 was arriving to find a working fire in the attic of a one-story single family residence. This upgraded the incident a second time to a working fire assignment.

Engine 5-1 arrived third to find Engine 13-1 and Rescue 13-3 working with two interior attack lines and the primary search completed. The engine supplied its tank water to Engine 13-1 until Engine 13-2 established a water supply from a hydrant on a nearby street. After Engine 13-1’s crew was forced out of the house when the fire nearly flashed over on them, Engine 5-1’s crew took over the interior attack on the heavy fire in the attic and later assisted with extensive salvage and overhaul operations. Squad 5-1 was also on scene with staffing of three. Engine 5-1 and Squad 5-1 returned to service after approximately four hours of operation.

At 1000 hours, a first alarm was dispatched for a vehicle fire endangering a structure at our fire station. EMS arrived first to find a working engine compartment fire in a car at the intersection of Main & Franklin Streets (approximately 50 feet from the station). Upon arrival of Deputy 5 and Engine 5-1, the remainder of the first alarm was cancelled. The crew from Engine 5-1 stabilized the car, popped its hood, and extinguished the fire with the rescue-engine’s trash line. The fire department cleared the scene after the vehicle was towed.

Due to problems with one of our suppliers, the sub sale for November 2009 has been cancelled. The next sub sale will be Saturday, December 19th.

On November 18th at 2032 hours while on routine patrol, East Conemaugh Police discovered what appeared to be a building fire at a local recycling business. Chief 5 and Engine 5-1 were on scene within minutes (and while the working fire assignment was still being dispatched). The chief and rescue/engine crew found a large fire involving piles of shredded car interiors inside one of the former steel mill buildings.

Engine 5-1’s crew started deploying attack lines to combat the fire while awaiting Engine 15-1’s arrival a minute later to provide a water supply and manpower for additional attack lines. Truck 5-1 was a minute behind Engine 15-1 and its crew assisted the engine companies with tools to get at the fire.

Engine and rescue companies 17 and 13, Attack 6-6, and tankers from 3 and 43 provided manpower, lighting, and/or water supply. Nanty Glo’s rescue company provided the rapid intervention team. Several Conemaugh Valley Regional ambulances were on standby and firefighter rehab was performed by Conemaugh EMS .

Though the fire was knocked down in approximately 30 minutes, several companies remained on scene for about another hour while heavy equipment was used to tear apart the piles to allow extinguishment. The fire also damaged a conveyor and its cause was determined to be spontaneous combustion.

When turning clocks back by one hour on Novemeber 1st, don’t forget to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.  It is also recommended that the detectors be tested at that time to ensure they are working properly. Remember smoke and CO detectors save lives!

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:

• Store bought treats ONLY! No fruit, homemade cookies, or homemade candies are to be handed out.
• Parents should inspect treat bags afterward and discard any item that is not store bought. Suspicious items should be brought to the attention of the police or fire department.
• Children should trick or treat in groups. An adult should escort younger children.
• Children should stay away from low traffic area and back streets if walking alone.
• Costumes should allow easy movement, be bright colored (to stand out for traffic), and not create walking hazards.
• Be aware of traffic. Do not assume they see you.
• Flashlights will certainly come in handy.

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.

Click here to view and/or download the fund drive letter.