Catching Up...

April ended with the Meadow handling 80 calls.  Of those, most were Medic Assists, but we also ran our fair share of PIA's, and automatic fire alarms.  Also handled were several transfers, including 2 for the Truck and one for manpower to staff Clear Spring Co. 4's rescue squad.  The Truck also was alerted to assist the Mt. Aetna VFC with the shed fire, but missed a run to Waynesboro, PA while operating on a flooding condition call in Paramount.  

The average manning for the month was just under 8 firefighters per call.  This is significant considering most Medic Assist calls are handled by the Duty Officer and one or 2 other firefighters from the station, not requiring the major home response that other calls bring.  Thanks to the live-ins and the day crew from Eddie's office for pulling more than their fair share.

Training Schedule Added

Check out our Monday Night Training schedule that has just been added to the website.  The link is in the column to the left, or right here-   Company Training Schedule.

Rescue-Engine Runs The Interstate

Just before 5am, Rescue-Engine 27-2 was alerted to assist Greencastle with a wreck with heavy entrapment on Interstate 81 in Franklin County.  The Rescue-Engine responded with 4 under the direction of Deputy Chief Hopkins.  The crew was assigned the task of building box cribbing to assist with the airbag operations. 

The photo above is from Greencastle's web site.  Check out their site for more pictures and more info on the call.

Truckin' In Maugansville

Truck 27 was requested by Maugansville fire units operating on an electrical hazard at the old Playland Amusement Center.  Co. 13 units had fire between the large exterior sign and the outside wall.  The crew from the Truck cut apart the sign while firefighters from Co. 13 removed it from the wall to ensure no extension.  The Truck crew was led by Firefighter Scott Ricker.

Good Luck Zack

The 2006 Firefighter of the Year, Zack Thomas, left today for Air Force Basic Training.  Zack has been hired by the West Virginia Air National Guard as a firefighter out of Martinsburg.  Zack will join 5 other Meadow members at Shepherd Field after he completes 7 weeks of basic training and 14 weeks of fire school in San Angelo, TX.  Good luck, Zack.  We all know you'll do great. 

         

Truckin' In Waynesboro

Late Thursday night, Truck 27 was alerted on the Task Force 2 assignment for the multiple house fires in Waynesboro, PA.  The Truck responded with 6 under the direction of Chief Eckstine.  The Truck arrived and Operator O'Connell worked hard to position the truck on side "C" of the fire.  (The loader operator worked just as hard to remove it after the fire.)  Crews went to work throwing ground ladders and opening up the roof.  While working on the roof, the room below flashed and the Truck crew had to make a hasty exit.  This resulted in some damaged equipment, but no injuries to the firefighters.  As the fire progressed, Truck 27 assisted with ladder pipe operations and overhaul. 

While the Truck was out of Paramount, a crew of 6 firefighters stood by for a few hours in station, along with others in the area, awaiting a call for a transfer or to the fire, neither were received. 

  

 Above- Truck 27's crew retreating from the roof after venting.

      

                         Pictures courtesy of Dean Cool and Ben Shank from the Waynesboro FD Website.

Truckin' In Hagerstown

This time Truck 27 was alerted on the second alarm assignment for the apartment building fire on South Potomac Street in Downtown Hagerstown.  The Truck responded with 4 firefighters under the direction of Firefighter Haines.  The crew went to work assisting with the heavy overhaul and extinguishment of hot-spots throughout the 3 story building.  5 or 6 firefighters remained on station during the early morning hours to protect the First Due, while several Longmeadow Volunteers who are Hagerstown Career firefighters were recalled back into town.  Longmeadow handled four calls for service total during this Easter Sunday.

Truckin' In Antrim Township

Just before 6am, Truck 27 was dispatched to assist Greencastle PA with a house fire.  Since the crew from the Waynesboro fire had just recently made it to bed, the back-up crew handled this one.  The Truck responded with 4 firefighters under the direction of AC Byard.  After Greencastle's firefighters confirmed extension, Truck 27 was requested back the lane.  Crews then assisted with ventilation and checking for additional extension.  The Truck returned to Paramount in about an hour.

Hazardous Condition At "Avalon"

At about 12:21pm, Longmeadow was dispatched for the automatic fire alarm at NMS Healthcare, formerly the Avalon Manor Nursing Home.  While enroute, FRC advised Deputy Chief Hopkins that the alarm appears to have been set off by an unhappy resident discharging multiple fire extinguishers throughout the facility.  DC Hopkins arrived to find extinguishing agent banked down to the floor and several patients complaining of respiratory difficulty.  DC Hopkins assumed command and requested medic units and Squad 13 from Maugansville to assist with ventilation efforts.  Fire units returned the facility to "normal" while ambulance crews made a few transports. 

Units from Longmeadow included Truck 27, Engine 27-1, Special Unit 27 and the Deputy Chief.  Maugansville assisted with their Squad, and the medic units were all from Community Rescue Service.