Working Garage Fire & Motorcycle Down

Motorcycle Down on Mountz Road

Around 16:30 hours Company 24 and Rescue 23 were dispatched to the 300 block of Mountz Road for a motorcycle accident with injuries.  Chief 24 arrived on location and reported one male down with a possible broken ankle.  24 crews assisted in packaging the patient for EMS transport.  The company cleared the call within an hour.

Tanker Task Force to Pike Township

Snowy October Destroys Robeson

The Halloween weekend Nor'Easter that crashed the east coast turned parts of Robeson Township into a disaster area with many roads left closed due to downed trees and power lines.  During the weekend, Company 24 responded to 17 "official" calls, however due to the overload of the communcations center and detaills that were handled while on the roads, the company responded to at least three times that number.  The majority were live wires down and tree calls, also included was a QRS call, a tree on a house with someone inside unable to get out, a few accidents, automatic fire alarm and a structure fire assist in Chester County.  

Truck Versus Tree with a Flight in Union

At 05:50 hours - Company 24 was dispatched to assist Company 7 (Birdsboro-Union FD) for an accident with unknown injuries on Hay Creek Road between Geigertown Road and Chapel Road in Union Township.  The caller reported a truck into a tree with two people still inside the vehicle.  Chief 24 and Utility 24 arrived on location within minutes and reported a truck into a tree, one female outside of the vehicle on the ground with life threatening injuries.  Upon the detailed report of injuries, EMS requested air medical to fly, the landing zone was setup at the baseball field behind the Geigertown Fire Company.  Command 7, Rescue 7, Utility 24 and Brush 24 were on scene.  Rescue 7 was diverted to assist Engine 24 and Utility 7 to setup the landing zone.  Crews assisted EMS in packaging and loading the patient into the PennStar helicopter.  The road remained on closed for several hours as State Police investigated the accident.

Working Structure Fire in Union Township

Shortly after 9pm on Sunday evening, Tanker 24 was dispatched to Shed Road in Union Township for a reported working structure fire.  Within minutes a 2nd alarm was struck which also added Engine/Tanker 24.  Two seperate sites were setup to assist with getting water to the scene. All total the call went 4 alarms with additional tanker requests.  The fire was well off on arrival and aerial operations were put in place to knock down the heavy fire.  Extensive overhaul was performed by crews to ensure all fire was out.  The structure is a total loss.

 

Reading Eagle Article     WFMZ Coverage

Multiple Scenario Training Event

A multiple scenario training event was held Monday night which tested and trained members of both Geigertown Fire Company and Gibraltar Fire Company on how to safely and effectively attack different types of fires or complete rescue operations.  The use of an old house was critical to the success of this training, as entering a new structure for the first time is what most firefighters will face on a call.  No members had seen or been inside the house prior to tonight, so entering it smoke filled presented the same challenges they face in a real fire.  There were different scenarios over the course of the evening, ranging from a chimney fire, a kitchen fire, possible entrapment somewhere in the house, and a firefighter down call.  Officers from both companies rotated through the Incident Commander position for each new scenario and the operations were done exactly how they should be at an actual fire or rescue.  A big thank you to everyone who setup this event, the owner of the home who let us use it for training, and members of both companies who participated.  

One Vehicle On It's Side

On a foggy Monday morning, 24 and 23 (Gibraltar) members were sent to Cedar Hill Road between Cocalico Road and Route 724 for an accident unknown injuries, reports of a vehicle on its side into a tree.  Utility 24, Brush 24, Rescue/Engine 23 and Traffic 23 made the response.  Additional was given that the driver of the vehicle was seen walking away from the scene by the caller.  When crews arrived the driver was confirmed gone.  Fire waited for the tow company to remove the vehicle before clearing the scene.

Weekend Accidents and a Vehicle Fire

Fully Involved Barn Fire

Shortly after 10:45am on Friday morning, the structure fire dispatch hit for the report of a barn fire on Westley Road in Robeson Township.  Caller stated their barn was on fire and it was threatening a house and greenhouse, and it also contained chemicals and livestock.  Heavy smoke could be seen instantly from several miles away, and with that a 1st alarm was struck to bring more companies.  Captain 24 arrived on scene first and took Robeson Command.  Fortunately for fire crews, there was a large pond directly across the road from the barn, which was the entire water supply for the operations.  Engine/Tanker 42 nosed into the pond and began a draft while feeding a 3" handline on the initial attack.  Engine 72 began an attack from the rear of the structure, and a feed was setup from ET42 to contine their water supply.  Rescue/Engine 23 arrived and also fed handlines into the scene.  Due to the collapse, a master stream was setup from the deckgun on ET42 and the building was doused as the truck pumped straight from the pond.  Crews went into overhaul mode and began dragging the tin roof out to expose heat and fire.  A neighbors Kubota was used to move the larger sections of roof.  Operations switched to foam from Engine 72 and Engine/Tanker 25 to extinguish the rest of the fire.  Due to the local water supply, only a few trucks were needed and all others were released.  Companies cleared the call around 2:45pm.

Companies on scene, 23 (Gibraltar), 25 (Exeter Twp Fire Dept), 42 (Cumru Twp Fire Dept), 72 (Brecknock Fire Co), Chester County 69 (Twin Valley Fire Dept) and Lancaster County 3-4 (Churchtown), 680 EMS and Company 85 Rehab (Spring Twp)

WFMZ - News Story with Video

Reading Eagle Story

Early Morning Hazmat Investigation

Saturday Afternoon Vehicle Fire

Shortly after noon, the dispatch went out for a vehicle fire near a structure on Ridge Road off Alleghenyville Road in Robeson Township.  Company 23 (Gibraltar) was also on the call.  Additional was given that a truck was on fire near a building, then was changed to the truck had rolled into a neighbors tree.  Chief 24 arrived on location first and reported one vehicle well off in the woods.  Engine 24 arrived next followed by Rescue/Engine 23 and Tanker 23.  An 1 3/4" CAFs line was deployed from E24 and the fire was knocked down in minutes.  The owner attempted to start the vehicle and noticed fire in the engine comparment, while on the phone with 911 the vehicle managed to start itself and drove unmaned about 300ft before crashing into a tree.  The truck was turned over to the tow company after the fire was extinguished.

Ice Causes Numerous Accidents on 176

Company 23 and 24 were dispatched to Interstate 176 at mile marker 5 northbound for a reported accident with injuries.  Caller reported a tractor trailer, box truck and car were involved with 2 injuries.  Crews responded and were met with severely icy conditions on all roads which made some almost impassable.  Captain 24 arrived on scene first and requested the southbound lanes be closed due to heavy debris over both lanes from the accident, also there was two separate accidents in the NB lanes.  Chief, Utility and Brush 24 went on location along with Rescue 23.  It was determined that the fuel tank on the tractor was punctured and approximately 100 gallons of diesel fuel had leaked out.  Crews went to work controlling the leak while others assisted EMS with the two patients in the other accident.  Debris was cleared and one southbound lane was opened.  A spill cleanup crew arrived on scene to assist in the spill containment.  The tow trucks arrived delayed from other accidents and began to prep the trucks to be removed.  A crew was called in to load all the cargo that spilled onto the road into a dump truck and remove it from the interstate.  Crews cleared the call almost 8 hours after it went out.