Incident Archives

Garage Fire - Cold Run Road

At 13:11 hours, Company 24 along with Company 69 (Twin Valley Fire Dept) and 23 (Gibraltar) were dispatched to Cold Run Rd in the township for a reported garage fire. Dispatch advised it was a detached garage, approximately 25 yards from the house with a fuel oil tank next to it. 24-10 went on location and reported heavy smoke, no visible fire. Upon arrival, Tanker 24 went into service with two handlines and entered via a side door. Ladder 69 went on location and began roof operations to help ventilate the heavy smoke. Crews cut an entrance into the garage and began an extensive overhaul, finding very little fire, it was apparant the fire had burnt itself out before crews arrived. The homeowner had been working on an car when he dropped a fuel filter onto a spotlight which ignited the vapors. After checking the building for any additional fire, the companies cleared the call and returned to station to put the trucks back together.

 

Explosions and Fire Turn Into Controlled Burn

At 11:48 hours on the 16th, Company 24 was dispatched along with Companies 2 (Reiffton), 72 (Brecknock), and 70 (Grill) to assist Company 23 (Gibraltar) with a reported explosion and visible fire somewhere in the area of Seton Rd and Route 10 in the township. During the dispatch, it was advised that it was now a structure fire at the Green Hills Lumber Center with heavy fire and smoke. A Company 72 Chief Officer went on location and reported a working structure fire. Chief 23 then requested the first alarm dispatch which brought companies 36 (Kulptown) for their tanker and Company 3 (Stonersville) for their CAFs engine. Upon arrival, Chief 23 advised that it was a very large controlled burn out of control burning power lines. A slow and hold was put out for the companies. Tanker and Engine 72 began the attack on the fire, after finishing off both trucks, they backed out and were replaced by Engine 24 being backed up by Tanker 24. Engine 24 went in service with the CAFs and began to blanket the remaining fire with foam. The 3 phase power lines were still live and burning, so crews had to attack the fire very carefully from a distance. The scene was turned over to Met-Ed to repair the wires and transformers damaged by the fire.

 

At 05:11 hours, Company 24 was dispatched to assist Company 23 (Gibraltar) on a reported flare up from a previous structure fire on Seyfert Drive, Robeson Township. The companies had originally been dispatched at 23:30 hours on 2/22 for a fire on the upstairs porch and exterior corner of the home.. Crews extinguished the fire but an apparant hot spot flared up from the high winds. Crews initially made an interior attack before being called out of the house due to roof and second floor collapses. An exterior attack was setup with multiple 3" and 1 3/4" handlines, while Tower 2 backed into the driveway and setup aerial operations. A water supply was setup at Seyfert Dr. and Route 724 where tankers from multiple companies formed a tanker shuttle from the hydrant near The Water Guy and a hydrant on Allison Dr in Exeter Township. A draft from the river was later set up on Old River Rd. After the bulk of the fire was knocked down, Engine 49 was dispatched for their CAFS system (Compressed Air Foam) to assist in extinguishing the remaining fire and for the extensive overhaul. Crews entered the house and began a intense cleanup process to ensure there was no more fire present. Company 24 cleared the call at 09:09 hours.

Click Here For More Pictures.

 

Kerns Hardware Fire and Busy Weekend

At 05:16 hours, 2/11/07, Company 24 was dispatched to relocate an Engine to Company 69 (Twin Valley Fire Dept) to go on standby for them and cover their area. The Twin Valley Fire Dept. had been previously dispatched to assist Chester Co 33 (Honey Brook) on a working structure fire at Kerns Hardware in the borough. Tanker 24 responded with a crew of 5. At 06:15 hours, Company 24 was re-dispatched to now respond into the fire scene. Tanker 24 responded from Station 69, and Tanker 24-1 made the response from the 24 station. Engine 24 then relocated to Station 69 to continue the standby. Company 72 (Brecknock) was then called to relocate an Engine to our station to cover for us. Tanker 24 and Tanker 24-1 arrived on scene and began to assist with water supply. Due to the complexity of the fire and the hazardous runoff from chemicals, a decision was made to let the fire burn most of the contents before adding more water to it and having a toxic runoff that could enter local water supplies and streams. Tanker 24 was released around 14:00 hours, however Tanker 24-1 remained on scene until approximately 21:30 hours. All in all over 30 fire companies from Berks, Chester and Lancaster Counties assisted on the blaze.

On 2/11 at 17:58 hours, Company 24 was dispatched for Tanker 24 to assist Company 36 (Kulptown) on a working brush fire on Red Corner Road in Union Township. Tanker 24 and Brush 24-1 responded. Initial arriving units found 40' flames coming from a block foundation of a deteriorating house. The fire was beginning to spread into the trees and nearby brush. After a large amount of water was added and the fire wasn't going down, Amity Fire Company was dispatched for their Engine with a CAFS unit (Compressed Air Foam). Upon foaming the fire, a large amount of overhaul was done and the company cleared the call around 19:00 hours.

On 2/10 at 16:14 hours, Tanker 24 was dispatched to assist the Twin Valley Fire Department on a working tire fire on Ridge Road in Warwick Township, Chester County. Tanker 24 responded and assisted with fire suppression. The company cleared the call around 1 hour later.

 

Multiple Company Training Event

 

On Saturday, November 11th, the Geigertown Fire Company hosted a water training event at the High Point Church. Companies attending were Gibraltar, Kulptown, Twin Valley and Birdsboro. The purpose of the event was to train to be more efficent in flowing and shuttling water to a fire scene. Tanker 24 and Tower 7 set up in the parking lot, while Engine 69 set up a fill site at the pond. Tankers from 24, 36, 23 and 69 shuttled water from Engine 69 to the parking lot and dumped into porta tanks. Tanker 24 drafted the water from the tanks and fed Tower 7 and a ground line. Upon sucessful setup of the event, we were able to have an uninterupted flow of water to both Tower 7 and the ground line. We found out our capabilites for flowing water with the companies there and now have a better idea of our resources if there was a fire. Not only was the event a total sucess but it gave neighboring companies a chance to work together and get to know each other, a great teamwork event!

 

 

Motor Vehicle Accident - Plow Road

 

Company 24 was dispatched to Plow Road for a reported motor vehicle accident, caller heard a crash and was going to check on it. Upon arrival, units found a vehicle on it's roof, with all occupants out attempting to roll the vehicle back over. All occupants refused treatment and the car was removed by the tow company.

 

Safety Day at Gibraltar Playground

On Saturday October 7th, the Geigertown Fire Company along with the Gibraltar Fire company hosted a safety day for township residents and all that wanted to stop by at the Gibraltar playground. We were also assisted by apparatus and crews from Company 7 (Birdsboro), Company 2 (Reiffton), Company 3 (Stonersville) and Company 6 (Monocacy). There were multiple firetrucks on display the entire day.

Around 1:30pm, crews from Company 23 and 24 did a vehicle extrication for the crowd, demonstration the tools and methods used when we encounter an accident requiring exctrication of a patient. Spark the Fire Dog made a few appearances, along with Smokey The Bear.

The biggest hit of the day was when PennStar 4 from the Reading Hospital dropped by and let kids and adults get in the helicopter and ask any questions about it they could think of.

 

Click Here To See PennStar 4 Taking Off

Click Here For All The Pictures From The Safety Day!!

 

 

Vehicle Accident with Entrapment

 

9/5/06 - At 12:07pm Company 24 and Rescue 9 were dispatched to the 100 block of Weaver Road for a possible accident, caller heard a loud crash. A second call reported possible entrapment. 24-20 arrived on location reporting a one vehicle accident confirming entrapment, also there was an EMT on location requesting MedEvac to be placed on standby. Brush 24 arrived on location, secured the vehicle and immediately went into service with the O-Cutters and Spreaders to begin extrication of the patient. Rescue 9 arrived on location to assist with extrication. Engine 24 reported to St. Benedicts picnic ground to set up a landing zone for MedEvac if requested to fly. Southern Berks EMS released the MedEvac from standby and upon extrication, the patient was transported via ground.

 

Tree Onto House and Numerous Weather Related Calls

Beginning around 2:50am on Saturday morning, Company 24 responded to over 12 weather related calls caused by the heavy rains and winds from Hurricane Ernesto as it passed along the east coast. The majority of calls were for fallen trees blocking the road or trees that had brought down power lines, but the company also responded to a call of a tree onto a house with a roof collapse and a motor vehicle accident with injuries. The company was dispatched around 10am to Plow Road for a third party report of a tree that fell onto a house. Squad 24, Brush 24 and Tanker 24 responded to find a large tree that had fallen onto the side of a house, collapsing the roof of an upstairs bedroom and weakening the structure of the roof. Crews removed portions of the tree from the roof and tarped the damage to prevent water from leaking in until a construction crew could come fix the damage.

Around 3pm the company was dispatched to Plow Rd and Zion Rd for a report of a motor vehicle accident with injuries, two cars with air bag deployment. Squad 24, Brush 24 and Tanker 24 responded. Units found a two vehicle accident with an elderly patient still in the car complaining of arm and leg pain. EMTs reported a possible leg and arm fracture. The drivers of both vehicles were transported to Reading Hospital. The company responded to another tree down call before closing a very busy day!

 

Early Morning Bedroom Fire

 

On August 19th, 2006 at around 06:00 hours, Company 24, 23 and 9 were dispatched to Hay Creek Road for a reported structure fire. Berks Communications reported a 911 call reporting a bedroom fire and there was audible alarms in the background. 24-10 arrived on location and reported smoke showing. Tanker 24, followed by Engine 24 and Tanker 24-1 arrived on location. Before arrival 24-10 had knocked down the fire with an extinguisher. Crews surveyed the bedroom and used a TIC (Thermal Imaging Camera) to make sure the fire had not spread. Upon removing the burnt matter from the house, the company cleared itself from the call turning the house back over to the homeowners.