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June 2006

The Great Flood Of 2006

June 27th - 28th - Station 4 members spent all night and most of the morning running from call to call. The night started around 9pm when E45 responded to assist Co 7 along with numerous other departments with evacuating a trailer park at 198 Black Gap Rd. Crews watched as small storage sheds floated away. Four firefighters became trapped and were rescued by rescue teams on the ground after a road washed away behind them. Maryland Trooper 5 was on the scene flying over if needed, but was placed in service. County and Township officials sent members out to 640 Mickey Inn Ln and 2004 Philadelphia Ave to evacuate 3 trailer parks in that area. Upon arrival the water had not reached the street level yet. SQ41 and E43 went door to door around 11pm asking residence to seek shelter elsewhere and advised them that high water was coming. Crews were cursed out and threatened by some but thanked by others. SQ41 assisted Co 17 and 18 in the 100-500 block of Mt Pleasant Rd evacuating homes in the area shortly after 11pm. SQ41 and E45 returned to 640 Mickey Inn Ln and 2004 Philadelphia Ave around 3:30am to find about 3 feet of water in the streets. SQ41 drove through the area with sirens and air horns sounding alerting residences to leave immediately. E45 and E43 responded to 1733 LWE around 5:30am for an AFA and 4103 Main St Scotland for fuel oil and propane leaking in a house at 6am. The water hit down town Chambersburg at 9am flooding several major streets. SQ41 responded to numerous locations to assist with evacuating and evaluating flood areas.

198 Black Gap Rd	4103 Main Street Scotland
W. King St	Lincoln Way West
W. King St	Loudon ST and S. Franklin St
Wolfe Ave and Commerce St

We Have All Been There

1936 - In the early hours of July 22, 1936, while responding to a call near Fayetteville the pumper was involved in an accident which claimed the lives of 19 year old David Gabler and 29 year old Harold Snider.

1994 - Station 4 rolled a 1986 E-One Engine while responding to a working fire. The engine slid off a narrow dirt lane and overturned in a field. All members were treated and released without serious injury.

Lowes Extrication Demo

June 24th - Station 4 spent Saturday at Lowes on LWE from 10am-4pm. Crews set up an apparatus display and fire safety training for kids. At 1pm, Co 7 joined the fun and both departments dismantled some cars. Dewalt provided the toys then gave each company a new 18 volt cordless sawzall.

Afternoon Fire

June 21st - The Franklins were kept busy in the afternoon heat with a building fire, an extrication demo, babysitting some burning wires and an engine transfer. Crews started the afternoon at 1:10pm by responding to 8050 Edenville Rd. Found wires on fire and dropping fire into the grass. E45 stood by hitting hot spots until Brush 18 arrived and cleared at 1:38pm. E45 and SQ41 headed to Scotland School and performed an extrication demo for the State Police Youth Week from 2-3pm. Just after returning to quarters, units were alerted to 6180 Harshman Rd for the building fire. Sgt 8 on scene reporting a working fire. Co 8 put a quick knock on it. E45, E43, T42 and SQ41 assisted with overhaul and roof operations. Members went available at 4:52pm just in time to transfer E43 to Co 5 during their carnival.

	6 1 8 0   H A R S H M A N   R D
	E X T R I C A T I O N   D E M O

MVA w/HAZMAT   June 20th - Units were dispatched at 8:19am for a MVA. Found a pick up T-boned a dump truck knocking it on its side on top of a passenger car and spilling an unknown powder across the roadway. EMS found no injuries. The driver of the dump truck stated he was hauling Lime Dust. Command contacted Local and County EMA to plan a clean up effort. Squad 8 and DC-8 assisted on the scene also. After further investigation, it was determined that the product was non-hazardous if cleaned up properly. Command worked with Penndot, Hamilton Township, PSP, Dave's Truck Repair and Valley Quarry to remove the product. E45 washed down the area and cleared at 11:30am. Station 4 was light with 3 on the scene.

Water work to slow motorists

June 19th - Members have been frustrated and responses slowed by road work on King St, LWE, I-81, and several short streets. Now just when we thought they couldn't possibly work on anything else, the Public Opinion published the following article.

Motorists should expect slow travel on portions of U.S. 30 west of Chambersburg this summer. Crews are installing water distribution lines for the Bear Valley Joint Authority. Traffic could be stopped from time to time during construction, but usually one lane will be open in each direction on U.S. 30, according to Bob John, Bear Valley manager. The authority has approved three contracts:

1. Marks Contracting, Lebanon, has been installing pipe on the south shoulder of U.S. 30 from Maxheimer Road to the square in the village of St. Thomas. Work will proceed more slowly as the pipe is installed under service lines to homes lining U.S. 30, according to John. Marks has until May 2007 to complete the $1.5 million job.

2. HRI, State College, is expected to begin installing pipe on the south side of U.S. 30 from Hade Road east to Shatzer Orchard Road the first week of July. The contractor has until May 2007 to finish his $1.3 million job.

A fourth pipeline project (from Mercersburg Road at Geibs Road to Parnell Drive and Lemar Road to Stitzells Road) has been delayed. The authority may need the money to develop a well, John said. The apparent low bidder has granted a 60-day extension of the bid price.

All four projects will cost $6.8 million. The authority is under order from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to develop a new water source and to improve its distribution system and water treatment plant. The authority borrowed $10 million for the projects.

Until the improvements are completed, Bear Valley customers remain on water restrictions and new homes cannot be connected to the system.

House Fire, Fire Truck  Rollover, Box Alarm, MVA, "Cluster Box"

June 11th - Units were alerted at 3:59pm for the house fire at 5139 Mountain Rd. C46 arrived with smoke showing. Eng Co 18 arrived and stretched a line to side A. As E45 was turning onto Mountain Rd they witnessed ET18 rollover on its roof with 2 personnel inside. E45 and AC49 called in the priority message. C46 took Command of the fire then quickly moved the fire ground to channel 2 and the accident to channel 4 with AC49 in Command. T42, with Capt 44, was opening up the roof while E43, with LT44, landed a Stat Medivac helicopter next to the house to fly out one of the injured firefighters. DC47 along with crews from Station 4, 18, 17 and 1 found a small fire in the attic. E45's crew was dressed for the house fire in full PPE including SCBA with masks on as they assisted EMS with packaging both the driver and officer from ET18. The "BIG HOUSE" responded to both emergencies with a total of 18. The Eng from 17 also stopped to assist with the injured firemen before heading to the fire ground. After the fire, crews from each department worked to gather equipment and hose to return to Co 18. Members had just finished unloading items at 18's firehouse when the box was sounded for the house fire at 949 Brandon Drive. Station 4 responded at 7:25pm with 4 on the Squad, 5 on E45, and 6 POV. E1-1 found a small fire next to the house and held it with E1-1 and T-1. As SQ41 was backing into the station the 44-81-7 box was put out for the MVA. Units found it to be Good Intent and cleared at 7:41pm. Finally at 10:43pm, the "Cluster Box" was put out for a building fire next to 201 Sunset Ave, Hamilton Twp, Box 44-09. E45 arrived in the area with no such address. After further details from the confused caller, members figured it to be across town in the 44-03 box area at 201 Sunset Blvd West. Units were re-routed and upon arrival found another Good Intent. E45, T42, E43 and a few POV's cleared at 11:10pm with 21 personnel.

The Franklin Fire Company wishes the members from ET18 a quick recovery.

The following pictures are not posted to bash or blame anyone. They are posted as a reminder to everyone that our job is dangerous and to remind drivers to SLOW DOWN!!!

Photos courtesy of Sgt Murphy and Denny Clopper

Tractor Trailer vs Barn

June 11th - 6:02am, 5645 Mountain Rd, SQ41 and E45, 8 personnel on scene. Found minor injuries.

Second Squad on the MVA w/Entrapment

June 6th - SQ41 responded with Co 7 for the MVA with multiple patients, entrapment and ejection. Units arrived at the intersection of Anthony Highway and Little Mountain Terrace with an SUV vs a Van. SQ41 assisted Co 7 with removing one patient from the van through the rear doors. Command 7 requested 2 helicopters and several additional EMS units. Eng Co 5 had the Landing Zone. Station 4 responded at 4:49pm with 5 on the squad and 3 POV.

Public Opinion Article

Grant will help improve radio system

By Keith Paradise Staff writer

June 6th - Franklin County is getting more money for its emergency communications system. U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, announced a grant Monday through the Department of Justice to benefit first responders. Franklin County will receive $23,275 from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, according to a statement released by Shuster.

The program helps support state and local governments across the country to prevent and control crime based on their needs. The funds will be allocated to purchase equipment for the county's Radio Dispatch Communications Interoperability Project.

County officials allocated $4 million in bonds to upgrade the county's emergency communications system. The new system will allow responders from police, fire and EMS to communicate with each other, something that is not always possible with the current system. The new system is expected to eliminate dead zones in the county.

The county accepted bid proposals in early December, according to Jerry Flasher, director of Franklin County Communications. Flasher said the new system should be up and running in 18 months.

"This is a major, major project. Nothing like this has ever been done in the county. It's going to take an awful lot of coordination, diligence and patience," Flasher said.

Run To The Mountains

June 2nd - The "BIG HOUSE" was alerted at 1843 hours on Adams County Box 27-7, to 6375 Chambersburg Road (The Village Of Laurel Run) for a building fire. T42 and SQ41 responded to the scene with a total of 10 personnel leaving 3 on station.  T42 arrived as the first truck on the scene.  T42 crew laddered and took command of the roof.  SQ41 arrived and assisted T42 with operations. Command 27 released Station 4 units at 1918 hours.

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