Auto Fire March 29th - A reported barn fire in Co 9's first due sent T42 to 7872 Charlestown Rd just before 8:30pm. The fire was found to be a controlled burn. Units from Co 8 and Sta4 responded to mm 15 on I-81 for the auto fire. E45 arrived at 11pm with a small fire in the engine compartment.
Photo by Brian Teller	Photo by Brian Teller

Kitchen Fire

March 28th - Members responded to a MVA, 2 AFA's and a small kitchen fire on Friday night. The MVA was dispatched at 3:15pm for one auto into the guard rail on I-81. Co 8 units handled it and placed SQ41 and E45 in service. E45 and T42 found food on the stove upon arrival at 350A Menno Village around 5:15pm. What started out as food on the stove at 29 Warwick Dr extended into the hood, wall and wiring of the kitchen at 8:15pm. T42, E45 and E43 set up PPV, controlled utilities and overhauled the area before clearing the scene. Another AFA to 1904 Philadelphia Ave ended the night as E45, E43 and T42 returned to service around 11pm.

Plans for 893 homes in Hamilton Township move forward

By Public Opinion Senior writer JIM HOOK

March 28th - Two major developments seeking local approvals are expected to increase the population of Hamilton Township by about a third. Hamilton Township Supervisors recently approved preliminary plans for Majestic Ridge Estates to place homes on nine holes of an existing 18-hole golf course. Developers of Whiskey Run Vista also submitted preliminary plans to supervisors. Both developments are north of Lincoln Way West (U.S. 30). Residents from the 640-home Whiskey Run Vista would access U.S. 30 from Crottlestown Road. The 253 units at Majestic Ridge Estates would use Sollenberger Road. The developments' sewage will not overload the Chambersburg wastewater treatment plant or the Hamilton Township Municipal Authority mains leading to the plant, according to their applications. Each development has approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to drill wells and construct their own water systems. D-111 Group LLC eventually intends to turn over its water system to the Bear Valley Joint Authority. The developer and the authority are talking, according to Bear Valley Manager Robert John. The developments were initially proposed in 2005 at the peak of the local housing boom. Developers have since lowered their expectations as the market cooled, according to Hamilton Township Secretary Deborah Hollenshead. They have a five-year window in which to begin the projects or face re-applying to meet the requirements of ordinances passed in the next five years. The next step for Majestic Ridge Estates is to submit final plans. The preliminary plan calls for 253 homes on 158 acres -- 84 houses, 74 duplexes and 95 units in townhouses. Access would be from Sollenberger Road. KABRO of Majestic Ridge LLC, Freehold, N.J., is the developer. Whiskey Run Vista would access Crottlestown Road at two points. The 640 homes would be built on 322 acres with 24 acres left in wetlands. Build out in two phases would take an estimated 20 years. Edwin Martin, Chambersburg, is a principal in D-111 Group. Whiskey Run Estates and undeveloped lots in neighboring Whiskey Run would add 870 houses and 200 townhouses to the township in the next 20 years, according to the planning module. The township had a population of 8,949 in 2,000. The three developments would add about 4,000 residents. More residential developments are anticipated in the immediate area.

Jim Hook can be reached at 262-4759.

New Look

March 27th - The staff of Sta4.com will be utilizing a new program to design this website. Viewers will notice some changes and surely some mistakes. Please bear with us as we move forward.

MVA w/Confinement and Kitchen Fire

March 26th - Squad 41 assisted Co 1 with a door pop in the morning and a fire in the evening. Units responded around 10am to the area of Wayne Ave and Stouffer Ave for the MVA with an unconscious person. Command 1 reported confinement. SQ41 popped the driver's door and assisted with packaging the patient. After handling a minor MVA in the 1400 block of Edenville Rd, members responded to 434 Wayne Ave for the kitchen fire. Co 1 and SQ41 arrived at 7:44pm with smoke showing from side A of a two story dwelling. Crews found a gas stove on fire. After checking for extension, the fire was found to be contained to the stove.

Box Alarms March 25th - Station 4 responded to two box alarms on Tuesday. E45 assisted Co 7 with an odor of electrical burning in the Chambersburg Mall at 10:30am. Crews investigated and found a power surge in the area was the cause. Around 5:30pm, E45 responded to 1445 Cider Press Rd for the Chimney fire with possible extension. Co 17 found the fire contained to the flue. E45's crew assisted with roof and interior operations. March 24th - Co 1 and SQ41 responded to 72 LWW on the 24th for smoke in the building. Members arrived at 1:26pm to find a dry chem extinguisher discharged in the stairwell. After venting the third floor, SQ41 returned to service.

72 LWW

1445 Cider Press Rd

Chambersburg Mall photo by Brian Teller

Morning Fire Guts Downtown Apartment

March 21st - Co 1 and SQ41 responded to 232 S. Second St for the apartment fire at 6:39am. Units arrived to find a two story over and under apartment building with heavy fire showing from sides C and D. SQ41 advanced a line from E1-2 in side A. An aggressive attack found fire in bed, bath and storage rooms. Members held it to the rooms of origin. Several additional companies were called in to assist. SQ41 remained on scene assisting with overhaul. While on this incident, E45 and T42 responded to 624 Fern Lane for an AFA. All 3 units returned to quarters by 9:30am.

Auto vs Pole and House, Rolled Over with Entrapment

March 19th - After responding to a minor MVA in the intersection of Walker and Kohler Roads at 4pm, E45, T42 and E43 were alerted on a box alarm in Co 18's area for the auto into a house with entrapment and fire. C18 arrived at 1781 Hade Road confirming auto into the house with no fire. Station 4 units were blocked out by a pole and wires hanging in the roadway. At 4:57pm, members arrived at a partially collapsed two story single family dwelling to find a passenger car on its roof in the kitchen with one occupant trapped. Crews accessed the vehicle but found the patient to be class 4. After searching the area for additional occupants, Command 18 held Co 18, 8 and T42 for victim removal. As E43 and E45 were clearing the scene at 5:48pm, Co 7 had a first due shed fire next to a house. E7-1 was transferred to Station 4. E7-1 and E43 responded on the box. Command 7 reported a working fire in a 10' x 12' shed with no extension and held Co 7 and T17. E43 transferred to Co 7. E43 cleared the transfer at 6:33pm and T42 cleared the fatal MVA at 6:45pm.

:

Fire and MVA's

March 12th - Three runs in an hour kept members running on a Wednesday night. SQ41 and E45 responded to the motorcycle accident in the 3500 block of Scotland Rd at 7:51pm. Units arrived to find one class 2 pt. The rider reported a small vehicle with bright headlights ran him off the road. Minutes after arriving on scene, a second MVA was dispatched in Station 4's first due. SQ41 and E45 cleared the motorcycle crash and responded approximately 2 miles away to 3900 block of Sycamore Grove Rd. Members arrived to find a compact sports car with after market headlights head on into a pole. Crews assisted with removing the driver before returning to service at 8:24pm. About 30 minutes later, T42 and SQ41 responded to 878 Rowe Rd for the building fire. Co 15 arrived to find a live stock building well off and put a good knock on it. Station 4 assisted with pulling walls and extinguishing remaining hot spots. T42 and SQ41 returned to service at 10:17pm.

Fatal MVA

March 7th - A MVA in the area of 440 Fifth Ave left one person dead. Co 1 and SQ41 responded at 00:42am for the MVA with entrapment. Units arrived to find an SUV into a pole with the driver class 4. SQ41 stood by while CPD investigated. Due to a lengthy investigation, SQ41 returned to service at 1:48am then responded back to the scene at 5:30am to extricate the driver for the Coroner.

Citizen has Chimney Fire then MVA w/Entrapment March 6th - A report of a chimney fire on Gabler Rd was just the start of a bad day for one person. At 6:20am, someone witnessed sparks coming from a chimney on Gabler Rd. They stopped and advised the homeowner. A 911 call was made sending Station 4, 17, 18 and SQ8. As E43 was arriving on scene, Co 1's ambulance came upon a MVA with entrapment in the 500 Block of Commerce St. The resident on Gabler Rd stated that they had contacted a family member about the chimney fire and as they were returning home, they had been involved in a bad accident on Commerce St. E43 found the chimney fire to be a good intent, placed the box in service and responded to the MVA. Engine Co 17 was in the area and also respond to the MVA to assist. Units arrived to find two pick up trucks involved. Both were heavily damaged and one driver was trapped. Members were able to use hand tools to extricate the patient before SQ41 arrived. Command 44 had air medical sent to the hospital to meet the EMS units. Units cleared the MVA at 7:12am. After SQ41 responded to a MVA around 2:45pm, two more first due incidents were dispatched one after the other around 8:30pm. As E45 headed to 1024 Warmspring Rd for a gas leak, E43 and T42 responded to 3326 Muirfield Drive for an AFA. E45 was able to control the leaking cylinder while E43 and T42 found food on the stove.

Auto Next to the House

March 4th - E45, T42 and E43 responded to 1685 Malibu Drive in Hamilton Township for an auto fire. A box alarm was sent due to the auto being in close proximity of the house. Units arrived to find fire in the engine compartment with smoke in the house and heat damage to the exterior of the home. E45 put a line on the fire while T42 checked the home for extension. Command 44 held it to Station 4 and ET14. After a quick mop up of the vehicle and opening up the exterior of the home, units returned to service at 6:42pm.