Volunteers Serving Springfield Township
On the morning June 15th, Flourtown Fire Company was dispatched to a vehicle accident stand-by on the 500 block of Bethlehem Pike.
Fire department services were not needed. However, our fire police provided traffic control during the investigation, and we assisted EMS.
On May 15th, a private sub-contractor working for PECO Gas struck and ruptured a gas line in the 400 Block of Poplar Rd. Members of Flourtown Fire Company responded with Engine-6, and stood by until crews were able to cap the leaking main. No evacuations were required.
Photos courtesy of Robert Wilmot
The Winter of 2013-2014 is going down in history as one of the most severe and highest in snowfall. For the fire service it means responding to many more emergency calls for downed wires, fallen tree lines, and vehicle accidents on slick roads. Increased snow fall also means shoveling out hydrants and putting in place winter tactics such as shortening the time out in the elements and keeping hose lines running to keep them from freezing. On several occasions as the area was hit with large snowstorms, crews voluntarily stander at the firehouse around the clock to respond rapidly at the height of the storms. These crews also criss-crossed the township to shovel out hydrants that residents did not. It’s a good practice, that if you live near a hydrant to shovel it out as much as 3 feet around the hydrant so firefighters can properly hook up hose lines to battle a fire. Photos by Robert Wilmot, Jr.
On August 13, the area was once again struck with sudden and large thunderstorms and flooding rains. The Wissahickon Creek, a major tributary that carries run off from all the surrounding communities, often rises quickly and area roads are often soon under water. Flourtown Fire Company, Squad 6, responded to a call of a motorist trapped in their vehicle on Morris Road in Fort Washington where the creek soon flooded over the roadway near Germantown Academy. The fire company reminds residents to not try to take their vehicle through any flooding are hidden currents and as little as 6 inches of moving water on a roadway can carry your car off the road and take you off your feet. TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN (The flooding taking place in Colorado, can happen anywhere.)
Below, Flourtown firefighters, trained and equipped in swift water rescue execute a rescue on Morris Road on August 13, 2013. Photos by Bob Wilmot, Jr.
2013 has been a busy year for Flourtown Fire Company so far, here’s a look back at the what we’ve been up to, some fires, some training, some rescues, always exciting, stop by Monday nights at 7PM to hear how you can join the team.
Video by Firefighter Greg Fasold.