2014 — Page 2

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.

Crews gear stands by on Squad 6, ready to respond

Crews were kept busy digging out hydrants on area roadways.

At 22:22 hours on 1/4/14 Montgomery County Department of Public Safety dispatched crew from Stations 6, 700, 82 to Flourtown Plaza Shopping Center, at the corner of Bethlehem Pike and East Mill Road for a report of smoke for the building, Springfield Township Police (28PD) arrived on scene with smoke showing from a single story stripmall of six stores, Chief 6 arrived and reported heavy smoke and fire smoke showing from the roof line, Eng 6 arrived side A and deployed hand lines, Chief 6 established command and reported fire through the roof and ordered the 2nd alarm to be struck, fire companies on scene were Stations 6, 700, 82, 29, 45, 7, 88, 400, and EMS 311 & 318, Crews were also assisted by 28 & 32 Police departments & Springfield Public Works for icy road and parking lot areas. The deep-seated fire was contained to Flourtown Pizza Restaurant, and the evacuation order was requested to go into a defensive fire stance, with master streams and aerial streams put into service to protect other exposures which suffered water and smoke damage on either side of the pizza shop. Flourtown would like to thank its fellow township companies and surrounding area companies for their assistance with this fire, no injuries were reported and crews were on-scene until 01:30 hours 1/5/14.

Below is a compilation of some of the photos and videos collected from various observers and companies involved. The videos and photos are shared here remain the property of those submitting them and no rights are implied. We thank you for sharing them with our volunteers.