Squad 6 responded along with multiple companies including Wissahickon, Fort Washington, Spring Mill, North Penn, Plymouth, Centre Square, Colmar and others to a single family house fire with heavy smoke and stubborn flames emanating from the first floor and working its way into the attic and roof voids. The emergency call was received at 12:26 PM reporting smoke coming from the home.
Ambler Laundromat Fire, R.I.T Response
Squad 6 and its Rapid Intervention Team (R.I.T.) responded to a confirmed dryer fire at the Ambler Fabric Care Center Coin Laundry. The fire was rapidly knocked down by crews from Wissahickon Fire Company (Station 7), Fort Washington Fire Company (Station 88), and Centre Square Fire Company (Station 33), and traffic and crowd control was handled by fire police from Station 7 and Station 33. (Photos by Bob Wilmot, Jr.)
Future Firefighters Graduate from Wissahickon Firefighter Camp
Some future firefighters received hands-on training and experience as part of Wissahickon Fire Company’s annual Firefighter Camp. In the photo above, Chief George Wilmot is joined by Deputy Chief Mike Frye with three of the camp graduates, from left to right, Lexi Wilmot, Mitchell Seltzer and Jake Frye.
The popular Firefighter Camp is a supervised 4-evening camp designed to give participants a taste of firefighting. The 2011 Firefighter Camp was held July 5, 12, 19 and 26 – 6:30 to 9:30 pm. At camp, participants learned:
- Protective gear
- Basic fire behavior/tactics
- Use of Extinguishers
- SCBAs, supply lines & attack lines
- Live fire (vehicle car prop) training
- Search and rescue
- How to use tools, ladders, ropes and knots
Under close supervision, participants will don protective gear and utilize fire apparatus/equipment to extinguish actual training fires. This experience will incorporate the same basic principles that the volunteer and career firefighters of Montgomery County follow every day as they protect our community. Flourtown Fire Company would like to thank Wissahickon Fire Company for hosting the camp and its sponsors Schneider Plumbing, Ambler Savings & Loan, Feast & Fancy catering, and B&Z Cabinets. The camp is hosted by the Wissahickon Fire Company, and assisted by the North Penn, Flourtown and Centre Square Fire Companies.
R.I.T. Assignment to Ambler Boro
Station-7 (Wissahickon) was originally dispatched for the building at 10 Maple Ave. in Ambler Boro. 03/06/10
Chief-7 arrived on scene with a confirmed fire in the basement of a three story abandoned factory with limited access to the building. With that report, County radio dispatched Squad 6 as the RIT team.
Due to the condition of the property and building, crews were having a challenging time getting water to the area of the building where the fire was located. After this assessment of the conditions, Chief-7 struck the 2nd Alarm for manpower, which added Ladder-6 to the assignment to supplement Squad-6’s crew.
Crews cleared in approx. 3 hrs.