Flourtown Fire Company

Volunteers Serving Springfield Township

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Did you know, it’s Winter Weather Awareness Week?

snow_plows

The week of November 9th through the 14th is Winter Weather Awareness Week in Pennsylvania.

This program is one of many severe weather preparedness events that the National Weather Service (NOAA) coordinates across the country to ensure that people are aware of, and educated about the potential dangers that may be faced as a result of severe weather in their region.

It may be 60 degrees outside today, but soon the temperatures will fall for good and old man winter will be upon us.

So, please take a moment to visit the National Weather Service’s website to learn about winter weather:

You may also download NOAA’s ‘Winter Weather Preparedness Guide‘ as well.

Endless Winter Taxes Volunteers to be More Vigilant

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.

Multi-vehicle accident and car fire on Northbound Route 309

At approximately 23:08 on 11/23, Flourtown, Station 6 responded along with Station 82 and 88 to the reports of a multiple car accident on Northbound Route 309 in the area of the Church Road (Route 73) overpass. In frigid temperatures Squad 6 pulled a 200 foot 1.75 line to extinguish a fully involved car fire on one of the vehicles involved in the accident. The crew also did a rapid, primary search of all the other vehicles involved and attempted to de-energize those still running. A snow squall had passed through the area just prior to the emergency call, but the cause of the accident is still under investigation, and is undetermined as of this posting.

Video by Firefighter Greg Fasold, helmet cam, who respond on Squad 6.

We Can’t Help You – If We Can’t Find You.

With the recent heavy snowfall, Flourtown Fire Company reminds residents to clear snow from your address marker and the nearest hydrant. A snow covered hydrant slows the emergency response of firefighters putting water on a fire.

Photos by Robert Wilmot:

After the recent significant snowfall some members of Flourtown Fire Company uncovered hydrants throughout Flourtown and Erdenheim, if we didn’t get to one near you, please help us and clear the snow away from the hydrant. Photo by George Wilmot III, firefighters, Sal Santangelo, Tyler Buckley and Andrew Johnson clear snow from a hydrant, not pictured but also clearing hydrants was George and Lexi Wilmot and Chris van Eekelen.