Volunteers Serving Springfield Township
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.)
Torrential rains, a bit of wind, tornado warnings and more rain, Hurricane Irene which moved into the Delaware Valley on August 27 and 28, 2011 had it all. Flourtown Fire Company responded to several emergency calls including several water rescues of drivers from their vehicles, electrical fires in homes and downed wires. Our neighboring fire company, Barren Hill, in Whitemarsh Township had its hands full with rescues of residents from the western side of the Wissahickon Creek along Stenton Avenue. Meanwhile Flourtown’s water rescue team which was split amongst both Squad 6 and Engine 6 were requested to conduct several searches along the banks of the Wissahickon Creek for several missing residents. It was an unprecedented storm and several members even bedded down at the firehouse for the night on Saturday night, although no one slept very much. Over 6 inches of rain swelled area streams and creek beds and causing flooding throughout Springfield Township.
(Photo by Bob Wilmot, Jr.)
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:
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.
Tuesday, April 6 @ 22:13hrs Station 7 (Wissahickon) and Ladder 18 (FDMT) were dispatched to the area of McKean Rd. and Rt.309 for the commercial building fire. Chief 7 went on location at the new YMCA (under construction) with flames from the roof. County dispatched Squad 6 to assist as the R.I.T. Crews extended hand lines to the roof to extinguish the roofing material and trash that was burning. Squad 6’s crew stood-by till members cleared the roof.
Thursday April 8th@ 00:21hrs Station 88 (Fort Washington) with Engine 7-3 and Ladder 7 (Wissahickon) were dispatched to Stuart Ln. for the dwelling fire. LT. 88-1 went on scene with a ranch style house with fire from the roof, and possible entrapment. Squad 6 due on the box, as the R.I.T was dispatched. Crews stretched an 13/4″ hand line to knock the fire while primary and secondary searches were performed and were negative.
Later that day @ 21:43hrs Station 7 with Tower 88 were dispatched to 400 N. Bethlehem Pk. for smoke from the air vents. While crew’s investigated the possible sources, the smoke condition was getting heavier in the building. with this report Chief 7 had Squad 6 dispatched to assist as the R.I.T. Fire was found to be in an outside air intake pit. 7 command put the fire under control and released Squad 6.
Sunday morning March 21st, Flourtown was invited by Wissahickon Fire Co. to an acquired structure for roof ventilation training. A group of members took full advantage of this seldom training opportunity. They were able to learn and fine tune their skills, using vent saws, working off of roof ladders and venting a roof working off of the main. Flourtown would like to thank Chief John Leadbeater and the Wissahickon Fire Co. for the invitation.
Photos by: Robert Wilmot Jr.
