As Company 53 (Broomall) was handling an automatic fire alarm in their local, fireboard advised 53 Command he was dispatching a second emergency in their town for a house fire with multiple calls at 2586 Radcliffe Rd, just behind the Marple Twp. police station. The tones then began dropping for Companies 53 and 41 (Newtown Square), Engine 56 (Manoa), and RIT-20. As units were responding, Marple Police called on location with fire showing from an attached garage and possibly extending into the home. Engine 53-2 and Quint 53 arrived to a 2 sty SFD with heavy fire in the garage and heavy smoke throughout the house. Water supply was established as crews went in service with several handlines to knock the fire. As Rescue 20 (D/C M. Morgan) arrived, set up RIT equipment, and performed a 360 walk-around of the dwelling, other crews began performing searches and checking for any fire extension into the home. While checking the 2nd floor bedroom above the garage, crews found fire beneath the floor boards in the bedroom, which was also quickly extinguished. Companies then began overhaul and ventilation, finding no further extension. The job was placed under control just after the 30 minute mark. Rescue 20 remained on the scene for another half hour, before packing up and returning to the township around 9:45 pm.

Pictures courtesy of MARK J. WALSH Units on Scene: Engines 53-2 & 53-3, Snorkel 53, Quint 53, Utility 53-8, Engine 41, Ladder 41, Rescue 41, Engine 56, RIT/Rescue 20, Medic 53, Ambulances 53-7 & 7B, and Marple Township Police. 

At 9:46 am, Tuesday morning, Companies 20 and 26 (Highland Park), Quint 37 (Upper Darby), RIT-74 (Primos-Secane), and Medic 103-7A (DCMH) were sent to 621 Ferne Blvd. for a house fire, reported to be the electrical service line and electrical box on fire on the exterior of the home. As units were marking up, fireboard corrected the address to 634 Ferne. Engine 20-1 (D/C M. Morgan), observed smoke in the area while approaching the scene, then arrived to find a large, 3 sty SFD, with smoke and fire showing from side "B" of the dwelling due to severely arcing electrical wires. D/C Morgan advised fireboard to have PECO expedite, as the crew of 20-1 began stretching attack lines and pulling the exterior walls of the house. Engine 26-1 arrived next and began assisting 20-1, followed by Engine 20-3, which laid a 3 1/2" supply line for 20-1. UD-11 (D/C Johnson) then arrived and assumed command, immediately requesting PECO to be re-notified to step it up, as fire was now extending along the "B" side of the dwelling and the live wires were now down and arcing on the front lawn. He also added Engine 36-2 to the assignment for the second RIT and had covers moved into the township. As the fire continued to spread, crews were able to safely make entry through the back door of the house. Once inside, they found heavy smoke conditions on both the 2nd and 3rd floors. Command was also reporting smoke beginning to push from the eaves at this time, and Ladder 20 arrived and put the stick to the roof. PECO was on scene moments later and worked fast to secure power for fire crews, who were then able to continue opening up the walls on the interior and exterior of the residence. Interior crews advised of fire extension into the second floor, which was quickly knocked with an 1 3/4" handline. All visible fire was extinguished by the 30 minute mark and companies began performing overhaul and ventilation. No additional fire extension was discovered and the job was placed under control shortly after the 40 minute mark. The other township units began taking up about 15 minutes later and Company 20 was available from the scene after about 1 1/2 hours. The Volunteers were back in the house by 11:30 am. One firefighter was transported to DCMH with a knee injury after a fall, but was released a short time later. Excellent job to all personnel on the scene as this job had the potential to be much worse, but fortunately crews were able to hold this fire in check and allow only minimal damage.

Units on Scene: Engines 20-1 & 20-3, Ladder 20, Engine 26-1, Quint 37, RIT/Tower 74, RIT/Engine 36-2, Medic 103-7A, and Upper Darby Twp. Police.

At 5:35 pm Saturday evening, RIT 20 was dispatched to Broomall for the working house fire at 220 Bourne Dr. Units from Companies 53 (Broomall) and 41 (Newtown Square) had been dispatched to the location a few minutes prior for a vehicle fire, and Engine 53-2 arrived to find an SUV fully involved in the driveway, with heavy fire extending up the front exterior wall of a 2 story, split-level home. Chief 41-9 arrived and assumed command, as additional units arrived and began assisting the first-in crew. Water supply was established and a very quick knock prevented the fire from extending any further. RIT/Rescue 20 (D/C M. Morgan) stoodby for several minutes while crews checked for extension and performed overhaul. Rescue 20 was released after about 15 minutes. Company 20 ran three other building fires on the day, including an oven fire and chimney fire in the first due, as well as another RIT run for a chimney fire in Springfield.

At about 1:10 am Tuesday morning, Company 20 members were awakened for a vehicle fire at 3614 Berry Ave. As Engine 20-2 (A/C B. Tully) went responding, fireboard advised that Upper Darby Police were on location reporting a car well involved. 20-2 arrived to find a Ford Crown Vic sedan with the passenger compartment well involved and stretched the booster line for quick extinguishment. Engine 20-3 also responded and upon arrival assisted 20-2 with securing hazards. Company 20 was back in service and off radio, for the night, by 1:45 am.

Despite the volunteers keeping busy running calls on Thursday, we found time for a family meal with the annual company dinner and awards presentation, as well as the swearing in of the 2012 crew and company officers. Dinner got started a little later than usual, but was delicious nonetheless. The starter was a choice of three soups: chicken noodle, New England clam chowder, or the always popular snapper soup. This was followed by a main course consisting of roast beef, mashed potatoes, and corn. Finally, the meal was capped off with a choice of pies for dessert. Great job and thank you to all involved in preparing the meal and cleaning up afterward, especially the head chef, Captain Dave Stevenson, Jr. Following dinner, the Company was back to business as usual with our monthly meeting. During the meeting, Chief Jim Hoban presented awards to the top ten firefighter runners of 2011, and also recognized the top three officers. The Chief also presented his "Chief's Award" to Firefighters Derwin "Reggie" Lembrick and Matt Goldschmidt. This year, two life members of the Company were also presented with "50 Years of Service" awards. These recipients included life member Patrick Henry and life member, past company president, and former Pennsylvania State Senator Joseph Loeper. We would like to thank Mr. Loeper, in particular, for attending the evening's dinner and meeting as well as for everything he has contributed to the Company over the past half-century. The meeting concluded with the swearing-in of the 2012 crew officers and Board of Directors. Thank you to everyone who attended and made this a special evening once again. Congratulations to all of our officers, Board of Directors, and award recipients. We look forward to another busy and safe year in 2012.

A few minutes after midnight on Friday, Companies 20 and 74 (Primos-Secane), Engine 36-2 (Cardington-Stonehurst), and the Delco Hospital Medics were dispatched to 3814 Albermarle Ave. for a Carbon Monoxide Alarm activation. Crews immediately recognized this address as the same location of a serious CO incident last week, in which 7 people in two homes were sickened by CO. Upon arrival, crews from 20 found two CO alarms going off and upon entering the residence discovered readings of over 600 ppm throughout the home, more than enough to be fatal in a very short time. Again crews also checked on a mother and infant baby at 3816 Albermarle, where they were met by the mother's husband who stated they were also ill and he transported them to a local hospital. The five family members of 3814 were once again transported to a nearby hospital by DCMH Medics. PECO was notified to respond in an attempt to locate the correct source, as they originally determined it to be a defective stove after the last incident. Engines 20-1, 20-2, and Ladder 20 stood-by for PECO and performed ventilation. The Company was in service for nearly 2 hours, under the command of A/C B. Tully.

Then, at about 9:50 am, Companies 74, 20, 36-2, and Medic units from DCMH were tapped out for another possible CO Leak, this time at 5321 Delmar Rd, in 74's local. Fireboard advised responding units that a homeowner called 911 after his family felt ill and he took them to a local hospital, where it was determined they were victims of CO poisoning. UD-11 (Boyce) requested PECO to respond immediately. Upon arrival of Engine 74-2, the crew found no readings of CO because the homeowner had already opened up the residence for ventilation. Ladder 20 (D/C Morgan) was ordered to check the exposure home. Upon entering the adjoining house, Ladder 20's crew observed readings around 60 ppm and quickly began evacuating numerous residents, including a disabled elderly man from the second floor. The next house down in the row of homes also had readings, and an elderly female was removed from there. In total, ten people were removed from three homes and transported to local hospitals for treatment. Yet another reminder of how serious CO poisoning is and how important CO detectors are. Also assisting at the Delmar Rd. scene were Medic 105 (Fitz Hospital), Medic 06-7 (Collingdale #1), and Ambulance 03-7 (Clifton Heights). Company 20 was back in the house about an hour later.

The Garrettford-Drexel Hill Fire Company would like to wish everyone a very happy, healthy, and safe 2012. Enjoy the festivities tonight but please don't drink and drive. We don't want to ring in the new year cutting you out of your car.

Just after 2:30 am, Friday morning, Companies 20 and 74 (Primos-Secane), Engine 36-2 (Cardington-Stonehurst), RIT 37 (Upper Darby), and Medics 103, 103-7A, and 103-7B (DCMH) were toned out for a house fire at 3814 Albermarle Ave. Initial reports from fireboard advised that the caller was reporting a strange odor inside and that the entire family was disoriented and vomiting due to possible smoke inhalation. Fireboard immediately recognized a likely heater malfunction and possible carbon monoxide poisoning of the residents. Engine 20-1 (Lieut. Donohue), arrived to find four obviously ill and disoriented residents outside of the home, as well as a dog that was also vomiting. The crew of 20-1 immediately went to the adjoining twin home to check if anyone was home at that residence. Inside the home were a mother and infant child, who were immediately evacuated. Engine 20-2 then arrived and both crews dawned air-packs and began checking the homes with CO meters. Inside of 3814, where the original call came from, the crew found carbon monoxide readings of over 70 ppm throughout. In 3816, readings of over 130 ppm were discovered. PECO was notified to respond as well as M-8 (Upper Darby Twp. Fire Marshal). 20-1 and 20-2's crews secured the heating units in both homes and went to work for ventilation, as Ladder 20, Tower 74, and Engine 36-2 stood-by. After about ten minutes, the assignment was scaled back to the two Engines from 20, as well as the medics. Due to the number of sick patients involved, Ambulance 03-7 (Clifton Heights) was also added to the assignment. All 6 patients were transported to area hospitals, including 3 children to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The sick dog appeared to be recovering and behaving normally again after several minutes in fresh air. PECO and M-8 arrived and investigated for an exact source of the CO leak. Company 20 was in service for about 90 minutes, and off radio a little past 4 am.

A properly working carbon monoxide detector inside of 3814 Albermarle Ave awakened the residents and gave them a chance to evacuate and call 911, which also saved the lives of a mother and infant baby next door. Let this be a reminder to everyone that carbon monoxide is an extremely deadly gas. The "silent killer" is tasteless, odorless, and colorless. It can only be detected with a properly working CO detector, which can be found in any hardware store. Please install at least one in your home and when it sounds, immediately evacuate all residents and call 911. It could save your family's lives too.

With Company 20's requests for RIT services both within the township as well as to several other Delaware County municipalities increasing, the Company has been constantly taking steps to improve our RIT capabilities and provide the best service we can. In addition to an intensive RIT certification course taken by numerous members recently, the Company has received two brand new Scott RIT packs in the past week. On Monday night, members attended refresher training on the proper assembly and operation of these packs. As was proved recently on the fireground, our RIT can be needed in a moment's notice and we'll be ready again. 

While most people were with family and friends enjoying their Christmas night, the Drexel Hill Volunteers were keeping busy, beginning with a 2-Alarm house fire in the local. At 6:55 pm, Christmas Day, the tones began dropping for a working house fire at 301 Lincoln Ave, with the initial dispatch advising that Upper Darby Police were on location with fire showing from a home. On the assignment were Companies 20 and 36 (Cardington-Stonehurst), RIT 74 (Primos-Secane), and Medic 103-7 (DCMH). Engine 20-1 (D/C Morgan) blew out the door seconds later, and arrived first to a 3 story S/F/D with heavy fire showing from the 1st floor of Side “A”, in the area of the dining room/kitchen/attached garage. The crew of 20-1 stretched an 1 ¾” hand line through the front door to initiate an interior attack, as 20-1’s operator hand-jacked a 3 ½” supply line to the hydrant on Marshall Rd, on Side “D” of the fire dwelling. Ladder 36 arrived and put the stick to the roof as the crew began assisting 20-1’s crew. Ladder 36 also reported very heavy smoke coming from the rear basement and 1st floor windows. Engine 20-2 arrived and picked up 20-1’s hydrant, as the crew stretched an additional 1 ¾” hand line into the rear of the home. UD-11 (Boyce) took command and immediately requested an additional engine out of Company 26 (Highland Park) and RIT 19 (Lansdowne) to assist on the job. Upon arrival of Engine 26-1, they stretched two more hand lines into the building as fire was now running the walls up into the 2nd and 3rd floors of the home. Due to the fire now rapidly spreading to all floors of the home, including the basement, Command struck out the full 2nd alarm, which brought in the balance of Company 26, Quint 37 (Upper Darby), and Rehab Unit 34-8 (Llanerch). Upon arrival of Quint 37, they laid out to complete a long split-lay for 26-1, who also dropped a supply line on the way in. Command also had one additional engine added from Company 34. As more units continued to arrive, their crews were put to work on the garage roof opening up, as well as inside the dwelling pulling numerous walls and ceilings. Fire extension was found in several areas and kept firefighters busy extinguishing hot spots. Other crews conducted primary and secondary searches on all floors as it was unknown if any residents were home. All searches turned up negative, however. Companies remained on scene for approximately two hours performing overhaul. Check out the links below for audio and video of this job. Pictures courtesy of BRIAN FEENEY, SR.

Upon pulling up in front of the station after the Lincoln Ave job and preparing to repack hose and restore the apparatus to service, fireboard advised they were receiving the fire alarm activation at the Drexelview Apts, 3200 W. Township Line Rd, in 26’s first due. Engine 20-3 was already back in full service and took in the run along with Company 26 and several township cover-up companies, including Engine 09-2 (Sharon Hill), which was covering our house. 26-1 and 26-2 arrived to find burnt food and requested 20-3 to locate the alarm panel and reset the system. As companies were clearing this call, fireboard advised of 2 more emergencies in the township, one of which being a gas leak inside the home at 1129 Cobbs St, just 3 blocks from the Drexelview Apts. 26-1, 26-2, 20-3, and 09-2 all arrived moments later and upon investigation found a strong odor in the residence. 20-3’s crew determined the source to be a malfunctioning heater in the basement. After notifying PECO, securing the gas line, and ventilating, the assignment was recalled. Ladder 20 also responded on this run. By around 9:45 pm, Company 20 was finally off radio and members were able to clean up and salvage the last few hours of Christmas. Great work and thank you to everyone on the scenes tonight. Thank you also to Engine 09-2 for covering Station 20 and taking in a couple of runs.  
 
Units on scene, Lincoln Ave: Engines 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, Ladder 20, Rescue 20, Ladder 36, MSU-36, Engines 26-1 and 26-2, Quint 37, RIT/Engine 74-2, RIT/Rescue 19, Engine 34, 34-8, Medic units from Station 103, UD-11, M-8 (Upper Darby Twp Fire Marshal), 7th & 8th District Fire Police, Upper Darby Police, and Lansdowne Police.