As Company 17 cleared and headed home from the Applebees in the Borough of Chambersburg for the smoke in the building, the tones dropped sounding the 17-3 Box for the church fire at 2355 New Franklin Road.  Engine 17-2 and Truck 17 arrived to find smoke pushing the roof and initied fire attack.  Chief 17 established the New Franklin Road Command, as Engine 1-2 picked up the hydrant out front and supplied Engine 17-2.  Truck 17 and Truck 1 went to the roof with a crew from Station 4, as fire showed itself from the steeple area.  Engine 17-1 picked up an additional hydrant and supplied Truck 1 for the flying standpipe operation.  Co. 8 and Station 4 had the RIT and Rescue Squad 7 handled the search and utilities before assumming the Division 2 assignment from Command.  Crews contained the fire to the main entrance of the church minimizing damage to the structure.  Personnel remained on the scene for extensive overhaul operations.  Units from Co. 17, 1, 8, 7, 13, 3, 2, 5, Air 10, and Station 4 responded to the call.

      

At 1654 hours, Engine 17-1, Special Unit 17, and AFC 17 responded to find a three vehicle collision in front of 5108 Wayne Road.  Crews controlled hazards and assisted Ambulance Co. 8 with patient packaging.  Units cleared at 1737 hours.

Company 17 spent the evening training on hand line deployment and management, while extinguishing vehicle fires.  Personnel identified and recognized the potential hazards unique to vehicle fires.

Company 17 and Company 8 personnel teamed up again this evening for a combined company drill.  Chief 8 reviewed different rural water supply operations and concepts.  Personnel discussed various equipment carried on each others’ department rigs.  To finish out the evening, crews participated in several drafting evolutions out of the Conococheague Creek.

Company 17 and Company 8 personnel started off the Month with a combined company drill night.  The Franklin County Fire Chief’s Assoc. revised MAYDAY Procedures and proposed Emergency Tone Procedures were presented and discussed.  Chief 8 then reviewed the Rapid Intervention Team bags of both departments in detail.

February 21, 2012

The bells sounded at 1350 hours for the house at 2338 Falling Spring Road, Box 17-7.  Engine 17-2, Truck 17, and AFC 17 responded.  DFC 7 and Sergeant 17 arrived first to find smoke showing from the Charlie side of a two story, single family, heavy timber construction with the walkout basement on the Alpha and Bravo sides.  Engine 17-2 arrived and put a 200′ 1 3/4″ hand line in service through the Charlie side.  The crew found a laundry room off on the number one floor Delta quadrant and put a quick knock on it before it spread to the adjacent kitchen.  Squad 41 did a quick search of the structure confirming all occupants out.  Other than smoke throughout the structure, damage was minimized to the laundry room.  After investigation, it was determined the fire was actually electrical in nature, and the State Fire Marshal ordered the power not be turned back on in the structure until further notice.  AFC 17 made appropriate accommodations for the occupants via the Red Cross, while Co. 17 and 7 completed salvage and overhaul operations.  Company 17 cleared the scene at 1528 hours.

At 1556 hours, Company 17 was alerted for the crash in front of 3053 Wayne Road.  Engine 17-1, Special Unit 17, and Chief 17 responded to find two autos with significant damage.  All occupants self-extricated, and EMS transported one.  Company 17 checked and cleared all hazard before returning at 1650 hours.

Photos courtesy of Dave Bowen.

Company 17 members gathered this evening to recognized several members for their service over the past year. On behalf of the New Franklin Fire Dept., congratulations and keep up the hard work. Your community is very lucky to have you serve them day and night.

A special thanks goes out to Adams County Company 27 for staffing the Engine and Truck Company for the evening.

The following awards were received:

Firefighter of the Year – Dan Bowman
Jr. Firefighter of the Year – Austin Funk
Chief’s Award – Robert Seilhamer
Presidents Awards – Earl “Gus” Rice
Winifred V. Bowen Memorial Award – Lois Seilhamer
Top Responder – Earl “Chip” Rice
Runner-up Response Awards – Robert Seilhamer, Dan Bowman and Chris Bowman
Top EMS Responder Award – Austin Funk.

The day started early at 0216 hours, Truck 17 was alerted and sent on the 3rd alarm assignment to 124 South Prince Street, Shippensburg.  Crews from both Cumberland and Franklin Counties were battling a large three story house at the corner of South Prince and East Garfield Streets.  Truck 17 assisted with lighting up the scene and opening up both the inside and outside of the structure before clearing at 0432 hours.  Then, Company 17 personnel handled two unconscious patients before lunch time.  Truck 17 was back on the street at 1632 for the 8-04 Box at 1740 Warm Spring Road.  Station 4 arrived to find a large wood pile on fire next to a shed and outside wood burner.  Chief 8 held the assignment to Station 4 and Company 8.