Just after 1530 Engine 7152 was requested for the engine company transfer to Station 711 (Rheems). 7152 stood by for 711 while units in the North Western section of the county were operating on a 2 alarm barn fire. The crew stood by with Pumper/Tanker 3 from Lawn, Lebanon County. Neither unit picked up any calls while on standby. Units covered Station 711 for approx. 5 hours.

Units from 715, 76 (West Hempfield), 67 (Rohrerstown), and 84 (Susquehanna)  headed to the Berks County Fire Training Center in the early hours of Saturday morning for a Class A burn session. The day consisted of assigned teams performing a number of fire scene disciplines under live fire conditions. Personnel practiced fire attack, search and rescue, ventilation, and ladder work. The live fire conditions allowed personnel to operate under comparable conditions to our everyday operations in the community. The training session provided an invaluable experience for crews.

We would like to extend our thanks to Highville Fire Company and Susquehanna Fire and Rescue for providing standby assistance for us while we were training. While on standby units from 62 and 84 protected the community while handling a fire alarm and a vehicle accident.

We would also like to thank the staff of the Berks County Fire Training Center for their assistance throughout the day.

Engine 7151 was alerted to assist the police department at a local strip mall. Chief 7152 (Dicely) was advised of a suspicious package at the location and police wanted the fire department to stand by. Units from 715 stood by with police for approx. 1 hour until local and state agencies were able to mitigate the problem. 

 

 

It was a busy day for the 715 Volunteers. The day began early at 2am assisting West Hempfield with an automatic alarm. Units were quickly cleared by Chief 761. A short time later at 3am Squad 715 was requested on the working fire dispatch to Spencer Ave in Lancaster Township. Crews from Company 66 had arrived on scene with fire showing from a 1 1/2 story residence. Squad 715 arrived and the crew went to work providing lighting, air, and overhaul. Squad 715 operated for approx. 2 hours on the Lancaster Township incident.

Units from 715 also made responses for a gas leak and a class 1 vehicle accident on Rt 30 throughout the day.

 

In the evening units from 715 and 76, as part of a joint training effort, meet at the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center to train on vehicle rescue practices. Crews preformed stabilization and practiced lifting a bus off of a vehicle with air bags. Minutes within leaving the training center units from 715 and 76 were alerted to the 4000 block of Columbia Ave for a vehicle accident. E7152, Squad 715, and Rescue 76 immediately responded. Chief 761 arrived to find one vehicle that struck a utility pole and sheered it off. Crews preformed hazard control and patient care before clearing the incident.