WHAT'S GOING ON:

WE HAVE OPENINGS FOR THREE LIVE-INS: CLICK HERE

 

Please remember to clean out around the fire hydrants when removing snow. We depend on them to have enough water to save you and your neighbors if there would be a fire. 

If we can't find the hydrant, we can't use it, and in an emergency no one can afford the extra time it takes to find a snow buried hydrant and dig it out.

Thank you for helping us to help you!

Starting on Thursday Jan. 28, 2010, one of the 1 3/4 cross lays on E 853 will be reconfigured with a Roundabout style shoulder load.   This will only affect the 100' shoulder load not the drag load.  The new load is packed in a loosely circular arrangement with the nozzle and about 3' of hose at the center

To deploy it, remove the entire shoulder load like before and step away from the rig.  Reach back and pull the drag load onto the ground and walk toward your destination.  When the drag load pays out, lay the shoulder load onto the ground, grab the nozzle and walk on.  You can drop this entire load at the door and charge it.  The circular configuration should prevent most of the kinking.

This load will be evaluated thru April to give us ample time to try it out.  We have several engine company drills and one live burn to work with it.

There will be further details and training info provided here and on the station bulletin board.  This will also be covered at drill.

On Monday January 18, TSVFD hosted the "Drive to Survive" program.   The class is a 3 hour program on emergency services driver safety and survival, presented by Chris Daly.  Chris is a well known speaker on the subject who draws from his years of experience as both a firefighter and police officer in Chester County PA.  Over 20 members from Co. 85 along with approximately 60 guests from other companies across Berks County participated in this well organized program that was both highly educational and entertaining.
 

Monday started out with a MVA at Spring Ridge Drive and Papermill Rd.  Two Vehicles No Injuries.  Crew from Rescue/Engine 85-1 Applied oil dry and cleaned up debris then stood by until the Tow Co. removed both the vehicles.  Fire Police Assisted with traffic Control The second call for the day came in at 1609 for a reported female inside her garage pinned against the garage door by the car.  Rescue/Engine 85-1 and Rescue 85 arrived on scene and forced entry through a window stabilized the car and EMS removed the victim.   The third call came in during the Drive to Survive Class for a reported MBA with Fluids Down at Paper Mill and Van Reed Rd.  Rescue/Engine 85-1 reported to the scene and applied oil dry to the fluids down. Fire Police Assisted with Traffic Control.

At 1235 Companies 85, 56, 18-3, 36(RIT), Ladder 57 and Lancaster Truck 1-7 (Reamstown) were dispatched to the 200bl. Of Chapel Hill Rd in the area of Goose Lane for a reported Garage Fire. Chief 85 upon response was advised by the Communications Center initially just that there was a possibly a Garage on fire at that location. While enroute further into was given that black smoke and flames were coming from the garage also possibly involving the house and there was a report of someone Burned. Chief 85 requested the Zone 4 Tanker Task Force be placed on standby, but before that was done Spring Twp. Police arrived on scene and reported a Working Garage Fire and confirmed that there was a male victim burned out of the building with Police. Chief 85 requested the Tanker Task Force to be sent and arrived along with Tanker 56 and found a Two Story Detached Garage well involved threatening a two story house on the D-Side and a large garage on the C-Side.   Chief 85 established Command on the A-side of the Fire Building. Tanker 56 staged at Chapel Hill and Goose Lane on the D-Side of the house. Engine 85-3 arrived on scene and the Engine Crew began a Defensive attack using the Pre-Connected Mercury Monitor. Engine 42 arrived on scene just after Engine 85-3 and were ordered to protect the exposures. Tanker 56 supplied water to both these units.   Ladder 57 arrived and was ordered to set up on the A-Side and prepare for Aerial Master Stream Operations. Adamstown laid a 5” line from E-85-3 to the pond at Balthaser’s Farm at Mohns Hill and Chapel Hill Rd. Lancaster Truck 1-7 was ordered to set up in the driveway on the C/D side for Aerial Master Stream Operations.  Approx. 15min into the Operations the top floor of the garage which was the burn victim’s apartment collapsed into the lower level. Once an adequate water supply was established both Aerials were able to go into operation and extinguish the bulk of the fire. During the initial operations there were multiple small explosions as well as a running gasoline fire which was quickly extinguished. Once the bulk of the Fire was extinguished a back hoe was brought into tear apart the debris and two cars that were in the garage. All the remaining fire was then extinguished using CAFS from Engine 18-1. 
Burn Victim was flown from the scene by Penn Star to Lehigh Valley Hospital
 
Command: Chief 85 (Roth)
 
Units on scene: Engines 85-3, 85-2, 42, 18-3, 18-1, 56-1, 69, Lancaster 1-1-1,1-1-2,1-3-1,1-3-2
                              Zone 4 Tanker Task Force
                              Ladder 57 and Lancaster Truck 1-7 (Reamstown)
                              Air 85, Brush 1-1-1, Rescue 36 (RIT)
                              Rehab. 85 and Canteen 9
 
                  
                            
 

At 1334 the Company was Dispatched to Papermill Rd & Century Blvd at the request of Spring Twp. PD for a MVA with confinement.  Spring PD originally came upon the accident and requested EMS for injuries, but then determined Rescue would be needed to remove a door. Units arrived on scene and found a 2-vehicle accident in the intersection.  Rescue/Engine 85-1 arrived on location and the crew began removing both the drivers side doors then assisted EMS with backboard extrications from both vehicles. Air 85 arrived on scene and the crew began to clean up debris and appy oil dry to the fluids down  Fire Police assisted Spring Twp. PD with closing down Papermill Rd. 

Just before 0630 Companies 56,85 and 36 were dispatched to Rt 222 S/B between the Mohnton & Mohns Hill Rd exits for a reported accident with entrapment.  Rescue/Engine 85-1 arrived onscene and found a small pickup into the median (-) entrapment (-) injuries.   As the Rescue/Engine was returning for this accidnet they came upon another.  EMS transported 1-Pt to the hospital.  No further FD services were required.  Fire Police remained onscene and assisted PD with traffic control at both accidents.

At approximately 2230 hrs. Co. 85 was dispatched for a trash can fire, reported out, at a local supermarket.  Accordingly E852 responded with a crew of 4 to investigate.  Upon arrival it was determined that the fire indeed had involved a trash can which was located in a public access restroom in the market storage area.  The fire had been successfully extinguished by a single sprinkler head.  The trash can was destroyed and a paper towel dispenser damaged.  However, the remainder of the damage appeared to be largely cosmetic in nature, consisting of surface soot and water.  The single sprinkler prevented what could have been a much larger event.  Given the lack of fire and collateral damage, E852 and a total of 6 firefighters were able to clear the scene in under an hour.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

 

The 85 House started out the New Year with two calls for the day. The first call was a RIT response to Lower Heidelberg Twp.at 1120 for a possible structure fire.  Rescue 85 responded by was recalled enroute by Chief 18. At 1143 Companies 85 and 650 were dispatched to Old Fritztown and Spohn Rd for a reported accident with injuries.  Chief 85 arrived on scene and reported a two vehicle accident with one injury.   Rescue/Engine 85-1 arrived onscene and stabalized the car and the crew assisted EMS with a backboard extrication.  Oil Dry was applied to the fluids down.  Fire Police assisted with traffic control. Rescue/Engine 85-1 stoodby until the vehicle was removed by the tow company. 

 TSVFD Live-In Program

Want to become a TSVFD college live-in? The TSVFD is proud to be one of the few departments in the area to offer college students the opportunity to become live-in firefighters while they attend school. In exchange for providing students with a cheap place to live, the Township of Spring residents gain enhanced staffing levels, which make for a quicker response time, and a better service provided to the community.
The station, located at 2301 Monroe Ave in West Lawn, is just a short commute to several local colleges: Reading Area Community College (5.30 miles), Penn State University Berks Campus (4.56 miles), Kutztown University (20.45 miles), Alvernia University (4.73 miles), and Albright College (6.96 miles). With room and board prices so high at schools the TSVFD only requires live-in’s to pay a $25.00 a month fee and a $250.00 room deposit that is refunded after moving out.
In exchange for living accommodations, the live-in member will be required to perform station duties, attend training and meetings, and respond to emergency calls. Of course college education and attendance is a priority and if it conflicts with station duties they will be taken into consideration.
The TSVFD facility provides the following amenities to their live-ins:

• Private bunk rooms
• Wireless internet access
• Wall Internet Connection
• Kitchen facilities
• Digital cable
• Air-Conditioned/Heated sleeping quarters
• Washer and dryer
• Full bathroom

There are three openings at this time and we are looking to fill them immediately.

The openings will be filled on an application and interview basis. Firefighter’s with previous experience and training will be given first consideration for the program, but we will accept interested individuals with no previous training or experience into the program.To be considered for acceptance into the Live-In Program, the live-in must be 18 years of age and it is preferred that they have completed the minimum of:

 Fire Fighting Essentials (or equivalent)

EMT or First Responder

HAZMAT Operations

CPR/AED 

 
If you are interested in becoming a live-in member, call the TSVFD at 610-898-1452 ext. 104 for Chief Mike Roth.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! FIREFIGHTER'S AT THE TOWNSHIP OF SPRING FIRE DEPARTMENT WANT TO WISH YOU A HAPPY, SAFE, AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

At 1620 hours, Engine 85-2 responded on a single engine mutual aid assignment to Wyomissing Borough (Co.79) for an automatic alarm from 728 Wyomissing Blvd.  Upon arrival, FF Olinger from Tower 79 reported smoke showing and a working fire in a single family dwelling.  The assignment was then upgraded to include the balance of Co. 85, 56 RIT (Gouglersville) and Co. 650 (Western Berks EMS).

 
E85-2's crew hand jacked 200 feet of 5" to the nearest hydrant and stretched a 200' 1 3/4" crosslay into the fire building garage.  After a quick knockdown, they proceeded to begin search and rescue for an occupant who was unaccounted for.  Subsequent arriving members from 85 and 79 continued with the search and ventilation of heavy smoke conditions, and also stretched two additional attack lines from E85-2.  They were assisted in these efforts by Cos. 67 (Shillington) and 64 (West Reading) who responded when the first alarm was struck by Command (Asst.Chief 79 - Strause), with Rescue 56 (Gouglersville) and additional manpower from 42 (Cedar Top) as RIT.  The fire extended thru the walls and flooring and required opening of both to complete extinguishment.  Co 85 operated on location for approximately 2 hours using two engines and the air unit manned by 18 members.
The fire is currently under investigation.

At 0735 Co. 85 was dispatched to Old Bernville Road for RIT services assisting Co. 55 (Greenfields) for a possible structure fire. Bern Twp PD arrived on location confirming a working fire. Upon response additional information from the dispatch center reported possibly someone still trapped inside. Co. 55 & 30 personnel arrived and confirmed all occupants were out of the building and began fire attack. Rescue 85 arrived and setup RIT Staging on C-D corner of the building. RIT crew laddered the building on all four sides and assisted with window removal of the first and second floor.

 
RIT Team remained on location for approximately 1 hour before being released by Command (Chief 55).  

At 2253 Co. 85 was dispatched for an MVA with injuries and reported confinement. Police on location reporting one vehicle into a pole confirming 1 passenger confined to the front passenger seat, requesting fire for a door pop. Rescue-Engine 851 arrived within minutes of dispatch. Crews stabilized the vehicle and spread the passenger door. The front seat passenger was uninjured and self extricated. Crews then assisted Western Berks EMS with patient care and removal of the driver.

 
Crews mitigated fluids and debris on the roadway and remained on location for about 30 minutes awaiting the arrival of the tow company.
 
Fire police closed West Wyomissing Blvd. for the duration of the incident.
 
Responding Units
Deputy 85 (Schartel)
Rescue-Engine 851
Co. 85 Fire Police
Western Berks EMS