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Congratulations to Alecia and the Pagerly Family on the new addition to their family. Savannah Kylie Pagerly, born Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 1:16 AM, was welcomed into the world at Reading Hospital by her mother Alecia and family. Savannah is the daughter of fallen Berks County K-9 Deputy Sheriff and TSVFD Lieutenant Kyle Pagerly.

At 1225 hours a rescue assignment was dispatched for West Reading. Dispatch reported a motor vehicle accident with entrapment on 5th Avenue at the Reading Hospital parking garage, one vehicle on its roof. Rescue 85 and Rescue Engine 85 responded with a crew of five. Crews arrived to find a single vehicle on its roof and Company 64 crews on location working on stabilization. Inside the vehicle were two occupant who self extricated after stabilization. Crews assisted medics with patient packaging before being released by Chief 64. Crews from 85 were on scene for 24 minutes.

Company 85 would like to welcome Pat Brandenburg, who has been appointed by the Township Commissioners to the position of Fire Commissioner for the Township of Spring. He comes to us from Loudon County VA Fire and Rescue Service where he previously served as a Battalion Chief.

 In addition to the fireground, Pat’s background with Loudon includes service with the Fire Marshal's Office as a Captain of the Special Operations section (which included the implementation of the Accelerant / Explosives K-9 and Juvenile Firesetter Programs.). He also handled Human Resources, Fleet Mgt., SCBA and Risk Mgt.
 
Pat also has many years’ experience as a part-time employee and volunteer with Frederick County, Md. Fire and Rescue Department. During his time with Frederick County, he served in a variety of leadership and operational roles, including three years as the Chief of the Citizens Truck Company #4.
 
Welcome aboard, Boss! 

At 0856 hours the company was dispatched for a MVA with unknown injuries at the intersection of Papermill Road & Century Blvd. Dispatch advised there were two vehicles in traffic with one vehicle on its roof. E851 responded with a crew of four and found one vehicle overturned and a second vehicle approx. 200 yards away with passenger side front end damage. All involved parties had self extricated prior to arrival. The female from the overturned vehicle self extricated through the passenger side door. All patients complained of minor injuries and were being tended to by medics on scene. No fire services were required and crews cleared the call in thirty minutes. The company also responded to two AFA's on Saturday. One at 1 Meridian Blvd for a detector set off from a dust build up, and a second on Timberline Drive in Wyomissing where the homeowners had set a fire in their fireplace, but forgot to open the damper causing a smoke condition in the residence. Homeowners vented the home naturally.

At 2:02am the Company was dispatched to the intersection of Fritztown Road and Albert Drive for a motorvehicle accident with unknown injuries. RE85 responded. While enroute, police advised they were on location with a vehicle into a utility pole, wires were down and the driver fled the scene. RE85 arrived and provided lighting. Fire police responded and shut down Old Fritztown Road at Regency and Martins Roads.

At 9:31am Company 85 RIT was dispatched to assist Company 11 (Temple) with a structure fire in the 800 block of Hartman Ave. Company 11 arrived reporting a fire contained to the stove and recalled Company 85.

At 10:49am Engine 85-2 was dispatched to assist Company 79 (Wyomissing) with a commercial fire alarm at the Marriot Courtyard in the 100 block of N. Park Road. Crews responding were cancelled enroute by FC39 reporting no cause for alarm.

At 3:35pm the company was dispatched to the 2800 block of Shillington Road for a motorvehicle accident with injuries. RE85 responded and arrived to find a three vehicle accident in traffic. Crews assisted EMS with one injury and applying oil dry to fluids down. Crews were on scene just under an hour.

At 5:04pm Company 85 was dispatched to the Target in Broadcasting Square for a strong odor of natural gas inside the store. When crews arrived the manager on location reported the odor of diesel fuel. Crews metered the store finding a zero reading throughout. Crews also checked Dicks Sporting Goods finding the same. Crews cleared the scene after being released by Captain 85.

At 9:09pm Company 85 RIT was put on standby for a possible structure fire in the 000 block of Meadow Glen Lane in Shillington Borough. Deputy 42-3 arrived stating the RIT team was not needed.

At 0710 Company 79 & Engine 85-1 dispatched to Wawa located at the intersection of Museum Road & Lancaster Avenue in Wyomissing for a reported vehicle fire next to the gas pumps. E 79 & E 85-1 responded and arrived on location with a fully involved engine compartment fire with extension into the passenger compartment. Crews made a quick attack and extinguished the fire with no involvement of the gas pumps. Crews remained on location to overhaul and clean up debris while awaiting the arrival of the tow company. No one was injured during the fire and crews cleared the scene in less than an hour. Units on Assignment: FC-39 - Command, E 79, E 85-1, & Fire Police

2011 broke all the records for the number of calls for service. Total: 1,292 in 2011 whch is 315 more then 2010's total of 977.

At 4:33am Engine 85 was dispatched to assist Company 18 (Western Berks Fire Department) with a commercial automatic fire alarm in the 800 block of Commerce Street in Sinking Spring Borough. While en route the engine was recalled for normal conditions, alarm set off by a cleaning machine.

At 9:49am Company 85 RIT was placed on stand-by for a residential structure fire in the 100 block of Colonial Drive in Cumru Township. Company 42 (Cumru Twp) arrived on the scene with FC-34 reporting fire contained to the oven and released Company 85 from standby.

At 10:47am the company was dispatched to the 2200 block of Lincoln Ave for a cardiac arrest. A crew of five responded and assisted Medic 650 with CPR until released by medics.

At 12:06pm the company was dispatched to the 2700 block of Belmont Ave to assist Medic 650 with an unconcious female in a residence. Crews arrived and found the patient conscious and alert. Crews assisted with patient package and removal. Fire police also assisted in diverting traffic around the incident until crews cleared the scene.

At 1:38pm Company 85 was dispatched with Company 79 (Wyomissing) to the 1300 block of Dauphin Ave in Wyomissing Borough for a possible structure fire. Crews arrived to find normal conditions and cleared.

At 4:53pm Company 85 and Medic 650 was dispatched to the intersection of Chapel Hill Road and Fritztown Road for a motorvehicle accident with injuries. RE85 responded and located a head on, two vehicle accident with one patient still in the vehicle. Fire police closed Fritztown Road at Wernersville Road and Montello Roads. Crews from the rescue engine split up, assisting EMS with patient removal and packaging, and attending to fluids down and de-energizing one of the vehicles. Crews were on scene for less than thirty minutes before clearing.

At 1544-A Structure Fire Assignment was dispatched for a reported dumpster fire outside the Bon Ton Store at the Berkshire Mall assisting Company 79. Dumpster was reported to be against the building. Engine 79 arrived on scene and reported a working fire.  85 assisted with extinguishment and ventilating smoke that got into the store and also the main mall.

Earlier in the day at 0948 the Company responded to a vehicle accident at Reedy Rd & Spring House Lane.

At 1116 Fire Police were requested to shut down Noble Street between Woodside and Telford for a large tree that came down on top of a parked car.

On Tuesday afternoon at around 3:39pm Company 85 and Medic 650 were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident with injuries in the 900 block of Old Fritztown Road. Dispatch advised that there was one vehicle into a utility pole.

Rescue Engine 85 responded with a crew of five and upon arrival split up assisting the medic unit with patient care and also securing the vehicle's power by disconnecting the battery.

Fire police also responded and assisted with traffic control until the vehicle was removed.

The 85 House was kept busy again today with a variety of calls for service.

0723-Assist Company#18 reported structure fire 28 Evans Ave Sinking Spring Borough. Crews investigated and found oil burner to be operating correctly.

0802-Accident with injuries West Lawn and Garfield Ave.

0815-RIT for possible structure fire in Muhlenberg Twp. N.5th & S.Temple Blvd.

0936-Accident with reported entrapment in front of 708 Mohns Hill Rd. On scene found mini van into a utility pole with No Entrapment. Crew from Rescue/Engine 85 assisted EMS with Pt care. Oil dry applied to fluids down PP&L responded to take care of the damaged pole.

1135- Elevator Rescue at Atonement Lutheran Church assist to Co#79

1410- RIT response for a reported structure fire 5370 Allentown Pike in  Muhlenberg Twp.

1757- Chimney Fire 1400bl Monroe Ave Wyomissing Borough assisting Co#79

2344-AFA Home Deport assist to Co#79

Around 2000 hrs on Saturday night December 17, 2011, Company 85’s collapse rescue team was requested to assist Cumru Township with stabilizing the front of a home into which a small SUV had crashed. Company 42 along with Company 72 had already responded and assisted with patient care and scene control. Rescue 72 had struts in place on the exterior. However additional shoring was requested to further stabilize the structure.

Company 85 was in the process of clearing a mutual aid run to Wyomissing for a stove fire, and immediately began to assemble the collapse crew. Collapse 85 then reported to the scene staffed with 6 members. Upon arrival and after conferring with Command, the crew established a 4X4 T-shoring system in the basement and double T shoring on the ground floor at the impact point. All work was done with the able assistance of Company 42 and 72 personnel. All units were back in quarters by 2330 hours.

At 1102 Companies 85 and 650 were dispatched to Broadcasting and Keiser Blvd for a report accident with unknown injuries. Rescue/Engine 85 arrived on scene and found a four vehicle accident in the parking lot. with one of the vehicles against the building.  No structural damage. EMS attended to the injured and oil dry was applied to the fluids down.

At 0849 Companies 85, 79 and 650 were dispatched to Rt 222 S/B near Spring Ridge Dr for a reported accident with injures car vs tractor trailer. Rescue/Engine 85 arrived and found involved vehicles in the center median with minor injuries. Car was stabilized for EMS. Fire Police assisted with traffic control.