Engine 1 heads to the City

At 0445 hours Station 36 (Johnstown Fire) was alerted for a report of  a building on fire. 36 Assistant (Brudzinski) responded to receive the report of a caller advising he could see fire coming out of a big building near the Solomon Homes public housing complex. As 36 Assistant was arriving on the location, he reported a 3 story vacant school with heavy fire showing from the roof. Crews from the City immediately went to work setting up aerials and making a defensive attack. With the intensity of the fire in the vacant structure, the command staff from the City requested additional alarms of the off duty members from the City that were available from all Platoons. At 0509 hrs. the 36 Chief (Kovacic) arrived on the scene and requested assistance from local Volunteer Departments. His request was to bring Engines from Station 4 (Dale), Station 6 (Oakland) and Station 3 to the scene to assist with establishing water supplies. Engine 4-4 and 6-1 layed out and Engine 3-1 (Kapelewski) pumped the plug until relieved by Engine 36-6 from the City. The Chief also had Station 28 (West Hills) and Station 13 (Cover Hill) placed on stand by in their quarters to cover any additional calls in the City. Great teamwork between all departments and no injuries were reported.

RTFD collects 5 for the day

Around 4 AM, the Car (Heffelfinger), Truck (Paul), and Engine 1 (Ti. Shaffer) hit the street for the report of gas odor inside at the Highland Library. After 15 minutes of checking the structure with meters, the odor was determined to be sewer gas.  Sewer drains were flushed, and the Truck Company and Engine Company were placed ready for service.

Just before 10 AM, crews from Company 6 (Oakland) were activated for a vehicle into a structure. A few minutes into the incident, Rescue Squad 3 (Guizio)  was special called for air bags and bulk cribbing.

Just after dinner time, 3 Chief, the Truck (C. Meyers), Engine 2 (Heffelfinger), and the Rescue Squad (Guizio) were alerted for a reported building fire in 631's (Jerome) first due. Crews from Engine 2 and the Truck opened the roof and ventilated, while the Rescue Squad stood by as the RIC.

Just an hour after the Company's were placed ready for service, the house bells rang for the report of smoke in the building at Chili's. Crews from the Truck (Mock), Engines 1 (C. Meyers), 2 (Blough), and 3 ,(Hudson) and Tower 3 (Guizio) investigated and traced the problem to an electrical issue.

RTFD Presents: The Guardian, Volume 1

Introducing the first edition of the new quarterly newsletter from the volunteers at the RTFD. This newsletter will give the residents of all municipalities in the first due a look inside your fire department! Let us know what you think either on our Facebook page or on Twitter at @richlandfire. The second edition of "The Guardian" will be out in the spring!

Rescue Squad runs early morning pin job in the 1st due.

This morning around 9 AM, the RTFD was alerted for an auto accident on Scalp Ave. Car 3-1 (T. Shaffer) arrived and quickly upgraded the call to entrapment. The Rescue Squad, Engine 1, and Squad 3-1 all worked the incident and freed the victim in around 7 minutes. All crews were back and ready for service in 30 minutes.

With the Command: 3 Chief: Todd Shaffer

Units on Scene: The Rescue Squad (Guizio), Engine 3-1 (J. Sedlemeyer), and Squad 3-1 (Deneen)

Reported House on Fire in 82's First Due

Engine's 1 (Ti. Shaffer) and 2 (Blough) responded to assist Company 82 with a reported house fire this afternoon. Car 3-1 (T. Shaffer) arrived first to find a utility trailer on fire beside the residence. Chief Shaffer immediately scaled the box assignment back to Engine 3-1 and Engine 82-1 only. Engine 3-1's crew arrived, extinguished the fire in the trailer and assisted 82's crew with pulling burnt siding from the house and checking for extension. The RTFD was ready for service in around 30 minutes.

Santa Clause is Coming to Town

Santa Clause is coming to Richland and Geistown on Wednesday December 21 from 6 to 9 PM atop the RTFD's Tower Truck!!! Santa's new sleigh will be touring him through Township and Borough neighborhoods lighting up hearts and brightening up spirits. So when you hear the music and see the Truck, head on out and meet Santa before he returns to the North Pole for Christmas Eve!!!

Auto Accident with Entrapment, 1200 Block of Scalp Avenue

Just as a quick snow shower was passing through the area, 3 Chief (T. Shaffer) came across a vehicle into the structure at the Crossroads Community Church.  As 3 Chief requested the Rescue assignment, Communications updated him that another vehicle had been involved in the accident several hundred feet up the road, in front of the Wendy's.  The Rescue Squad (Ti. Shaffer)  and Engine 1 (Heffelfinger) responded and were on scene immediately, along with Engine's 2 (Blough) and 3 (Kapelewski) which handled the vehicle that was struck in front of Wendy's.  The Rescue Squad and Engine 1's crew quick secured the vehicle and removed a door for a fast extrication, then examined the structure for damage and hazards.  Engine 2 and 3's crew secured their vehicle, and quickly assessed their patients before it was determined no EMS was needed.  The RTFD Rescue and Engine Companies were ready for service in just about 45 minutes.

RTFD Running Rampant: 10 calls in less that 48 hrs.

Today the wheels kept turning for the second day in a row, with over 10 calls in less than 48 hours. Today was highlighted with an auto accident with entrapment at Bedford St. and Walters Ave., Geistown. The Rescue Squad (Asst. Shaffer), Engine 1(Capt. Deneen), Engine 2 (FF Blough), Deputy Chief Meyers, and Battalion Chief Heffelfinger responded within seconds of dispatch. Crews used the 32s to remove one door and assisted East Hills EMS with extricating the 3 patients. The RTFD also had assistance from Oakland Engine 6-1 (6 Asst. Helsel).  The volunteers were ready for service in about a half hour.

RTFD runs Multi-Family House Fire in 6's First Due

As the night of December 1st drew to a close, the volunteers were alerted for a reported house on fire in the area of Ruby Street and Oakland Avenue, Oakland's (Company 6) first due.  Shortly after dispatch, 6 Deputy (Lees) called on scene with a 2 1/2 story dwelling, heavy fire showing from the Alpha, Bravo, and Delta sides, Division's 1 and 2.  Car 3-1 (W. Meyers), Engine 6-1 and Engine 3-3 (Suckenik) were on scene within minutes, and the Engine crews immediately began to push in on the heavy fire on division 1 and complete a primary search.  Truck 3-1 (Ti. Shaffer), Engine 3-1 (Heffelfinger), Engine 3-2 (Blough), and Engine 13-1 were all next in; the Truck crew along with 13's crew began laddering and venting, while Engine 1 and 2's crew began to attack division 2. The bulk of the fire had been knocked down and overhaul/mop-up started in under 20 minutes from the initial dispatch.  Great Job to all!

Units on Scene: 3 Chief, Car 3-1, Engine 3-3, Truck 3-1, Engine 3-2, Engine 3-1, and the Rescue Squad

Total Staffing: 28

Box 0307: Engine and Rescue Company's run Commercial Vehicle Fire

Just as the lunch hour was winding down, volunteer's at the Headquarters House noticed a smoke plum towards the 1500 block range on Scalp Avenue.  As crews began to fill the Engine and Rescue Squad, pre-alerts rang out over Fire Dispatch for the report of a commercial vehicle on fire.  Both units checked up on the air immediately, along with Car 3-1.  Upon arrival, Car 3-1 advised a fully envolved engine compartment fire and requested for another engine to hit the street.  Several minutes later, Car 3-1 held it to the units on scene, as Engine 1's crew made quick work on the fire.  Engine 1 and the Rescue Squad were back and ready for service in a little over 20 minutes.

With the Command: 3 Chief: Todd Shaffer

Units on Scene: Engine 1 (Blough) and the Rescue Squad (Deneen)