MVC AND COVER UP Tuesday, August 26, 2008 - At 4pm the fire companies were dispatched to Concord Rd. in front of Dexter's for a motor vehicle crash. Rescue 63 arrived under the command of Capt. J. Krapf to find a 2 vehicle accident with 1 minor injury and fluids on the road. 63-12 held the response to R-63 for hazard control. M72-7 evaluated one patient who refused treatment. At 630pm, Truck 63 along with Rescue 72 relocated to Sta. 69 (Lima) while they attended a drill.  It was our turn to re-pay the favor as Lima has covered us 3 times in the past month or so for the fireworks and drills.  No calls were received however the crew did enjoy seeing the Phillies come back from a 7-0 deficit to beat the Mets in 13 innings.

RIT RUN TO CHESTER TOWNSHIP Sunday, August 24, 2008 - At 02:20hrs on Sunday morning the Rescue was dispatched along with Rescue 39 to make up the RIT assignment to the Toby Farms section of Chester Township. Units were already on scene in the 1300-blk of Adair Road with a working basement fire in a two-story end of the row. As both rescues arrived simultaneously, Rescue 39 was ordered to set up in the rear as Rescue 63 formed a RIT team on side one. The fire was quickly knocked and no RIT services were required. Units operated under the command of Chief 47 (Comisiak). Second Photo By Frank Wesnoski.       Photo By: Frank Wesnoski © 2008

POOL RESCUE DRILL Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - The township fire and EMS units took part in a pool emergency drill at the home of ABFC Safety Officer John Moletteri.  The lead instructor was Sarah Keiser who is the wife of ABFC Asst.Chief Mike Keiser.  Sarah is a Registered Nurse at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and worked in the Trauma Center there for several years. Sarah instructed everyone in the proper techniques for the rescue of an unconscious, prone (face-dwon) swimmer with a cervical spine injury in a swimming pool. There is a high volume of residential pools in Aston in addition to the indoor pool at Northley Middle School so the likelyhood of this scenario is high especially in the summer months.  Everyone learned some valuable lessons and then had some time to swim and play volleyball.  Aston-Beechwood also treated everyone to pizza and ice cream following drill.  Thanks to 72-10 and his family for hosting the drill, to Mrs. 72-9C for intstructing and to the ladies of 72 for organizing the food.

ENGINE COMPARTMENT WELL OFF Thursday, August 14, 2008 - Tonight the fire companies responded to the 200 block of Miley Ct. for a vehicle fire. 63-2 arrived under the command of A/C CJ Schmid(9C) to find an engine compartment well involved. The crew ran the front bumper line and extinguished the fire. Tac 72 and Rescue 63 assisted with overhaul and restoring 63-2. The companies were inservice for about an hour.

ADDITIONAL QRS IN SERVICE Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - The new QRS car is in service. The Crown Victoria police interceptor donated by Aston Twp. last year has been fully equipped and is now in service as QRS 63. Utility 63 remains certified as a QRS for additional emergencies or if the car is out of service.  Crew chiefs will be able to take the vehicle home so as to be able to respond to emergencies much quicker than having to respond to the fire station. A special thank you to Carmen's Auto Body located at 739 Mount Road in Aston for donating their time and service to paint the QRS car.

EARLY AM FIRE ON THE AVENUE Monday, August 11, 2008 - Shortly after 06:30 this morning the county 911 center received numerous calls for an apartment on fire in the 2600-blk of Edgemont Avenue in Parkside Boro. The street assignment was dispatched and crews arrived to find fire showing from a second floor apartment on side one. Tac 45 and Engine 65 stretched up to the fire floor and Truck 63 laddered all sides of the building while also venting horizontally and vertically. While crews were overhauling and cleaning up the Rescue filled a few bottles for the crews on scene. A quick stop was made by first in crews and the bulk of the assignment was returning by 0800hrs.  Thanks to Rescue 39 for covering.  Shortly after cleaning up and 39 leaving our station the Truck was dispatched for a building fire in the 700-blk of Dover Court in Nether Providence.  Engine 65 arrived immediately and recalled the assignment. (Initial Fire Photos courtesy of Dan Brees.)

STORMS BRING NUMEROUS RUNS Sunday, August 10, 2008 - Two different lines of thunderstorms would bring numerous fire calls to the township today. The first line came through just before 11am.  At 1052, RIT 63 was dispatched to Highland Dr. in Bethel Twp. for a dwelling fire along with Bethel-66, Ogden-55, Boothwyn-40, Claymont-Ncc13 and Crozer EMS-Medic 66-7.  Chief 66 found an electrical problem and RIT 63 returned. A minute after the RIT dispatch, the company received a 2nd emergency for the fire alarm at the Wharf Tavern. The alarm was tripped and Cos. 63 and 72 recalled.  The sun then came out and gave us a nice afternoon.  The late afternoon saw another line of storms rolls through the area. Calls started pouring into the 911 Center from all over the county. Aston fire units were sent to 100 Crozerville Rd. for a transformer fire. E63-2 and Tac 72 checked the area and found no problems. A 2nd call was also received for PJs Tavern for the fire alarm. 72-9B found a tripped alarm and returned that assignment. The companies were re-directed to 2 more emergencies, one was a high tension wire down on a vehicle and a dwelling fire on S. Lee Lane. Engine and Rescue 63 stoodby on Concord Rd. until PECO arrived to secured the wire while Chief and Truck 63 and Tac 72 investigated an electrical problem on S. Lee Ln. The company returned to the station for a short break before being sent back out to 100 Crozerville Rd. for the building investigation. E72 and T63 arrived and found a light smoke condition on the roof of the school. Chief 72 requested the 1st alarm box assignment which brought the balance of 72 & 63, 71, 54 and RIT 57. Truck 63 ladder Side C and found smoke from the back up generator venting from the roof. Chief 72 held the response to the Aston Cos. for further investigation and the company returned a few minutes later.

MORE TRAINING AT THE WILLOWS Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - Tonight the members under the direction of Assistant Chief Ken Dawson traveled again to the Willows Hotel in the Lester section of Tinicum Township along with Reliance 61 and Tinicum 48. Crews went over interior fire attacks, ground ladder operations and even some real life RIT Training. This training gave a chance for some of our older members to brush up on some of their skills and our new cadets to get some good hands on training. We would like to thank Chief Walt Lee for letting us use this acquired structure and to Lima for covering and helping us restore our equipment when we returned.

FIRE PREVENTION STILL RUNNING STRONG Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - Today Lt. Joe Billie and Future Firefighter Little Joe Jr. traveled to St. James to talk a little fire safety. The kids all enjoyed listing to Joe teach them a little about Fire Prevention and then were treated to a wet down. We would like to thank the Staff from St. James for having us and we can't wait to come back again.

CAMP RAINBOW Thursday, July 31, 2008 - On Friday 7/25 and Thursday 7/31, Engine 63-2 went to the Aston Community Center to visit the kids attending the township's Camp Rainbow. The kids were given a quick talk and then drenched compliments of the deck gun on the Engine.  The kids had a blast and we enjoy visiting them every year.  Thanks for the invite! See ya next summer.

GEAR FITTING Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - Nick from 911 Safety was out on Saturday 7/26 and Wednesday 7/30 measuring the 30 members for new turnout gear being purchased through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant.  911 Safety is the local vendor for Quaker Safety. The members of the New Gear Committee voted to purchase Quaker for the first time in Green Ridge's history. The committee was very pleased with the specifications of the gear and the pricing provided to Green Ridge.  The new gear should be in house in a couple months.  The committee is still in the process of reviewing helmets, boots, flashlights, gloves and hoods.

HOTEL & MOTEL FIRES SEMINAR Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - Once again Bucks County Fire School sent an instructor to Sta. 63 for a lecture class as part of our Drill Maintenance Program for 2008. Tonights class was a seminar on Hotel and Motel Fires. The 3 hour class covered strategies and tactics of fighting fires in these unique structures as well as some standpipe and sprinkler systems refreshers.  Thanks to Tony from Bucks County for teaching the class.

63-9B COMPLETES PARAMEDIC PROGRAM Monday, June 30, 2008 - After two years of hard work and missed fire calls, 63-9B Ken Dawson Jr. has completed the DCCC/Crozer Paramedic Program and Associate Degree. Now its time for Ken to hit the books hard so he can pass the National Registry exam and practical test and begin making the big bucks saving lives. Congratulations on completing the program and good luck on your exams.

BUSY DAY FOR THE MEMBERS OF GREEN RIDGE Saturday, June 28, 2008 - On Saturday June 28th, the 63 house hosted Gear vendors in the early afternoon. After the Vendors had dispalyed their products, Truck 63 covered Malvern, Chester 04, while they attended their banquet from 4pm to midnight. The Volunteers ran 1 AFA with Parksburg. During the cover Assistant Chief Chris Schmid traveled to Cabrini College to celebrate his 10 year college reunion with his friends and old classmates. During the reunion, Chris was presented with the 2008 Mother Cabrini Community Service award. This award goes to the Alumnus the shows a strong committment to community service and volunteers his or her time to help the public. Chris's fellow Alumni voted for him due to his background in the fire service as well as being a fire instructor. The night brought back a lot of memories for all who attended.

1ST DUE WORKING FIRE Thursday, June 26, 2008 - Just after lunch the street assignment was struck for a building fire. Upon the arrival Aston Police reported a working fire, and that all the occupants were out of the dwelling. Engine & Truck 63 made the response. Chief 63 B. Herre arrived on scene with heavy fire on the 1st floor, and fire progressing into the 2nd floor and roof area of a 2sty Split Level. The second RIT was called along with Canteen services. The ICS was established. Crews went into service with an interior attack before crews were evacuated due to detonating conditions. Master streams, and hand lines from the exterior were put in service after reports of possible propane feed fire in the rear of the building. Fireboard put out the EVAC tones, and noted that no one was to enter the building. Those on scene quickly put Cover Company’s into place. At the 20-minute mark, crews were in service with 3 hand lines, and still working the bulk of the fire. Crews started ventilating windows, and kept working lines for about a half an hour. Upon the fire being placed under control, operations were switched to the simplex fire channel. Crews made themselves available, and covers were released a short time later. Other units on scene, to assist with operations, included Aston Beechwood 72, Parkside 45, Lower Chichester 39, Chester Heights 71, RIT 13 NCC Claymont, Boothwyn 40, 2nd RIT 23 Media and Canteen 47 Chester Twp. Thanks to Relience & Marcus Hook Trainer FC for covering. Video courtesy of 63 FF B Junkerman. Thank you Ron Cacciatore, fireground audio & to everyone else who got pics but there are too many to name.