This morning the working fire assignment was dispatched to 28 Carpenter Plaza in Claymont Delaware. Engine 135 arrived first and had heavy smoke showing from a one story strip mall, "The Claymont Command" requested an additional engine (LCFD 39) and RIT (Rescue 63). Rescue 63 arrived and set up on side "C" while Rescue 20 (Holloway Terrace) set up on side "A" . The fire was placed under in 20 minutes and the rescue was made available in 40 minutes. 63 crews operated under 63-9(Herre).

Thanks to Claymont Fire Co. for the pictures.

Congratulations are in order for FF Thomas Morgan Jr. on being hired as a new recruit for the Chester City Fire Dept. FF Morgan started yesterday and will be training at the Phila. Fire Academy before working as an apprentice firefighter with Chester City. Thomas joins the ranks of numerous other Green Ridge members in being a career firefighter.  Good Luck Thomas, make us proud!!!!

Truck and QRS 63 along with Co. 72 and numerous other civic organizations attended the official dedication ceremony for the Aston Township Veterans Memorial Park located at Concord and Pennell Rds. The park has been in the works for close to 10 years at the site of an abandoned gas station. The committee has been hard at work fund raising and designing this beautiful park. The cornerstone of the park is a Granite Memorial listing the names of all those Aston residents who have given their lives in defense of our freedom and our community. As of the dedication, there is only one firefighter's name on the wall, FF Herbert Pinkowicz from Aston-Beechwood who died in the line of duty in 1986.

The dedication was marked by speeches from local and state politicians, the Sun Valley JROTC color guard, boy scouts and girl scouts as well as representatives from local military veteran organizations. There was also an apache helicopter fly over.  M72-7 and QRS 63 did tend to several patients throughout the day who were suffering from the effects of the heat. We were assisted by ambulances 52 and 40 along with M100C.

Thank you to Aston Twp. and Veterans Memorial Committee for a wonderful job on the park and for inviting us to the ceremonies!

Around 7am, 72 and 63 were dispatched to 900 Tryens Rd. for a fire alarm. Engine and Chief 72 (Lloyd) and Truck 63 (C/E Tiger 63-14) arrived and found smoke inside the building. With this finding, Chief 72 upgraded to the building fire assignment which added the balance of 72 and 63, 54, 71, 40, 61, NCC RIT 13 and RIT 23. Engine 63 arrived third and prepped the hydrant in case a supply line was needed. Additional apparatus also staged at the hydrant. Tower 61 and Rescue 63 proceeded up to the scene. Chief 72 established command with Deputy 63 (Evans) taking the Operations sector. Crews checked the roof and interior of the building. The source of the smoke was found to be a HVAC unit inside. The building was allowed to naturally ventilate and the assignment was returned after being on scene for about 1 hour.

Thanks to D/C Evans, A/C Dawson, Capt. Krapf, FP Captain Trevelino and Jr. FF JJ Evans, Truck and Rescue 63 are now NFPA compliant for reflective striping. Green Ridge decided to go with "Diamond Dots" as opposed to the traditional striping due to the amount of diamondplate on the rear of our apparatus.  Good job guys, the trucks look great.  When the new Engine 63 comes in, all of our apparatus will be compliant.

http://diamondiamonds.com/

FF Jim Ayers Jr. was sworn into today as a Deputy Sheriff with the Chester County Sheriff's Office. The officers and members would like to congratulate Jim and wish him well in his new career as a Chester County Sheriff. Jim is seen here pictured along with fellow Green Ridge Member Cpl. Colleen Joyce as his Mother, Paula holds the bible. Paula is also a member of GRFC.

At. 522pm the rescue assignment was dispatched to Brigewater and Concord Rds. for an accident. A/C Dawson (63-9B) arrived and reported one door needed to be popped with several injuries. Additional EMS units were dispatched which brought 72-7A and M45-7. Chief and Rescue 63 arrived and crews quickly popped the passenger door of one vehicle. 72-7A and M45-7 transported to Crozer. Fire crews secured the vehicles and applied oil dry before clearing the scene.

The officers and members would like to congratulate ATPD K-9 Officer/GRFC member Mikell Jones and his wife Jen on the birth of their first child, daughter McKenzie Grace Jones at 1231pm McKenzie weighed in at 8 lbs 3 oz and is 20 1/4 " long. Mom and baby McKenzie are home and doing well surrounded by Dad, Jax, Bear and Casper. Congrats also to member FF/EMT Scott Jones for becoming an uncle again. Good Luck!

Roof ventilation operations was the focus of this weeks fire drill. The hands on practical session was held at the former Kleen Kar Car Wash in the 3400 block of Concord Rd. The car wash is slated for demolition this week and the owners were very nice in allowing the department to train there prior to the demo. A/C Dawson and Lt. Repine led roof ventilation exercises using various saws like the Echo Quik-Vent, Cutter's Edge and the Wharthog and even the old fashioned axe cut. While the senior members were on the roof, Sgt. GD Pippin led the juniors down below in some overhaul techniques. Later on, a RIT scenario was performed involving a downed FF on the roof. The "downed" FF was placed in a stoked basket then secured to the aerial ladder and lowered safely to the ground. To conclude the drill, crews performed several trench cuts on the remaining roof area.  The crews had a good time and we'd like to thank the owners of the car wash for the donation.

 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives

1.     Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service relating to safety; incorporating leadership, management, supervision, accountability and personal responsibility.
2.     Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for health and safety throughout the fire service.
3.     Focus greater attention on the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning responsibilities.
4.     All firefighters must be empowered to stop unsafe practices.
5.     Develop and implement national standards for training, qualifications, and certification (including regular re-certification) that are equally applicable to all firefighters based on the duties they are expected to perform.
6.     Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties they are expected to perform.
7.     Create a national research agenda and data collection system that relates to the initiatives.
8.     Utilize available technology wherever it can produce higher levels of health and safety.
9.     Thoroughly investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries, and near misses.
10.   Grant programs should support the implementation of safe practices and/or mandate safe practices as an eligibility requirement.
11.   National standards for emergency response policies and procedures should be developed and championed.
12.   National protocols for response to violent incidents should be developed and championed.
13.   Firefighters and their families must have access to counseling and psychological support.
14.   Public education must receive more resources and be championed as a critical fire and life safety program.
15.   Advocacy must be strengthened for the enforcement of codes and the installation of home fire sprinklers.
16.   Safety must be a primary consideration in the design of apparatus and equipment.
 
Today members of the Aston Twp. Emergency Services hosted, The Courage to Be Safe………So Everyone Goes Home program presented by PA State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann. The Twp companies along with members from other Delco Fire, EMS and Police departments took the time to listen to Commissioner Mann passionately speak about the sixteen firefighter life safety initiatives (listed above)and give his personal experiences dealing with LODD’s in the State of PA and across the Country as Fire Commissioner . To start the day off Crozer Paramedic Bill Richards gave a short presentation on the 1978 Wade Dump fire in the City of Chester that has claimed and still continues to claim the lives of everyone who was at this toxic fire. After a few short breaks and a few emotional straight forward videos Commissioner Mann concluded the day with some closing remarks and words of encouragement to take personal responsibility for yourselves and your, “Brothers & Sisters” To Have the Courage To Be Safe So Everyone Goes Home because it’s not about you. We would  like to take this time to personally thank Commissioner Mann for taking time out of his busy schedule to come down to Delaware County and present this important program to us and to all of our sponsors and local businesses and elected officials for their support. We also appreciate the hospitality by Neumann University and for our Cover Companies Delaware City RE15 & Cornwell Tower 16 for covering while our member’s setup and attended the program today. Thanks again!

At 639pm, the township companies were dispatched to Dutton's Mill Rd. and Rosalie Ln. for an accident.  The accident turned out to be very minor and the fire units were held in station by A/C Dawson.  An hour later, the rescue assignment was again dispatched, this time to the 6000 block of Pennell Rd. for the accident with a vehicle overturned and a subject reported trapped. A/C Maffei (54-9B) and F/M Favinger (Upland Car 1) arrived and found one vehicle on its side with the driver still inside.  The young driver was able to kick the windshield out enough to allow her to self-extricate with the assistance of the men above. A/C Dawson (63-9B) and D/C Keiser (72-9A) scaled the assignment down to the rescues from 72 and 63 along with M72-7. The fire crews applied some oil dry and secured the vehicle's battery.

Just as the Rescue was clearing up from a no injury accident, Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Ed Mann arrived in town for the "Everyone Goes Home"  class on Sunday.  A/C Dawson escorted Commissioner Mann down to Sta. 72 for a welcoming dinner for he and members of both companies and some officials from Aston Twp. Everyone enjoyed a delicious spaghetti dinner.  Following dinner, Crozer Paramedic Bill Richards made a presentation on the Wade Dump fire in 1978.