Newsletter

PASSING OF ABFC LIFE MEMBER & FRIEND

Ron aboard Truck 63 on the way to the       Autism Walk at Citizens Bank Park last       September Saturday, August 28, 2010  The officers and members would like to send our sincere condolences to the Aston-Beechwood Fire Co and the Jones Family on their loss of a wonderful man today. Former President and Life Member Ron Jones passed away after battling liver cancer for the past several months. Ron was a Veteran of both the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars. He was recently honored at the state capital building by the House of Representatives and was also named Aston Township Citizen of Year 2010.  Ron and his wife, Cathy, also raised 8 children, all of whom have been involved in the fire service at one time or another, including Green Ridge FF Scott Jones. Thank you, Ron, for your 24 years of dedicated active service to Aston Twp and to our country. You will be deeply missed. Please keep Ron's wife Cathy and the entire Jones family in your thoughts and prayers.  FUNERAL INFORMATION: VIEWING:Thursday Sept. 2nd 6p-9p and Friday Sept. 3rd 9a-10a SERVICE: Friday, Sept. 3rd at 10am. Both the viewing and service will be at Minshall-Shropshire Funeral Home, Rte. 352 and Knowlton Rd. Middletown Twp. A fire department procession will then proceed to Aston-Beechwood Fire Co.

RIT ARRIVES 1ST DUE IN TRAINER

Saturday, August 28, 2010  This afternoon as the crews were cleaning up from the Herre Fun Day at the station the street assignment was put out for the 3500 Block of Post Rd in Trainer for the building fire reported in the kitchen. Chief 61 J. Smith advised fire board he had a working kitchen fire with possible extension into Division two. Rescue 63 arrived 1st and assumed the 1st due special services followed by RE39 who stretched a line to the kitchen and secured a water source. The crew from R63 threw ground ladders and set up for RIT. The fire was knocked and negative extension was found. The call was scaled back to Co. 68 for the investigation. 63 units worked under the command of D/C M. Evans. Assistant Chief 68 A Brooks had the Post Rd Command.

STORMS ROLL THROUGH THE AREA

Sunday, August 22, 2010  As the crews were finishing cleaning up from the fire in Toby Farms this morning the Engine Co was disptached to the 100 block of Richard Rd for a transformer. The Engine found a transformer on fire and nofified PECO to make the response. The Engine returned to service.

After the lunchtime hour was coming to an end a severe thunderstorm and tornado warning began to come in as severe weather was rolling into the area. As the heavy rain and thunder and lightening began to hit the calls started to come in for fire alarms and building fires due to the lightening strikes. After it was all said and done the Company responded to several fire alarms, building fires, a septa bus fire, water rescue and wires calls. The Company ran 13 runs for the day and had staffing for the entire station.

RIT HEADS TO "THE FARMS"

Sunday, August 22, 2010  Just after 5:30am the street assignment was dispatched to the "Toby Farms" section of Chester Township for a house fire. Chief 47-9 arrived first and had a 2 story MOR with fire showing from the 1st floor on side "C". Rescue 63 (A/C Schmid) was the 3rd arriving piece and assumed its preassigned task as the RIT team, throwing ladders and doing a 360. Once the 2nd RIT team arrived, the Rescue was placed in service as the 1st due special service. The crew split pulling a backup line and performing a search and opening up the fire building while the crew from the Utility (D/C Evans) were checking for extension on the "D" side exposure. The Company was available at 730. Thanks for Keith Butler for the Picture and Video.

"Charlie" Side of the Dwelling.

GRFC SUMMER LUAU

Saturday, August 21, 2010  The fire company held a summer luau fundraiser today. Members and their families and members of the community came out to support this event. In all the event wasn't  as successful as hoped but everyone that came out had a great time an enjoyed roasted pig and other foods. Thank you to everyone for their wupport and to all the members who made this event possible. Also thank you to local businesses for their donations for this event. Tower 61 and Engine 42 covered during the event. The covers ran a working kitchen fire on Erving Ave in Lower Chichester. T61 arrived first and E42 laid a supply line into the scene. Thanks for the coverage. 

HAPPY 30TH MIKEY

Friday, August 20, 2010  Happy Birthday wishes go out to D/C Mike Evans who turned 30 last month.  His wife Krissy held a surprise party tonight at their home and many of the members were there to celebrate.  Mike was at the firehouse most of the day setting up for tomorrow's luau and arrived home dirty and sweaty. To his surprise there was a large group of people on his lawn to welcome him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!  Thank you to Krissy for having everyone over!!

ALLOY SURFACES AGAIN

Friday, August 20, 2010  As many members were settling in at D/C Evans' birthday party, the pagers went off at 830pm for a building fire at Alloy Surfaces on Commerce Dr. in Chester Twp. Truck and Engine 63 were out the door together in a few minutes and arrived first due. Crews split with some going interior and some heading to the roof. Rescue 63 was also not far behind and sent their crew to the roof. Engine 63 also laid 300ft of 5 inch into Eng. 47. The roof crews found fire venting from around a vent stack. The interior crew was met with a heavy smoke condition. The roof guys opened up the area around the stack and extinguished the fire via a handline from Tower 61. The fire was placed under control by Alloy Surface Command, 47-9. Cos. were on scene for about an hour and included: 47, 63, 52, 57, 61, RITs 39 and 23. Chief Herre (63-9) had the roof sector.

DRILL NIGHT

Wednesday, August 18, 2010  Tonight for drill the members did something a little different from our normal routine training. We gathered up at the station and headed over to Northley Middle School's gym for a little game of Dodge ball and a game of kickball. The members got to enjoy some old school fun all while getting in some exercise. The training committee is incorporating physical fitness and healthy activities into our training program. Thank you Assist Chief K. Dawson for setting drill up and to Penn Delco School District for allowing the use of their gym.

TRUCK COVER TO NCC

Wednesday, August 18, 2010  Just before 0530 hours the Truck was requested to cover Brandywine Hundred in NCC while they worked a building fire. The Truck covered with Parkside E45 for a few hours and helped restore some equipment before being released.

2ND ALARM IN MARCUS HOOK

Tuesday, August 17, 2010  Around 1 a.m. RIT 63 was dispatched to assist the Marcus Hook Trainer Fire Co.(68) on the building fire in the hundred block of E. 9th Street. The response called for Companies 68(MHTFD), 39(Lower Chi), Rescue 40 (Boothwyn), Tower 61(Reliance), RIT 63 and Medic 100-7. Chief 68 (J.McClure) as well as Ladder 68 arrived 1st with "Fire Showing" on the "C" side, Divisions 1 & 2 of a partially vacant large twin. The Chief established the 9th Street Command while Ladder 68 went in service, Rescue 39 laid into the ladder, Rescue 40's crew started a primary search of the exposure building. Rescue 63 (Capt. Durbano) then arrived and assumed its preassigned task as the RIT team, throwing ladders and doing a 360. Once the 2nd RIT team arrived (Rescue 45), the Rescue was placed in service as the 1st due special service. The crew from U63 (A/C Dawson) pulled a primary attack line into the "B" exposure and began opening up division 3 to suppress the fire that was spreading across from the fire building's attic area. R63's crew then began to open up division 2 and pulled a back up line into the exposure to assist U63's crew. Due to the fire conditions a second alarm was struck which brought Engine 14(Swarthmore), Engine 12(Eddystone), Ladder 65(Garden City), and Telesqurt 50(Middletown) was also called into the scene to assist. Shortly after the 2nd alarm units arrived crews were evacuated from the building and all suppression attempts became defensive. Rescue 63 then remained on scene to fill air bottles until Air Unit 48 arrived on scene and took over. Co 63 then returned to service. Thanks to Engine 20(Garrettford Drexel) and Truck 19 (Lansdowne) for covering while units operated on the scene.
 
Later in the afternoon the Engine responded to Dutton Mill Rd for a rubbish fire. E63 placed the booster line in service for a mattress on fire against a PECO pole. PECO was notified and the Engine returned.