refton59fire.com Structure Fire in the First Due

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - Last Evening, just after 18:00 hours and minutes before the Refton Voluteers were to begin the first night of the Emergency Responder Class, the Box Alarm for a reported structure fire at Beiler Engine Service, 280 Pennsy Road in Providence Twp was struck. Company 5-9 as well as numerous other Fire and EMS Agencies were alerted to the reported Structure Fire Response. Company 5-9 Apparatus were enroute within minutes and were advised by LCWC of multiple calls of a fully involved fire. Chief 5-9-2 (Hicks) was the first on scene with a size-up of a commercial structure with heavy smoke and fire showing and established the Pennsy Road Command.

RescueEngine 5-9-1 (Adsitt) was the first fire unit on scene and immediately deployed all 2 1/2" Crosslays and started exterior fire suppression operations. Tanker 5-9 (Glessner) was the next unit on scene and started nurse tanker operations to the Beaver Valley Rescue Company. Engine 5-9-2 (McFadden) laid in with 5" LDH to be supplied by incoming apparatus and pulled off the preconnected crosslays and started exterior fire suppression operations on the Alpha/Charlie/Delta Side. Squad 5-9 (Smucker) assisted with the exterior fire suppression operations. Engine 5-9-5 (Hammel) set up a draft site for the Tankers at the Krantz Mill Road Bridge (Approx One Mile from the Scene). Truck 5-12 set up master stream operations on the Alpha Side between Engine 5-9-1 and Engine 5-9-2. Units from 5-11 (West Willow) and 5-8 (Rawlinsville) set up draft sites at the Fisher Farm next to the Incident and at the Hollinger Pond approx a half mile from the incident. Numerous other departments were dispatched for personnel and Tankers to set up a water supply relay until a constant water supply could be established.

A few hours into the incident, it was determined that because of the water run-off due to the chemicals that were inside the fire building, a phone call to the Haz-Mat Duty Officer should be made. After the phone call was made, it was determined that the Haz-Mat Team should be dispatched to the scene. Deputy 2-9 (Brill), Haz-Mat 2-9-2 and Squad 2-9-2 made the response and once on scene set up absorbant booms to the Charlie Side of the structure as well as in the neighboring creek to help filter out any possible chemicals. They also performed tests to the water to determine exactly if there were any chemicals in the water.

The incident was placed under control at 20:48 Hours and last units cleared the scene at 00:36 Minutes.

Thanks to all Companies that assisted the Refton Volunteers that evening. Special Thanks to Engine 5-10-2 (Strasburg) and Tanker 4-3 (Gordonville) for standing by in our station while we were operating at the Structure Fire and for helping us clean, repack hose and get our apparatus back in service after the Incident.

Refton Units on Scene: Chief 5-9-2, RescueEngine 5-9-1, Engine 5-9-2, Engine 5-9-5, Tanker 5-9 and Squad 5-9

Assisting Companies: Air 4-8, Deputy 2-9, Engine 5-11-1, Engine 5-12-1, Engine 5-12-2, Engine 5-7-4, Engine 5-8-1, Engine 5-8-2, Firepolice 5-10, Firepolice 5-4, Haz-Mat 2-9-2, Rescue 5-12, Squad 2-9-2, Squad 5-11, Squad 5-12-1, Squad 5-12-2, Tanker 4-10, Tanker 5-1-1, Tanker 5-1-2, Tanker 5-10, Tanker 5-11, Tanker 5-13, Tanker 5-2-2, Tanker 5-3, Tanker 5-5, Tanker 5-6, Tanker 5-7, Tanker 5-8, Tanker 903, Tanker 905, Truck 5-12, PSP Fire Marshall, DEP

EMS Units on Scene: Ambulance 5-9-1, Medic 7-7-8, Medic 7-7-9

Thanks also to Tom Amico for the Photos.