August 2008

Afternoon motorcycle accident

August 31- Early this afternoon, the members were alerted to the intersection of Rt 162, and Telegraph Road for a motorcycle accident. Based on numerous reports, Assistant 39 (G. Fairweather) placed 2 helicopters on standby,  and upon his arrival, had both flown to the scene.  Additional units arrived to find a motorcycle down in the road under a Ford Explorer. Crews attended to the patients on the motorcycle, who were seriously injured. Eventually one patient was flown by Skycare to a local trauma center. Units cleared after about 3 hours.

Units on the assignment: Rescue 39, Engine 39-2, Engine 39-3, Chief 39, Utility 39,Traffic 52, Traffic 37, Ambulance 55-1, Ambulance 55-3, Medic 91-2, Medic 91-1, SkyFlight Care, Engine 51-1 (LZ), Brush 51

Early morning house fire

August 31- Early this morning the West Bradford Fire Company was dispatched to the 1600 block of Loretta Dr, in the Bradford Glen Development, for a reported dwelling fire. The first report came from the substation, as arriving crew radioed Chester County Fire Board that they had fire visible from the station. Based on that report the Working Fire Dipsatch was alerted, adding Minquas of Downingtown for their Rapid Intervention Team and Air truck. This supplemented the initial dispatch of WBFC, Thorndale and Minquas EMS.

Chief 39 arrived on location reporting a 2 story single family dwelling with heavy fire showing. After confirming that all the residents had been evacuated, the Chief assumed command and began assigning orders to incoming units.  Engine 39-3 arrived just after the Chief and initiated a blitz attack with the deck gun, knocking down the bulk of the visible fire and protecting the "B" side exposure. After some additional suppression and overhaul work by crews from 39, 38 and 46, the residence was turned over to Fire Marshals from Chester County and the Pennsylvania State Police. The cause is still under investigation. Units cleared after approximately 3 hours.

Special thanks to First West Chester and Alert of Downingtown fire companies for covering an accident call for us during the fire, and Kennett and Fame of West Chester fire companies for covering the local.

Units on the assignment: Engine 39-1, Engine 39-2 Engine 39-3, Command 39, Utility 39, Traffic 39, Rescue 38, Engine 38, Engine 46-2 (RIT), Air 46, Ambulance 46, Medic 46

WBFC Returns fire!!

August 29- Throughout the years fire companies have a history of practical joking.  Recently, while on a cover assignment at our substation, the members of Station 69 went to some great lengths to move the fire company boat into the lobby of our station, without the trailer. So, recently the members of West Bradford fired the initial shot of our response... changing a few letters on the sign outside the 69 "West" station.

For the uninitiated, these "jokes" are done in fun, and it is agreed on all sides that we NEVER do anything that could damage, or injure a member of another fire company, because even though we belong to different station, we are one brotherhood.

Units on the assignment: ????39 

Joint Rescue Training with Thorndale

August 2008- Recently the West Bradford Fire Company members were invited by the officers of Thorndale to participate in joint vehicle rescue training.  The training took place on Wednesday nights during the month of August, and will finish with classroom sessions in September. The members of West Bradford would like to thank the members of Thorndale, both for the opportunity to train together, and for the hospitality they have shown throughout the class.

(picture stolen from Vinniemiller.com)

Units attending: Rescue 39, Engine 39-3, Utility 39, Rescue 38, Engine 38, Squad 38, Traffic 38

Early morning auto accident in Twin Valley

August 24- Just before clearing the standby at Twin Valley West, Rescue Engine 39-3 was dispatched to Rt 23 in the area of Warwick Furnace Road for an auto accident with a vehicle on it's side. Engine 39-3 responded immediately with Rescue 69 just behind, and arrived several minutes later to find a pickup truck on its side off the road. The driver had self extricated. Units remained on location while PSP did a brief investigation, then cleared after about an hour.

Units on the assignment: Rescue 69, Engine "69-3" (39-3), Chief 69, Squad 69-2, 69 Fire Police, Ambulance 89-2

Rescue Engine stands by at Twin Valley West

August 23- Tonight Rescue Engine 39-3 made the trek up north to assist our brothers at the Twin Valley Fire Department. Twin Valley Captain Corey Hostetler requested that West Bradford cover their station due to one of the brothers getting married. The engine with a crew of 6 is on standby from 1800 until 0200 on the 24th.  A long standing tradition has been broken as Engine 39-3 received a run to the turnpike with Chauffer Pat Finucane at the wheel, breaking his "no calls on covers" streak.

Unit on the assignment: Engine 39-3

(photo courtesy of P. Finucane)

3 Alarm House Fire

August 19- Just after being dispatched to relocate an Engine to Station 46 (Minquas), Engine 39-3 was assigned to respond to the scene of a 3 alarm house fire in the Borough. The mid-morning fire put a strain on manpower and the additional units were called to supplement the units on the scene.  After operating at various tasks, Enigne 39-3's crew cleared after about 90 min.

Units on the assist: Engine 39-3

Chester County Assists Montgomery County

August 14- On the evening of August 13th, some of the Chester County Fire Chiefs were contacted by the Department of Emergency Services about assisting Montgomery County with a large fire in Conschohcken Borough.  The members were deployed just after 4 am on the 14th for what turned out to be a 7 hour assignment. 3 members from West Bradford made the response on Utility 39 with 40 other Chester County First Responders. Units returned to Chester County just about 1300 on the 14th.

Units on the assist: Utility 39, Rescue 33, Rescue 53, Tower 28, Engine 25-1 (with crew from 25, 36 and 24), Engine 21-2, Squad 45, Squad 46

Auto Accident Training

August 6- After clearing the house fire with Station 38, Engine 39-3, Rescue 39 and Command 39 traveled up Rt 322 to Sanners Towing for some joint vehicle rescue training with Thorndale. Crews went over vehicle stabilization, the use of Thorndale's "Junk Yard Dog" rescue struts, and various techniques for patient removal.

Units on location: Rescue 39, Engine 39-3, Utility 39, Command 39, Engine 38, Rescue 38, Traffic 38

Evening House Fire

August 6- While awaiting the start of some joint training with Station 38 (Thorndale), the companies were dispatched to the 5000 block of Deer Dr, in Caln for a dwelling fire. Making the response from Thorndale's station, apparatus from both 38 and 39 were on the scene in minutes. Rapidly determining the incident to be a "pot on the stove". Crews spent a few minutes performing venting the house, then returned to the training assignment. Assistant 38 had command and Chief 39 had the CP.

Units on location: Rescue 39, Engine 39-3, Command 39, Engine 38, Rescue 38, Assistant 38 (Carbo), Ambulance 46

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