Hermitage Fire Department

City of Hermitage Holiday Light Up Parade

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

November 23, 2009

Another year of hard work and preparation came to an exciting end with our third FIRST PLACE win in as many years.  A small group of dedicated Department members worked tirelessly for several days to bring our musical light show to life.  This annual parade, organized and hosted by the City of Hermitage, brings over 15,000 people to the center of the City to enjoy the floats, bands, and other marching groups ringing in the holiday season with varying displays of lights and music.  We were excited to learn that we had pulled in another win this year with our musical light show.

Motor Vehicle Fire

By Firefighter Eric Trosch

November 20, 2009

At about 7:20am, the Department was alerted for a possible school bus on fire near Station #3.  Dep. Fire Marshal 130 and Mini-Rescue 631 responded within one minute of dispatch.  Units arrived on scene to find a school bus with a minor oil leak and no fire.  Units worked on scene for about 30 minutes to clean up the small amount of spilled oil.  The bus was removed without incident.

Units: DFM130, Mini-Rescue 631

Vehicle Fire

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

November 10, 2009

At 3:30pm, the Department was alerted for a vehicle fire at a business near the center of town.  The vehicle was reported to be smoking from the dsahboard.  Fire Marshal 110 was in the area when the call was dispatched and arrived on scene within 30 seconds.  Arriving on scene, FM110 encountered a fully involved vehicle fire.  Engine 611 responded to extinguish the blaze.  Crews worked for about five minutes to bring the intense fire under control and remained on scene for about twenty minutes while the vehicle was removed.

Units: FM110, Engine 611

Motor Vehicle Accident with Entrapment

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

October 27, 2009

Just after 11:30am, the Department was requested by EMS to the scene of a six-car crash on N. Hermitage Road.  EMS requested the Department to extricate one of the drivers involved in the accident from his vehicle.  Fire Marshal 110 and Rescue 112 quickly called enroute and arrived on scene within minutes.  Crews worked for about ten minutes to safely extricate the injured person, allowing EMS to transport the victim for treatment.  Units remained on scene for about twenty minutes while the wreckage was cleared from the roadway.

Units: FM110, Rescue 112

Structure Fire

By Firefighter Jon Pass

October 11, 2009

Just before 9:30pm, the Department, along with Police and EMS, were alerted for a structure fire in the area of Mercer Ave. and Rombold Rd.  Initial dispatch information advised that smoke and flames were visible through the roof of the building.  Within one minute of Dispatch, Dep. Fire Marshal 130 acknowledged the call and reported enroute.  FM110, Engine 611, Tender 914, Rescue Engine 321, Engine 411, Engine 531, and Rescue 112 reported enroute shortly after.  Arriving first on scene, Lt. 170 advised of a single family dwelling with a working fire - smoke and flames visible through the roof.  As units arrived on scene, fire fighters worked to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible.  Command declared the fire "under-control" about twenty minutes into the operation.  Crews worked on scene for about two hours completing extensive overhaul of the structure.

Units: DFM130, FM110, Engine 611, Tender 914, Rescue Engine 321, Engine 411, Engine 531, and Rescue 112

Chimney Fire

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

September 27, 2009

At about 7:30pm, the Department, along with Police, and EMS, were alerted to a chimney fire in the eastern area of the City.  Fire Marshal 110 and Engine 611 responded within one minute of the initial dispatch.  Dep. Fire Marshal 130, Tender 914, and Engine 611 followed shortly after.  Captain 180 was the first to arrive on scene and advised that an aerial would be needed to access the fire.

**Information is incomplete at this time...

Annual Pump Testing and Certification

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

September 3, 2009

September 10, 2009

September 17, 2009

Each year, the Department conducts a pump test and certification for each of our front-line apparatus.  This involves putting the engine and pump "through its paces" to be sure that it can perform as intended.  This testing is conducted in-house by our Department mechanic - who also happens to be one of our Deputy Chiefs.  This is a long process, with seven engines/aerials/tenders to test and certify, taking place during several consecutive Thursday-night weekly training sessions.

Mid-Afternoon Pin Job

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

September 17, 2009

Just after 2pm, the Department, along with Police and EMS, were alerted to a motor vehicle accident with entrapment - one victim unconscious - on East State Street.  Fire Marshal 110 was in the area at the time of the call and quickly arrived on scene.  He advised of a two vehicle collision with moderate damage and one person entrapped.  Rescue 112, Mini-Rescue 631, Rescue Engine 321, and Haz-Mat 712 responded within three minutes.  Rescue 112 arrived on scene first and began the extrication.  As other units arrived, crews worked to removed the driver's side doors of the vehicle to remove the patient.  EMS transported the injured patient to the hospital after a ten-minute extrication.  Crews remained on scene for about 45 minutes.

Units: FM110, Rescue 112, Mini-Rescue 631, Rescue Engine 321, Haz-Mat 712

Labor Day/Buhl Day Parade

By Firefighter Jon Pass

September 7, 2009

On this cloudy Labor Day morning, over 25 Hermitage fire fighters set out to recognize the Labor Day holiday.  The Department entered seven pieces of apparatus into the parade lineup.  Thousands os onlookers were present to see the parade and celebrate the important holiday.  After the parade, celebrants enjoyed the annual Buhl Day celebration in the Buhl Farm Park.  Many organizations are on hand selling food, drinks, and other items to the crowds.

Electrical Fire

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

August 18, 2009

About 2pm, Mercer County Dispatch alerted the Department, along with Police, and EMS, to a possible structure fire in the southern area of the City.  Initial information advised of a home that was filling with black smoke with the smell of electrical wires burning present.  The occupants of the home were evacuating at the time of dispatch.  Fire Marshal 110, Engine 611, and Engine 411 responded within one minute of dispatch and arrived on scene shortly after.  Crews isolated the problem to a faulty electrical socket in the home that had burned up after getting wet.  Crews secured the damaged outlet and cleared the scene within 30 minutes.

Units: FM110, Engine 611, Engine 411

Trash Fire

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

August 4, 2009

Just after 11:30pm, the Department was alerted to a dumpster on fire in the Shenango Park Apartment complex. Fire Marshal 110, Dep. Fire Marshal 130, Engine 611, and Mini-Rescue 631 responded within two minutes of dispatch.  Units worked on scene for about 15 minutes to extinguish the fire.

Units: FM110, DFM130, Engine 611, Mini-Rescue 631

Deja-vu Motor Vehicle Accident

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

July 29, 2009

During the afternoon rush, the Department, along with Hermitage Police, and EMS, were alerted to a two vehicle crash with entrapment at the intersection of East State St. & Keel Ridge Rd.  Fire Marshal 110 and Rescue 112 responded and arrived on scene about three minutes after the initial dispatch.  Crews worked to extricate the driver of one of the vehicles.  The injured parties were transported to local hospitals after successful extrication.  Crews worked on scene for about 30 minutes before clearing.

Units: FM110, Rescue 112

Motor Vehicle Accident

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

July 28, 2009

During the mid-day rush, the Department, along with Hermitage Police, were alerted to a two vehicle crash with entrapment at the intersection of East State St. & Keel Ridge Rd.  Initially, no injuries were reported.  Fire Marshal 110, Rescue 112, and Mini-Rescue 631 responded and arrived on scene about three minutes after the initial dispatch.  Enroute, Mercer County Dispatch advised responding units that a local firefighter was on scene reporting one person entrapped and three persons injured.  Units arrived on scene and confirmed this size up.  While one crew worked to extricate one patient, other crews worked to treat minor injuries in the other two parties.  EMS arrived on scene shortly after and transported the victims to the hospital.  Crews worked on scene for about 45 minutes before clearing.

Units: FM110, Rescue 112, Mini-Rescue 631

Motor Vehicle Accident

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

July 26, 2009

Around dinner time, the Department, along with Hermitage Police, and EMS were alerted to a rollover vehicle crash with reported entrapment on the Shenango Valley Freeway.  The initial dispatch information reported a single vehicle, rolled over, and resting against a tree - one person was reported entrapped.  Dep. Fire Marshal 130, Mini-Rescue 631, and Rescue 112 reported enrote within two minutes of dispatch.  About this time, Mercer County Dispatch provided updated information from PD that all occupants were out of the vehicle.  Units arrived on scene seconds later and confirmed this report.  While one crew worked to direct traffic around the scene, another crew removed two small trees that had been uprooted be the car to allow the towing service to remove the vehicle.  Units worked on scene for about one hour before clearing.

Units: DFM130, Mini-Rescue 631, Rescue 112

QRS Response - Helicopter Landing Zone

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

July 15, 2009

Just after 8:30pm, Mercer County Dispatch alerted the Department to respond to set up a landing zone for a burn patient.  Within one minute of dispatch, Mini-Rescue 631, Dep. Fire Marshal 130, and Captain 180 responded.  Units arrived on scene just after the ambulance.  While the ambulance was stabilizing the patient, fire department personnel worked to establish a suitable landing zone for the medical helicopter.  The aircraft landed safely about ten minutes after the fire department's arrival.  The patient was transferred to the helicopter and transported without incident.

Units: FM110, DFM130, Mini-Rescue 631

Mulch Fire

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

July 10, 2009

Just as units were clearing a burning complaint, the Department was alerted for an area of mulch on fire at a local business on N. Hermitage Road.  Immediately after dispatch, Fire Marshal 110 and Engine 531 responded.  Units arrived on scene to find about 50 suare feet of mulch burning, and worked to extinguish the fire.  Crews worked on scene for about ten minutes before clearing the scene.

Units: FM110, Engine 531

Structure Fire

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy/Michael Lechner

July 4, 2009

Just after 10:30pm, the Department was alerted to a house fire in the City.  Dispatch advised of a fireworks accident that had caused a fire in the basement of the home.  Fire Marshal 110 and Dep. Fire Marshal 130 responded within one minute of dispatch.  Tender 914, Engine 411, and Engine 611 also responded.  The Hermitage Police Department arrived on scene before any fire department units and confirmed a working basement fire with one person seriously injured. At this time, DFM130 requested Clark VFD to respond to the scene with a tanker due to the lack of fire hydrants in the area.  Captain 180 arrived on scene to confirm the PD's size-up, and immediately requested a medical helicopter for the injured person.  After the ambulance personnel treated and transported the injured person to the helicopter, crews began to knock down the fire.  Crews worked on scene for about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.  The last unit cleared the scene at about 3:00am July 5, 2009.

Units: FM110, DFM130, Tender 914, Engine 411, Engine 611

Unknown Electrical Problem - Joint Response with WMVFD

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

June 28, 2009

Just after midnight, Mercer County Dispatch alerted us for an unknown electrical problem in a residence in the Lackawannock Township area.  A caller reported the lights in the garage were flashing and flickering - the caller was just a passerby, but thought someone should check it.  With our initial dispatch, we were advised that West Middlesex Vol. Fire Department already had a unit enroute.  Fire Marshal 110 advised the Department to standby unless requested by WMVFD.  The Hermitage Fire Department was cleared by WMVFD after they checked the home.

Units: None

Mutual Aid: West Middlesex Vol. Fire Department

Motor Vehicle Fire

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

June 25, 2009

At about 2:30pm, the Department was alerted for a motor vehicle fire at a business on Quality Lane.  Initial dispatch information advised of a tractor-trailer rig on fire.  The fire was in the cab and had not extended to the trailer, which was hauling steel.  Fire Marshal 110 and Tender 914 responded within one minute of dispatch.  Enroute, a large plume of black smoke was visible in the area of the fire.  At this time, FM110 asked Farrell Fire Department to respond with an engine to assist and another Hermitage engine to respond.  Hermitage units arrived on scene to find a Farrell firefighters in the process of knocking down the fully-involved vehicle.  Hermitage crews worked with Farrell's crew to finish the knockdown and overhaul the scene.  The fire was successfully contained to the tractor portion and extention to the trailer was prevented.  Crews worked on scene for about two hours.

Units: FM110, Tender 914, Engine 611

Mutual Aid: Farrell Fire Department: Engine 98-1 and Engine 98-2

Image from www.sharon-herald.com. Taken by David E. Dale/Herald

Animal Rescue

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

June 18, 2009

Just as crews were clearing the gas leak, we were advised by Station #1 of an animal rescue in progress on North Hermitage Road.  Units responded to the area to find a City of Hermitage Street Department crew and Hermitage Police working to rescue two ducks that had fallen into the storm drain.  After working for about thirty minutes, crews were able to coerce the ducks into the cath basin, where they were scooped up with a net.

Units: FM110, Engine 611, Utility 612

Mutual Aid: City of Hermitage Street Department

Nautral Gas Leak

By Firefighter Michael Lechner

June 18, 2009

Just before 9:00am, the Department was alerted to a natural gas leak in the 3000 block of South Keel Ridge Road.  Engine 611, Fire Marshal 110, and Captain 180 responded to the area.  Captain 180, arriving in the area first, notified incoming units that there was no leak in this area.  Fire Marshal 110, in confirming the location with Dispatch, realized that the call was actually in the 800 block of North Keel Ridge Road, at a construction site.  Units responded to this area, and arrived on scene to find a large gas main actively leaking under a creek.  The main had been hit by an excavator.  Units stood by until the gas company could secure the leak.  Units stood by for about two hours.

Units: FM110, Engine 611

Motor Vehicle Fire

By Firefighter Steve Erdesky

June 14, 2009

Shortly before 2pm, the Department was alerted for a motor vehicle fire at a business of E. State Street.  Within one minute, Dep. Fire Marshal 130 called enroute.  Mini-Rescue Engine 631 and Engine 611 responded, both with short ETAs.  Units arrived on scene to find a single vehicle on fire in the parking lot, with the police on scene attempting to knock the fire down with extinguishers.  Units worked on scene for about thirty minutes before returning to service.

Units: DFM130, Mini Rescue Engine 631, Engine 611

Automatic Fire Alarm

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

June 12, 2009

At 5pm, the Department was alerted to a fire alarm near our Central Fire Station.  Dispatch advised they had recieved no answer upon calling the residence.  Fire Marshal 110 and Engine 611 responded.  On scene, units called back a single story residence with nothing showing.  Upon further investigation, FM110 determined the alarm to be false, caused by unattended cooking in the home.  Units cleared the scene after about fifteen minutes.

Units: FM110, Engine 611

Motor Vehicle Accident - Spilled Fluids

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

June 10, 2009

Just after one o'clock in the afternoon, the Hermitage Fire Department was requested by the Hermitage Police Department to a motor vehicle accident with fluids spilled on the roadway.  Fire Marshal 110 and Haz-Mat 712 responded within one minute of dispatch.  Arriving on scene, units encountered a two-vehicle accident in the middle of E. State Street, causing a major traffic hazard.  Crews placed absorbent material on a small radiator fluid spill under one of the vehicles.  Personnel assisted with traffic control until the vehicles could be removed from the roadway and traffic flow restored.

Units: FM110, DFM130, Haz-Mat 712

Dumpster Fires

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

May 24, 2009

At about 4:30am, the Hermitage Fire Department was dispatched for a reported dumpster fire in the Shenango Park Apartments complex.  At this time, Dispatch advised that a single dumpster was burning near the entrance of the complex.  About one minute later, Dispatch reported that two dumpsters were now on fire.  Dep. Fire Marshal 130, Lt. 170, Engine 611, and Rescue 631 responded within three minutes.  Units arrived on scene to find two dumpsters involved with fire.  Crews worked on scene for about one hour to control and extinguish the fires.

Units: DFM130, Lt. 170, Engine 611, Rescue 631

Residential Structure Fire

Assist Ambulance - Landing Zone Setup

By Firefighter Jon Pass

May 15, 2009

At about noon, the Hermitage Fire Department was dispatched to assist a local ambulance company with securing a landing zone for Stat MedEvac helicopter.  Fire Marshal 110, Engine 611, Engine 321, and Rescue 112 responded within minutes of dispatch.  Units arrived on scene, secured a landing zone, and awaited the arrival of the aircraft.  The aircraft landed safely and the patient was loaded and secured.  Units worked on scene for about 30 minutes before clearing.

Residential Structure Fire

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

April 14, 2009

At approximately 9:45pm, the Hermitage Fire Department, along with EMS, were alerted to a structure fire near our Station #1.  Dispatch advised the caller reported the porch on fire outside the residence and all occupants were advised to evacuate the building.  Within one minute of dispatch, Fire Marshal 110, Dep. Fire Marshal 130, and Engine 611 responded.  Further information from Dispatch reported that the resident was working to extinguish the fire and it was believed that no fire had extended into the building.  Fire Marshal 110 arrived on scene first and sized up a single story residence with a small fire on the porch.  Engine 611 was advised to respond under caution and all other responding units were advised to stand down.  The engine crew extinguished the fire and cleared the scene within 45 minutes.

Units: FM110, DFM130, Engine 611

Residential Structure Fire

By Firefighter Joseph Radachy

April 14, 2009

Just after 8pm, the Hermitage Fire Department, along with EMS, were alerted to a kitchen fire near our Station #3.  Dispatch advised the caller reported the stove on fire inside the residence and all occupants were advised to evacuate the building.  Within one minute of dispatch, Fire Marshal 110, Dep. Fire Marshal 130, and Engine 411 responded.  Engine 611 followed shortly after.  Further information from Dispatch reported that the resident had extinguished the fire.  The police unit, arriving on scene first, confirmed the reports that the fire was out.  As Engine 411 arrived on scene, they sized-up a single story residence with nothing showing.  Engine 611 was asked to stage at this time.  After confirming that the fire was out, Dep. Fire Marshal 130 and Fire Marshal 110 spoke with the homeowner and units cleared the scene.  Units worked on scene for about 15 minutes.

Units: FM110, DFM130, Engine 411, Engine 611

Residential Structure Fire- Lackawannock Twp.

By Firefighter Michael Lechner

April 6, 2009

At around 4:00pm, the Hermitage Fire Department was alerted to a residential structure fire in Lackawannock Twp. Within one minute of dispatch Fire Marshal110,Tanker 914 and Engine 721 marked enroute.  Fire personel arrived on scene and advised incoming units that there was a small fire at the rear of the house on the exterior. Units arrived on scene and extinguished the fire.  Personel then began overhual/removing the siding from the house. Firefighters also checked the interior of the house for any extension. Fire units were on scene for about an hour before clearing.

Units: FM110, Tanker 914, Enigine 721