Mutual Aid Structure Fire
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
July 21, 2010
About 4pm, the Department was alerted to assist South Pymatuning VFD with a structure fire on Anchorage Road in their coverage area. Water supply was requested to respond to the scene along with additional manpower due to extreme heat. Tender 914 and Heavy Rescue 112 responded within two minutes to answer the call. Arriving on scene, Tender 914 was assigned as a water supply unit to Engine 78 (South Py VFD engine) while the crew was sent to replace tiring interior attack crews. The crew from Rescue 112 was assigned a similar attack position. Crews worked on scene in various capacities for about one hour before clearing the scene.
Units: DFM130, Tender 914, Rescue 112
Structure Fire
By Firefighter Jon Pass
July 18, 2010
Just before 5pm, the Department, along with EMS, was alerted to a garage fire near the western border of the City. Dispatch reported a grill on fire inside an attached garage. Units responded and arrived on scene to find that the fire had been extinguished by the homeowner prior to arrival. Units worked on scene assisting the owner with minor cleanup, then cleared without incident.
Department Receives New Apparatus
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
This week, the Department received two new pieces of apparatus. The wildland interface engine and the brush unit will serve the Department well and allow the Department to better serve the City of Hermitage. The Department wishes to thank all of the citizens and businesses who donate to our annual Truck Fund Drive - making purchases like this possible!
Click here for photos.
Vehicle Crash with Entrapment
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
June 7, 2010
Hermitage Police and the responding EMS agency, after arriving on scene, determined the need for extrication of one of the occupants. Fire Marshal 110 and Rescue 112 responded initially, with Mini-Rescue 631, and Haz-Mat 712 finishing out the assignment. Crews worked on scene to remove the driver's door of the vehicle and extricate the uninjured patient. Crews assisted recovery services with cleanup of the roadway and cleared shortly after. Units remained on scene for about a half an hour.
Another Structure Fire
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
May 14, 2010
Only 18 hours from the last fire, crews were alerted to a building fire in the southern area of the City. Dep. Fire Marshal 130, Engine 611, Tender 914, Engine 411, and Engine 321 responded to the scene. Crews found and extinguished a small fire in the building and cleared the area of all residual smoke. Crews worked on scene for about two hours before returning the last unit to service.
Structure Fire
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
May 14, 2010
An early morning page awoke the crews for a structure fire near the southwestern border of the City. Dispatch reported flames visible throught the front windows of the home. Dep. Fire Marshal 130 acknowledged the call and asked for mututal aid from Farrell FD due to the location of the fire and the initial reports. Engine 611, Tender 914, Engine 411, Rescue Engine 321, and Heavy Rescue 112 responded to the scene. Crews extinguished the fire in the home and worked to overhaul. Crews worked on scene for about two hours before returning the last unit to service.
Strong Storm...Again
By Firefighter Jason Henderson
May 11, 2010
A strong storm that moved through the area about 10:30pm brought down a large tree on a house in the eastern area of the City. Dep. Fire Marshal 130, Fire Marshal 110, and Brush 313 responded to check the damage. Crews located minor damage to the home and determined that no other problems existed. Crews cleared shortly after.
Strong Storms Bring Several Calls
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
May 8, 2010
Just before midnight, after a strong thunderstorm had passed through the area, standby crews from Station #1 were called for a structure fire on the south end of the City. Dispatch reported that the caller believed the house had been hit by lightning and she could smell smoke in the home. Engine 611, Tender 914, and Dep. Fire Marshal 130 responded to the scene. On scene, crews isolated the problem and determined that no fire risk existed. Crews cleared the scene shortly after.
As units were returning, the Department was advised of a tree that had fallen on a house in the southern area of the City. Engine 611 responded to check the damage. Crews found that a large tree had fallen onto a mobile home, causing minimal damage. The occupant was located and her safety was confirmed. Crews cleared the scene shortly after. Other crews also handled a call of wires down on Neshannock Road during this time.
Later that morning, the Department was alerted for the smell of natural gas on South Keel Ridge Road near Neshannock. Crews responded to check the area and found that a tree had fallen and damaged a gas meter outside of a home. Crews controlled the flow of natural gas, notified the homeowner, and cleared the scene.
Fire Fighter Certification Test
By Firefighter Michael Lechner
May 1, 2010
Fire fighters from all over western Pennsylvania came to the Hermitage training grounds to complete their Fire Fighter I practical examination. The certification includes successful completion of several prerequisites, a written test, and a practical examination. The certification process is entirely voluntary and shows a fire fighter's dedication to service in his/her community. More information can be found on the PA Fire Commissioner's website at www.osfc.state.pa.us.
Structure Fire
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
April 21, 2010
At about 9:00pm, the Hermitage Fire Department was alerted to a possible structure fire in the Patagonia District. Fire Marshal 110, Dep. Fire Marshal 130, Engine 611, Tender 914, Engine 411, and Rescue Engine 321 responded within four minutes. Rescue Engine 321 was the first to arrive on scene and determined that the fire was out, but requested that incoming units continue to the area for assistance. Crews performed minimal overhaul to ensure that no extension existed and cleared shortly after. Crews worked on scene for about one hour.
Units: FM110, DFM130, Engine 611, Tender 914, Engine 411, Rescue Engine 321
Structure Fire
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
April 15, 2010
Just after lunch, the Department, along with EMS, was alerted for a structure fire in the southern area of the City. Tender 914, Engine 611, Fire Marshal 110, and Dep. Fire Marshal 130 responded within two minutes. Enroute, Dispatch advised that the fire was extinguished by the homeowner. Units arrived on scene and confirmed this finding. Crews performed minimal overhaul to ensure that no extension existed. Crews worked on scene for about one hour before clearing.
Units: Tender 914, Engine 611, FM110, DFM130
MVA with Possible Entrapment
By Firefighter Michael Lechner
April 9, 2010
Around 10:00am, the Department, along with EMS, was alerted to a motor vehicle accident with unknown injuries and possible entrapment near Station #1. Dispatch reported a car into a building with the entire vehicle resting inside the structure. Fire Marshal 110, Rescue 112, and Engine 611 responded within two minutes and arrived on scene shortly after to find a vehicle that had impacted the building. Command confirmed that no entrapment existed and incoming units were returned to service. Units remained on scene while the vehicle was reomved from the building and cleared shortly after.
Units: FM110, Rescue 112, Engine 611
Another Brush Fire
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
April 5, 2010
Around 2:00pm, crews were alerted to a brush fire in the Patagonia District of the City. Brush 313, Haz-Mat 712, Brush 623, and Dep. Fire Marshal 130 responded within two minutes. Crews were directed to a 1/2 acre brush fire in the woods. Crews worked to extinguish the fire and had the fire under control in a few minutes. Units worked on scene for about thirty minutes before clearing.
Units: Brush 313, Haz-Mat 712, Brush 623, DFM130
Day of Brush Fires
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
April 3, 2010
Notification of a tree on fire around 3:30pm began the rash of brush fires for the evening. Crews answered five calls for assistance in a one hour span and extinguished all brush fires without incident. Crews also handled an automatic fire alarm during this time.
Units: Brush 313, Mini-Rescue 631, Brush 623, Dep. Fire Marshal 130
Possible Commercial Fire
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
April 2, 2010
At 2:02pm, Mercer County Dispatch alerted the Department, along with EMS, for a kitchen fire in the Patagonia District of the City. Units responded within two minutes and arrived on scene to find that the fire had already been extinguished. Crews worked to overhaul the kitchen area and checked for extension. Crews worked on scene for about one hour before clearing.
Units: Engine 611, Tender 914, Engine 411, Rescue Engine 321, Fire Marshal 110, Dep. Fire Marshal 130
Motor Vehicle Accident
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
March 21, 2010
Around dinner time, the Department was alerted to assist Hermitage Police with a vehicle accident. Police and EMS had arrived on scene and confirmed one female entrapped in the vehicle. Mini-Rescue 631 was the first to respond, followed by Dep. Fire Marshal 130, Fire Marshal 110, Rescue 112, and Rescue Engine 321. Mini-Rescue 631 arrived on scene within one minute to find a single vehicle off the roadway with moderate damage. The patient was extricated from the vehicle without delay and turned over to EMS. Crews worked on scene for about 30 minutes.
Fire crews also assisted PD with another major accident at the same time.
Units: Mini-Rescue 631, Dep. Fire Marshal 130, Fire Marshal 110, Rescue 112, and Rescue Engine 321
Structure Fire
By Firefighter Michael Lechner
March 20, 2010
In the early evening hours, the Department, along with EMS, was alerted to respond to a mobile home fire in our area. Dep. Fire Marshal 130 acknowledged the call and was enroute within one minute. Engine 411 and Tender 914 followed shortly behind. DFM130 arrived on scene and confirmed a kitchen fire that had been extinguished by a neighbor. Units continued to the scene for overhaul. Crews worked on scene for about 45 minutes checking for extension in the home.
Units: DFM130, Engine 411, Tender 914, Rescue Engine 321
Commercial Fire - Mutual Aid to Grove City VFD
By Firefighters Joseph Radachy and Michael Lechner
March 6, 2010
Just before 3pm, the Department was alerted to standby while Grove City VFD and numerous other Departments worked at the scene of a large commercial fire in their area. Hermitage FD sent Tender 914 into the Borough of Mercer to standby for any calls in that area. Just as the Tender was arriving in Mercer, they were redirected to the scene of the fire by incident command. With this unit committed, Hermitage FD sent Engine 86-721 and Mini-Rescue 631 to Mercer to cover the standby. Crews remained on standby in Mercer until about 7:30pm before being released by command. No calls were answered during this time. Click the link at left for photos taken at the scene of the fire.
Aerial Apparatus Training
By Firefighter Jon Pass
February 25, 2010
On the Department's regular weekly training night, fire fighters enjoyed an evening of working with the Department's two aerial trucks. After a classroom session, led by Chief Goeltz, the fire fighters ventured out into the snow to work with the rigs. Techniques for setting up and staging the apparatus at a scene were discussed, practiced, and perfected by the fire fighters.
Structure Fire
By Dep. Chief David Vasconi
February 14, 2010
In the early morning hours, the Department, along with EMS, was alerted for a reported structure fire in Lackawannock Township. Dispatch reported heavy smoke from a mobile home. FM110, DFM130, Tender 914, Engine 531, and Rescue Engine 321 responded within three minutes. As the first arriving unit, Dep. Chief 150 advised of a mobile home with heavy smoke showing. Crews arrived on scene and entered the structure, extinguishing a small fire. Crews vented smoke from the building before returning to service. Units remained on scene for about two hours before clearing.
Units: FM110, DFM130, Tender 914, Engine 531, and Rescue Engine 321
Kitchen Fire
By Firefigher Joseph Radachy
February 13, 2010
During mid-afternoon, crews were called for a reported kitchen fire on the western edge of the City. Fire Marshal 110, Dep. Fire Marshal 130, Engine 611, and Rescue Engine 321 responded. FIrst to arrive on scene was DFM130 who advised that the fire had been extinguished - and one party on scene was injured. Crews checked for extension in the kitchen area and ventilated the home. EMS transported the injured to the hospital for evaluation. Crews worked on scene for about thirty minutes before returning to service.
Units: FM110, DFM130, Engine 611, Rescue Engine 321
Car Fire
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
February 11, 2010
Just after lunch time, the pagers were alerted for an SUV on fire in Lackawannock Township. Dep. Fire Marshal 130 and Engine 531 responded. Arriving on scene, DFM130 advised of a small SUV fully involved with fire and a single exposure to another vehicle. The crew worked for about ten minutes to extinguish the fire and bring it under control. Fire fighters worked on scene for about thirty minutes before returning to service.
Units: DFM130, Engine 531
Vehicle Crash with Entrapment
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
February 2, 2010
At about 6:00pm, the Department was alerted to a vehicle accident with entrapment on the Shenango Valley Freeway. Fire Marshal 110 called enroute to the scene within ten seconds of dispatch. Rescue Engine 321, Heavy Rescue 112, and Mini-Rescue 631 were responding within two minutes of the call. FM110 arrived on scene to confirm entrapment and advise that the driver's door would need to be removed. Crews worked with the Hurst hydraulic extrication tools to extricate the patient - which was complete in about five minutes. Crews worked on scene for another fifteen minutes before clearing.
Units: FM110, Rescue Engine 321, Rescue 112, Mini-Rescue 631
Chimney Fire
By Firefighter Michael Lechner
January 28, 2010
Late in the evening, during our weekly training routine, the HFD was alerted for a chimney fire. Fire Marshal 110, Engine 611, Tender 914, and Engine 411 responded within two minutes. Shortly after going enroute, units were advised that the residents belived the fire was out at this time. Arriving on scene, units confirmed that the small chimney fire had been extinguished prior to our arrival and vented the residence to remove the smoke. Crews worked on scene for about thirty minutes before clearing.
Units: FM110, Engine 611, Tender 914, and Engine 411
Vehicle Crash with Entrapment
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
January 28, 2010
Just after lunch time, crews were alerted for a vehicle crash with entrapment on Route 62 in Lackawannock Township. Fire Marshal 110, Rescue 112, and Haz-Mat 712 responded almost immediately. Dispatch reported a two vehicle crash with one female patient entrapped. While enroute, units were advised that EMS on scene was requesting a medevac helicopter to transport the injured female from the scene. After arriving on scene, crews worked to extricate the female driver from her vehicle. The driver's door was removed and the female extricated in under five minutes. Due to the inclimate weather at the time of the crash, the medevac helicopter was out of the question, so the female was transported by ground ambulance. Units worked on scene for about thirty minutes before clearing.
Units: FM110, Rescue 112, Haz-Mat 712
Mutual Aid to Lawrence County on a Barn Fire
By Firefighter Jon Pass
January 20, 2010
Juster after midnight this date, the Department was alerted to assist a Lawrence County department with a tanker for a barn fire. Fire Marshal 110 and Dep. Fire Marshal 130 marked enroute shortly after the call and Tender 914, carrying 2500 gallons of water and two firefighters, went enroute within four minutes. Units arrived on scene to find a large barn fully involved with fire. FM110 called for another engine to assist at the scene, and Engine 531 responded with three fire fighters about ten minutes after the original alert. In the three hours spent on scene, Tender 914 shuttled 7500 gallons of water for the extinguishment of the fire. Engine 531 manned the fill site where tankers replenished their water supply.
Units: FM110, DFM130, Tender 914, Engine 531
Mutual Aid Assist to Transfer VFD on a Structure Fire
By Firefighter Joseph Radachy
January 8, 2010
Just after 9:30pm, the Hermitage Fire Department, along with numerous other fire departments from around the county, was requested to assist with a tanker for a structure fire on Shenango Park Road in Transfer. Engine 531, carrying 100 gallons of water and three fire fighters, and Dep. Fire Marshal 130 responded within three minutes. Units arrived on scene and staged near the driveway. The fire building was located at the end of an approximately 1/4 mile long driveway, which was rendered nearly impassable by snow and ice. The engine crew walked to the fire to assist with suppression while one fire fighter remained with the Engine to assist with water supply operations. Crews worked on scene for about three and a half hours before returning to service. During the time on scene, Engine 531 never moved from its original staging location.
Units: Engine 531, DFM130, FM110