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