Bringing 2006 to a Close

The company completed 2006 with 482 incidents.
The Chief would like to thank all members for their service and dedication to the company and the community.

Thursday December 28^th

7:09 PM – While continuing to break our all time YTD incidents the members responded to incident 479 just after dinner for the reported house fire.  Chief 1710 (Pratt) arrived within 2 minutes to find an active fire in a wall.  RE1712 (A.Allen) arrived 1^st due with 6 and reported to division 1 to expose the fire.  The crew found the fire within minutes and extinguished same with a water can.  T1716 (Bicking) arrived 2^nd due and took division 2 to check for extension.  E1713 (E.Snow) arrived 3^rd and setup ventilation and salvage covers.  T1314 (Lumberton) arrived and their crew stood fast on division A and then relocated to 171 for the cover.  The fire was held with 171 units and cleared after about 2 hours due to extensive overhaul and the investigation.  Special thanks to 1319 and 1318 for lighting, air and traffic support. Chief 1710 (Pratt) had Command, Chief 1900 (Interior), Chief 1300 (Pearson) CP.

12:04 PM – Around mid-day companies were alerted to RT 70 at Old Red Lion Road for reports of a rear-end type collision. Upon arrival RE1712 (E.Snow) had one patient complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath. Patient was transported by BLS 1792. Crews from 1712 and 1722 (Hampton Lakes) controlled fluids, secured vehicles, and assisted BLS crews. Should be noted 4317 (Tabernacle) also got out for the incident however they were recalled as their services were not needed on scene.

Bad Day to use a Chimney!

December 25^th – The companies were dispatched to the number block of Buckingham Dr. for the reported house fire. Chief 1720 (Hampton Lakes) arrived to find what was thought to be an active chimney fire.  E1722 (Hampton Lakes) arrived and laddered the roof.  RE1712 (D'Amico) was second due and was assigned to the interior to extinguish the fire in the fireplace and check for extension.  E4311 (Tabernacle) and E1713 (A.Allen) and T1716 (E.Snow) arrived shortly after and stood fast on Div A. The roof crew found a defect in the chimney and no extension.  Chief 1710 (Pratt) had Operations.  Crews were available within 30 minutes.

Not long after returning from Buckingham Chief 1710 (Pratt), RE1712 (E.Snow), E1713 (C.Allen) and T1716 (Thomas) were on their way to Tabernacle for the house fire.  Tabernacle units arrived to find an active chimney fire.  All 171 units were detailed to level 1 staging.  While in staging the structure box was being dispatched for yet another structure fire back in Southampton.  All units were cleared from Tabernacle and arrived on Stagecoach Rd. within 10 minutes.  First due E1713 found a stove fire out on arrival.  The balance of the companies proceeded in to assist with ventilation and checking for extension.  Units were available within 10 minutes.

The Chief would like to extend his thanks to all members who left their families on Christmas Day to respond to these incidents.

December 24^th – The company was alerted to Landing and Mill Streets for the automobile fire just after 11:30.  Chief 1710 (Pratt) arrived to find a passenger vehicle with the engine compartment well off.  RE1712 (B.Pratt) arrived minutes behind and led off with the bumper line making quick work of the fire.  T1716 (Mitchell) also responded to assist with the operation.  The company cleared the scene within 30 minutes.

Bad Day to be Out Driving!

Friday December 22^nd

3:30 PM – The day and the themes of crashes and fluids were not yet over for the day. After crews had returned to quarters and were enjoying some downtime, Station 171 and the EMS duty crew were alerted for a crash with injuries at RT 206 and RT 38. Chief 1710 (Pratt), RE1712 (D’Amico), and U1718 (A.Allen) were quickly on their way not knowing what to expect. With 1710 in the area and finding nothing evident, Central advised callers were now reporting the call to be in the area of the Vincentown Florist on S. Pemberton Road. Chief 1710 arrived at the corrected location with two separate motor vehicle collisions.  BLS 1791 arrived and began patient assessment advising all were going to be refusals.  A scene size-up found a large amount of gasoline pouring from one of the fuel tanks.  RE1712 arrived and stretched an 1 ¾” handline and applied a blanket of foam over the effected area.  The crew also secured the leak and began assisting with the large traffic problem.  RE1911 (Pemberton Boro) answered up advising they were in the area and proceeded in to assist with the operation.  Units cleared with the hour.

2:47 PM – While in the process of clearing the previous incident, Central alerted RE1712 (E.Snow) for reports of a vehicle overturned at Pemberton and Burrs Mill Roads. With their services no longer needed on RT 206, the Rescue Engine quickly picked up and headed to the next call with U1718/ESU171 right behind them. Upon arrival, crews checked out the single occupant who appeared to be uninjured before turning the scene over to 1912 (Pemberton Boro) as the call was in their locale. E1713 (Bicking) also picked up the run after hearing the Rescue Engine being alerted for the incident.

1:00 PM – District 17 companies were dispatched to North Main Street and RT 206 for reports of a tractor trailer versus a car with unknown extent of injuries. After signing on the air, RE1712 (Randall) was advised by BLS 1792 that there were negative injuries but fluids were going to be a problem. Upon arrival, the crew was faced with an unknown amount of diesel on the ground and an active leak from a crushed saddle tank on the tractor that was involved. With the severity of the incident, the County Board of Health was notified and asked to respond as well as NJDOT being asked to respond to assist with cleanup and traffic, as RT 206 was completely shut down in the area. Crews were able to contain the oil and diesel on the ground, at which point in time the scene was turned over to NJSP and County Health Department. Also on scene were E1713 (Heffernan), U1718 (Wortham) with ESU 171 in tow for additional manpower and hazmat supplies. Chief 1720 (Hampton Lakes) and E1722 (Hampton Lakes) were also on scene.

Busy Morning for Volunteers

Thursday December 21^st

8:25 AM – District 17 stations and T431 (Tabernacle) were alerted to 419 Hawkins Road for a reported dwelling fire. Within minutes, RE1712 (Woods), E1713 (E.Snow) and T1716 (Bicking) were on the air with 11 while being advised by Central that the homeowner was advising a possible chimney fire. Arriving first due, E4312 (Tabernacle) reported nothing showing and advised crews were checking the interior. As RE1712 was arriving, interior crews were reporting they appeared to have an active fire behind a stone wall in the basement division. Crews were then tasked with gaining access to source of the smoke, located between the stone wall and the chimney. After careful work, crews had successfully opened the wall and extinguished hot spots. Crews checked for extension and cooled the area before picking up and returning to service after working on scene for approximately 2 hours. It should also be noted that while enroute, E1713 was diverted to RT 70 Eastbound in the area of the circle for a possible MVC with injuries. After a short search, nothing was evident and companies returned to Hawkins Road for additional manpower.

12:24 PM – With Station 281 on a fire, RE1712 (D’Amico) responded with a full crew for the cover assignment. Cover companies stood by for approximately an hour before being released and returning to quarters.

December 20^th – At 14:19hrs the station was dispatched for a helicopter landing assignment at the intersection of Landing and Mill Streets. After signing on the air, RE1712 (D’Amico) was advised BLS 5094 and Medics were at a construction site with a trauma patient that had fallen approximately 15ft that needed an expedited evacuation due to his deteriorating condition. Central also advised Medevac 5 was in the air for the assignment. The Rescue Engine arrived on scene, setup a landing zone, and assisted loading the chopper. Units available in under an hour.

Pick-up Truck Fire