3/28/08 - Station 67 was dispatched to 197 Swamp Creek Road in Douglass Township for a general fire alarm. Upon arrival crews determined that the alarm had been activated in zone 8 of the building which is the wash bay. Interior crews had determined that a faulty alarm had activated the system. The company was made available without incident.
Apparatus involved: Engine 67
Station 67 Dispatched for a Building
3/9 /08 - Station 67 was dispatched to 741 E. Philadelphia
Avenue for a building fire. Chief 67 (Smith) was
first on scene and reported a basement fire with
possible entrapment. It was then confirmed that
noone was inside. Engine 67 was assigned interior
operations upon arrival. Crews worked to extinguish
the fire in the basement and ventilated the building.
Crews from Berks 15, 16, and 17 assisted with ventilation
and an investigation. All companies were made available
without incident.
Apparatus Involved: Engine 67, Squad 67, Rescue
67, Ladder 15, Engine 15, Rescue 15, Engine 16-1,
Engine 16-2, Cascade 17, 332-1
Station
67 Dispatched for a Chimney
2/26/08 - Station 67 was dispatched to 146 Niantic
Road in Douglass Township for a chimney fire. Chief
67 (Smith) was first to arrive and ordered Ladder
65 (Pennsburg) and its crew to the roof. Crews from
Engine 67 assumed interior operations and removed
all materials from the fire box. Firefighters from
the roof and the basement worked for about one hour
to clean out the chimney and remove debris. The
fire was contained to the fire box and the chimney.
Both companies were made available without incident.
Apparatus Involved: Engine 67, Squad 67, Tanker
67, Engine 65, Ladder 65, Traffic 65.
Station 67 Responds to Chimney Fire
2/22/08 - Station 67 was dispatched to 21 Swan Court
in Douglass Township for a chimney fire. Engine 67
responded to a two story residential home with a fire
located in the chimney. Crews cleaned out the fire
box and disassembled the chimney to check for any
further fire exposure. Firefighters and Ladder 37
(New Hanover) made entry to the chimney from the roof.
The fire was contained to the shelf of the chimney
and no further damage was done to the structure. Both
companies were made available without incident.
Apparatus Involved: Engine 67, Squad 67, Ladder 37
January 26 - Pottstown 4 Alarm Fire
FLOODWATERS IN BASEMENTS
The Douglass Township Board of Supervisors directed the Gilbertsville Fire and Rescue Company to discontinue their “Basement Pumping Operations” at residential and commercial sites throughout Douglass Township. The reasons for this decision are the safety concerns for our volunteer firefighters, and, the increasing environmentally sensitive issues of discharging floodwaters from private basements.
There have been recent instances where volunteers, while assisting flooded homeowners, were walking in water near electrical circuit boxes creating an extremely hazardous condition.
There have also been instances were the water in flooded basements is contaminated with volatile fluids that are commonly stored in cellars such as oil, gas, and paint. In addition, during severe storms the public sewage lines may backflow through improperly designed basement drains creating a health risk for the fire company personnel. There is also the possibility that the discharged water could cause flooding problems and environmental concerns to additional neighbors and properties downstream.
The potential liabilities associated with Township volunteers pumping private basements overshadow this community service. It should also be mentioned that while equipment and personnel are assisting in flooded basement calls, the reaction times for emergency operations at accidents, fires, or vehicle rescues could be delayed. This is a risk the Township cannot take.
With this in mind, all residents who are prone to flooded basements, should take the necessary precautions of adding sump pumps, replacing pumps that are inoperable or undersized, and in some cases connecting a battery backup system or a gas powered generator if the electric service would be interrupted for any length of time.
The Board of Supervisors and the volunteers of Gilbertsville Fire and Rescue want to thank everyone for their cooperation regarding this matter.
Gilbertsville Fire & Resue Company| 1454 East Philadelphia Avenue
| P.O. Box 454 | Gilbertsville, PA 19525-0454
FLOODWATERS IN BASEMENTS
