Tuesday, May 15, 2012 As midnight struck so did the lightning and thunder as the King of Prussia area got hit with severe thunderstorms. With the steady downpour came the steady stream of emergencies over the various radio frequencies from the Montgomery County Communications Center. The 1st call for the volunteers came from Chester County. Tower 47 was requested to assist station 2 (Berwyn) on a dwelling fire off West Valley Road. Once Tower 47 arrived on scene Berwyn units had the situation under control and the Tower was reassigned on a water rescue at Old Forge Crossing. As the Tower Ladder was busy traveling the hills of Chester County the fire company was dispatched for a water rescue on N. Gulph Road near the Schuylkill Expressway. Rescue, Squad, Traffic and Chief 47 responded in that direction and upon arrival found numerous vehicles stranded in high water. Fire company personnel removed numerous occupants from their vehicles and assisted them to higher ground.
Saturday, May 12, 2012 The officers and members of the King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company congratulate Chris and Nicole MacVaugh on their recent nuptials. The two tied the knot in beautiful weather amongst family and friends that included fire company members of course. Chris has been a member since 1997 starting as a Junior Fire Fighter and holding the rank of Chief Engineer and Board of Trustee over the years. Chris’ best man & older brother, Mike, is also a Life Member of the KPVFC. We wish the new Mr. and Mrs. Chris MacVaugh best wishes as they begin their new future together.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 At 10:31P.M. Montgomery County Emergency Dispatch Services alerted the KPVFC to Dekalb Pike (Rt. 202) and Kings Circle for a vehicle rescue. The driver of a pickup truck lost control of his vehicle while driving southbound on Rt. 202. Chief Jenaway arrived and found a pickup truck on its side with the driver trapped in a precarious position that threatened to cause serious spinal injuries. Rescue 47 (A/C Keszczyk) arrived and stabilized the pickup truck on its side using cribbing and "Junkyard Dog" struts. The crew from Rescue 47 then removed the roof of the vehicle using Hurst rescue tools and reciprocating saws to safely extricate the driver. Engine 47-2 provided the precautionary fire protection hoseline and Squad 47 provided additional personnel to assist on scene. The driver was packaged on a back board and transferred over to awaiting Lafayette Ambulance personnel for further treatment and transport to an area trauma center.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 For weekly Tuesday night training the volunteer fire fighters from King of Prussia toured the newly constructed Wegman’s Supermarket at the site of the former Valley Forge Golf Course. The purpose of the tour was to “pre-plan” in case of an emergency response. Pre-planning enables the1st. responders to operate more efficiently and safer at an emergency response by acquiring information about critical features of the building relating to construction type and fire protection systems. Such examples include the locations of the fire alarm devices, type of roof construction, location of closest fire hydrants and so on to name a few. This topic brings to mind two major and tragic fires that should be well known in the fire service when supermarket fires are discussed. The first is the Waldbaum's Supermarket fire in 1978 that occurred in Brooklyn, New York. Six New York City fire fighters lost their lives and many others were injured when the truss constructed roof of the building collapsed. Video remembering the F.F.'s killed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTzBg1YIZmI The second and more recent fire occurred in Phoenix, Arizona at the Southwest Supermarket in 2001 where fire fighter Bret Tarver became separated from his crew. Fire Fighter Tarver exhausted his air supply before being rescued and lost his life. This fire highlighted previously unknown challenges to Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) operations and large area search and rescue. Summary of the fire: http://thecompanyofficer.com/tag/phoenix-az-fd-southwest-supermarket-fire/
Thursday, April 26, 2012 Just past 8:00A.M.on Thursday morning Station 47, along with Quint 31 (Bridgeport), were dispatched to the 200 block of Larkspur Lane (Candlebrook section) for a reported bedroom fire. Expecting the worse, UMPD arrived with nothing showing (no visible smoke or fire) just minutes after dispatch. Due to the fast action of the homeowner the worst case scenario was averted. When an occupant of the house turned on a lamp in the bedroom somehow and someway a fire started and quickly spread from the lamp to the curtains, window shade and behind the night stand. An alert father grabbed a fire extinguisher in the house and put the fire out while even securing the electric source prior to the fire company’s arrival. These actions contained the fire from spreading across the room and into the attic. Crews from Tower 47 and Quint 31 checked the rest of the bedroom for fire extension behind the walls and attic area. Natural ventilation was used to remove the residual smoke. The scene was turned over to the homeowner after all checks for fire extension were negative. All companies cleared the scene in less than 40 minutes. While the homeowner saved significant damage to his house by using a fire extinguisher the King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company does NOT encourage this. It is imperative that all occupants evacuate the house as soon as possible in the event of a fire to prevent serious injury or even death. Early detection is important to accomplish this, so please check your house for smoke detectors and ensure they have working batteries. Units on location: Engine 47-1, Squad 47, Tower 47, Quint 31, FM 56-1 & 2.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 As soon as the afternoon hit, it proved to be hectic for the members of the King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company. Just past lunch the company was dispatched to an industrial rescue on Bill Smith Boulevard near S. Gulph Road for a subject stuck under a piece of construction machinery. The machinery rolled on top of him as they both rolled down an embankment. The machinery was off the victim upon the arrival of the KPVFC, but services were still required to move the victim to the ambulance. Crews from Rescue 47 and Squad 47 worked to package the patient in the stokes basket and haul them to the street level so the awaiting ambulance could transport the victim to a trauma center. About 2 hours later around 2:15P.M., and no more than half a mile from the 1st incident, the volunteers were dispatched for a vehicle fire in the 200 block of S. Gulph Road. With a majority of our vehicle fires being the passenger type sedan or family car, this call proved to be different. Within minutes of dispatch Upper Merion Police reported an 18 wheel tractor trailer fully involved that was carrying 1,300 lbs of soy bean oil. Squad 47 (B. Smull) and Engine 47-2 (M. Sherlock) responded shortly after the report. Since heavy smoke was visible from miles the next due Engine Company (Swedeland) was requested to assist. Once on location crews were faced with exposure problems on both sides of the road including houses. Engine 47-2 established command and an additional Engine (Swedesbrug) was requested. The crews made a quick knockdown of the fire and prevented it from spreading into the trailer. South Gulph Rd was closed for several hours for clean up and removal of the vehicle. Units on location: Engine 47-1, Engine 47-2, Squad 47, Engine 48 and fire police from King of Prussia & Bridgeport. Pre-Arrival Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztzudg0wnUo
Saturday, April 21, 2012 KPVFC members of the Southeast Montgomery County Technical Rescue Task Force (SEMCTRTF) completed the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy's Trench Rescue Operations course on Saturday. The course consisted of 16 hours of training, including a full day in the field operating in a live trench excavation. KPVFC trained alongside members of the Norristown Fire Department and Lower Merion Fire Companies. Rescue 47 (KPVFC), Rescue 27 (Fairmount of Norristown FD), and Rescue 21 (Penn Wynne Fire Company) were present for Saturday's field exercises. These rescue units have been training with each other for over a year now as part of the SEMCTRTF, ready to respond as a team to any specialized rescues in the area.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 At 12:43 hours on Wednesday April 18 the King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched to a vehicle into the dwelling at 906 Croton Road, in the Wayne section of Upper Merion Township. Upon arrival, Chief 47 (Bill Jenaway) found a Volvo station wagon had left the roadway and crashed through two fences and into the dwelling at that address. UMPD and Lafayette Ambulance were also dispatched. Chief 47 immediately requested code enforcement to determine structural stability. Engine 47-2 arrived with Assistant 47-2 (Matt Keszczyk) and the crew assigned to determine any hazards developed as a result of the crash. EMS treated the driver on scene. Code enforcement was still determining the status of the dwelling upon departure of the fire units at 13:23 hours. The resident of the dwelling was at home when the incident occurred and was uninjured. Units Engine 47-2, Squad 47,and Special Service 47 responded to the incident.
Monday, April 16, 2012 The volunteers of KPVFC wish to express our deepest sympathy and prayers to our fallen brother from FDNY, Lt. Richard A. Nappi, who answered the final bell this past Monday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the department and his family. Our thoughts and prayers also go out to those who were injured in that same warehouse fire. A speedy and safe recovery to all. Stay Safe out there! http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/insider/events/2012/041612a.shtml
Sunday, April 15, 2012 Congratulations to Fire Fighter Darryl Bacchi, formerly known as Probationary F.F. Darryl Bacchi, on finally completing his probationary training and fighting his first fire on the nozzle! F.F. Bacchi was assigned the nozzle position and made a successful stop at the King of Prussia Road fire. Your fellow brothers and sisters at the King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company knew you could do it and are very proud of you. Good luck in your future with the fire company as you hopefully rise through the ranks!
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