9/10/09

Today around 3pm Company 35 (Linglestown), 34 (Paxtonia), 33 (Colonial Park), 36 (West Hanover), 32 (Progress), 37 (Rescue Fire Co.), and 39 (Grantville) were alerted to box 35-1 on Blue Ribbon Ave for a reported structure fire. Dauphin County Communications advised Chief 35 that E.M.S. was on scene confirming a working structure fire with smoke coming from side A of the structure. Engine 35 arrived on scene first and confirmed in deed there was a working fire. Engine 34 was out the door and we were the second due engine. Upon our arrival we were assigned the truck company duties as well as forcing entry. Engine 34's crew assisted in throwing two ladders and removing two sheets of plywood covering the front door. The structure an abandoned commercial structure sustained minimul damage and Engine 34 cleared the scene in about an hour.

9/9/09

Today at 07:00 the Live-Ins along with Chief 34 ( D.Lowman) travelled down to HACC ( Harrisburg Area Community College) to the Shumaker Public Safety Center to complete some of our Engine Rider Qualifications. In today's evolutions we focused on High Rise fire operations utillizing our High Rise Pack equipped with our new light weight hose. Live-In's Lacher,Wolfe, and Fissel rotated through the diffrent evoluntions each having a diffrent job such as hook-up man, back-up man, and nozzle man to complete the evoluntions. We were at HACC for nearly 3 hours and ran through many evolutions.

8/23/09-8/28/09

8/23/09-08/28/09

A pretty busy week started off with a community service detail for a local church. On Sunday Company 34 attended a community event held at George Park. While there we offered tours of our new fire engine and information to the community about fire prevention and safety. Also company 34 members provided a landing zone for STAT MEDEVAC 13. Wednesday started off early with a AFA ( Automatic Fire Alarm) at 07:30 which was false, followed by an accident with entrapment in our mutual aid company (Linglestown Company 35) first due at 08:35. While enroute to the call Command 35 cancelled us due to having no entrapment. ( Our rescue engine is due on all entrapment/confinment calls in Linglestown). After getting back to the station and having a little time to relax we were again out on the street for an accident in our own first due. At 11: 15 am Dauphin County Communications dispatched an accident with injuries less than a mile from the station at the Post Office. Upon arrival we had one vehicle into the structure with no injuries, and no damage to the structure. As soon as Lower Paxton Township Police arrived we cleared the scene. At 12:03 am thursday morning we were dispatched for a Commercial AFA but it proved to be false. At 12:55 p.m. Box 33-4 ( Colonial Park Fire Dept) was dispatched for a possible bathroom fire. Chief 32-2 ( Progress Fire) arrived on scene an advised that there was indeed a working fire. Engine 34 w/4 went enroute and we took in the second due engine assignment, as well as the truck assignment until the arrival of truck 32 ( Progress Fire). Engine 33 ( Colonial Park) stretched one attack line and put a good knock on the fire upon our arrival. Engine 34 assisted in pulling ceilings, overhaul, and mopped up some of the hot spots, and the fire was held to the room of origin. Later in the day we ran two more AFA's in our first due, and a fire reported out call in Linglestown which we were cancelled on. All in all in was a pretty busy week with school starting this week as well.

Being a Live-In

I moved into the Paxtonia Fire Company in Dauphin County in Fall of 2008. In the year and a half that I have been a member here we have run well over 500 fire calls including numerous working fires. As a Live-In my responsibilities are pretty reasonable, help out around the station, clean the station, clean the apparatus, and respond to fire calls. Its pretty basic and easy for a place thats lets you live there for free just for doing a few chores! Paxtonia Fire Company has four pieces of apparatus with one being the only one in the county. We have a 1998 Seagrave Rescue Engine, A 1998 Seagrave Tiller which is the only one in Dauphin County, A 2001 Ford Utillity Truck, and 2008 Seagrave Suppression Engine. We are averaging between 400 and 500 calls a year and stay pretty busy running everything from working house or commercial property fires to accidents to automatic alarms. My goal is to show day by day what we do all on top of going to college. Some days are hectic running calls all night and going to school the next day, but if being a firefighter is what you want to do this is definantly the program for you!

Just getting started

My name is Dave Lacher, and Im 20 years old. I'm a volunteer firefighter for the Roulette Volunteer Fire Company in Potter County, and a Live-In firefighter with the Paxtonia Fire Compnay in Dauphin County. The purpose of this blog is to share some of my experiences as a live-in firefighter, hopefully to encourage others who wish to make a career out of firefighting. This blog will give a litle insight as to the roles and responsibilities of live-in firefighters as well as a listing of various live-in programs around the state of Pennsylvania. I hope you enjoy!