AUGUST 2006 ARCHIVE
Sheriff Deputy's Car Involved in MVA
08-29-2006- An area resident stopped in the firehouse just before 1400 hours to report that a police car had struck the bridge just up from the station. Assistant Chief O’Brien (26-2) inquired with the county’s communication center if they had any knowledge of an accident and found out they did not. The alarm was then sounded for an accident with unknown injuries. Units arrived on scene within sixty seconds to discover a Pike County Sheriff Patrol Car had struck the bridge causing moderate damage to the vehicle. The deputy sheriff advised he did not believe he was injured. The crew from Ambulance 268 assessed the deputy while the crew from 26 Rescue checked for hazards and controlled traffic. Units were in service for 50 minutes.
Bicyclist Struck & Fireworks Stand-By at Lake Adventure
08-05-2006- A half hour after returning from a water rescue dispatch to Peck’s Pond in Porter Township, the station was alerted for a bicyclist struck by a motor vehicle near the Recreation Center of Lake Adventure. Crews manning 26 Engine and Ambulance 268 made the response. While responding 26-1 (Chief Mikulak) requested MedEvac II Helicopter be placed on stand-by. Upon arrival crews found an adult female struck a moving SUV while riding her bicycle. Medical personnel requested the MedEvac to fly due to possible injuries sustained in the crash. After several minutes of packaging the patient she refused to fly in the helicopter. The helicopter was subsequently cancelled and the patient was transported via ambulance and ground ALS (Pike ALS) to a local hospital. After clearing the scene the crew from 26 Engine as well as an additional crew from the station on board 26 Brush made their was to the beach area at Lake Adventure for the annual fireworks display. The crews were treated to a beautiful and loud display. With the exception of an upset snapping turtle that need to be guided back into the lake, no fire department services were needed.
26 Tanker Involved in Accident Responding to Fire
08-09-2006- Shortly before 11:00 this morning the Milford FD requested the assistance for Station 26 for a structure on Rt. 6. Crews manning 26 Ladder and 26 Tanker made the response. While responding to the call 26 Tanker was involved in an accident with a cargo box truck. After being assessed by the crew from Lackawaxen Ambulance Service, no personal injuries were reported on the scene of the accident. The tanker suffered substantial damage and is currently out of service. The crew from 26 Ladder continued onto the scene and assisted with fire extinguishment and overhaul. The officers and members of the Dingman Township VFD would like to thank all the area fire departments that called to offer their support and assistance. For story and pictures of the fire please visit www.milfordfire33.com
Pair of Water Rescue to Begin Week
08-14-2006- With the Rescue Boat going down to Off Shore Marina for routine maintenance for the day it should’ve been expected that the Dive Team was going to be called out. At 13:41 hours Murphy’s law held true and the Dive Team along with teams from Hemlock Farms and Ledgedale responded to Lake Wallenpaupack for an overturned sailboat. The crew from Dingman Township paired up with Hemlock Farms and used 29 Boat to respond out onto the water. After arriving in the vicinity where the boat was spotted, the owner arrived at the launch site telling the land crews that he was uninjured and was assisted by another boater into shore. As units were beginning to come in off the water of the “Big Lake” the dive team was once again dispatched to the eastern side of the county for an overturned kayaker with one in the water at Wild Acres in Delaware Township. While personnel were arriving at the station to begin the trek down to Wild Acres, word came in that the kayaker had safely made it ashore. Delaware’s Assistant Chief Chris Kenlan then cancelled the response of the dive teams. The station finished out the day with a propane alarm sounding in a basement of a residence on Kunigunde Dr. in Pocono Woodlands. Crews found a faulty alarm and advised the new homeowners to have it replaced.
Pipe Bombs Draw Multi Agency Response
08-16-2006- The Dingman Township FD along with the Pa. State Police at Blooming Grove, and the Pike County Sheriff Department Bomb Team were dispatched the to Gold Key Lake Mail Room for a report of two pipe bombs at that location. Crews on board 26 Engine and Ambulance 268 responded to Arbor Dr. to stand by while the Bomb Team disposed of the devices. The devices were neutralized without incident or injury by the Bomb Team and crews cleared within 90 minutes. Two juveniles have been charged in connection with the incident.
Late Night Run to the Big Lake
08-18-2006- The dive team along with teams from Hemlock Farms, Ledgedale, and Welcome Lake got to take a late night ride out to Lake Wallenpaupack after two boaters had become stranded on an island after their boat struck some rocks. Crews arrived at Lighthouse Harbor Marina just as word came in that the individuals had been returned safely to shore by unknown means. The boaters were assessed by an EMS crew from Promised Land Fire Co. and all dive teams were returned to service without ever seeing the water.
Ground Fire Begins Week
08-21-2006- The volunteers were alerted at 12:10 hours this afternoon for a reported brush fire now extinguished in the rear of a residence on Robin Run in Gold Key Lake. Upon investigation it was found that the fire on the surface of the land was extinguished by several inches underground it was still burning. This situation is typical for fires located along this section of Gold Key Lake due to the peat moss ground and lack of any substantial rainfall. Eight personnel manning 26 Brush and Engine used hand tools and foam to extinguish the remainder of the smoldering fire. Crews were in service for one hour.
Assist to Milford FD at Woodlands Clubhouse
08-05-2006- Shortly after Milford FD was dispatched for a vehicle fire on Interstate 84 a fire alarm activation for the Pocono Woodland Lakes Clubhouse was received. Due to Station 33’s crew working the vehicle fire Milford’s Chief Mann requested Station 26 to handle the alarm. 26 Ladder and 26 Tanker with 7 volunteers made the response. Units arrived on scene to find nothing evident. A quick investigation found a juvenile had pulled a fire alarm box and fled prior to the arrival of the FD. Crews transferred the scene to Pocono Woodland Lakes Security Dept. to reset the alarm. Units operated for a half hour.
Mid Afternoon Accident
08-04-2006- Dingman Township volunteers were alerted at 13:48 hours for a motor vehicle accident on Rt. 739 near St. Vincent’s Church. 26 Rescue and Ambulance 269 with ten members arrived on scene to find a two vehicle accident with all occupants self extricated. 26 Rescue’s crew checked the vehicles for hazards and controlled traffic while Ambulance 269’s crew assessed the four individuals involved for injury. The units operated for nearly 75 minutes while the Pa. State Police investigated the incident.
Strong Winds Cause Path of Destruction
08-03-2006- Shortly before 16:00 hours a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the area. Within minutes of the warning the station was dispatched for a tree down with wires on Buck Run Dr. in Sunrise Lake. Shortly after 26 Engine’s arrival on the scene the calls began to steadily come in reporting more and more trees down in Sunrise Lake as well as Gold Key Lake. In total the volunteers handled 13 storm related calls ranging from wires down, trees down blocking the roadway, to trees on top and through homes. No injuries were reported. Crews secured multiple areas and notified Met-Ed Utilities of all the power line problems. Throughout the storm twelve volunteers manning 26 Engine and 26 Rescue handled emergency runs while several additional members ran the weekly bingo game at the station.
MVA with Injury on Log Tavern
08-03-2006- For the third day in a row, the volunteers were awakened by an early morning alarm. Today the alarm went in at 07:45 hours for an MVA with injury on Log Tavern Rd. near Crescent Lake’s main entrance. 26 Rescue and Ambulance 269 made the response with seven personnel. Units arrived on scene to find a sedan well off the roadway into the woods. Along the way the sedan struck several trees and rocks before coming to rest. The driver suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Ambulance 269. The crew from 26 Rescue kept traffic moving along after checking assisting the EMS crew and checking for hazards. Units cleared the scene at 08:17 hours.
Trailer Fire Snarls Traffic on 739
08-02-2006- Ambulance 268 got another early start to the day with an EMS run to Mountain View Dr. in Hemlock Farms. At 11:48 hours the station was alerted for a reported trailer on fire on Rt. 739 near Sunrise Lake. Quick thinking by the operator of the truck saved the excavator that was on the trailer when the fire began. An attempt by the operator and another passerby to extinguish the fire using fire extinguisher was unsuccessful. The operator then removed the excavator from the trailer and placed it a safe distance away. 26 Engine, 26 Tanker, and along with Ambulance 269 made the response with 9 personnel. Units arrived on scene to find a heavy equipment trailer with the tires on fire. Personnel used an 1.75” handline to extinguish the fire. Some extension was noted to the timber planking on the trailer. After overhaul was complete crews opened one lane of Rt. 739 to get traffic moving again. The trailer was then removed from the roadway until it could be repaired. Units operated for just over an hour on scene.
August off to a Busy Start
08-01-2006- Personnel got an early start to the month with four back to back EMS runs mixed with two fire alarms. Ambulance 268 began the day at 05:30 hours and continued to be on emergency runs until 13:30 hours. The EMS crew saw work on Husson Road, Dwarfskill Court, Sawkill Road, and Lakeview Drive. The fire side of the station also ran two automatic alarms on Bobwood Court in Conashaugh Lakes. A faulty fire detection system was the cause for the alarm. The alarm company was notified of the problem and asked to make notification to the homeowner.