DECEMBER 2006 ARCHIVE

Year Ends Quietly

12-31-2006-  As 2006 comes quietly to a close, the officers and members of the Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Department wish to thank all of the residents, businesses, and visitors who have supported us throughout the year.  Support from these individuals came to us in a variety of ways.  The most obvious is monetarily, without your donations our department would not be able to afford the newest equipment to keep our volunteers safe and ready to handle any emergency as it arises.  The second way of support is probably one of the least obvious but one of the most valued comes from our local businesses.  Many of our volunteers are allowed to leave their full time jobs in order to help a neighbor when an emergency call comes in.  This unselfish act by area businesses like Independence True Value, Gold Key Country Club, Dingman Township, Pike County Real Estate, and Conashaugh Lakes Community Association, to name a few, allow the fire department to have a strong adequate response to emergencies during the day.  An additional set of people deserving thanks are the members of our neighboring mutual aid departments.  Throughout the year fire and EMS personnel from Blooming Grove, Bushkill, Delaware, Hemlock Farms, Milford, Montague, Shohola, and Westfall have assisted us in protecting Dingman Township. In closing, we wish all of you a Happy, Healthy, and Safe 2007.   

MVA Seriously Injures One

12-22-2006-  Personnel were alerted 0043 hours for a reported of a motor vehicle accident with an occupant ejected on Conashaugh Trail in Conashaugh Lakes.  Ambulance 268 who was returning from an earlier responded immediately and was the first unit to arrive on scene followed shortly behind by 26-1 (Chief Mikulak).  An assessment of the scene found a small station wagon had struck a utility pole head on causing the driver to be ejected through the windshield of the vehicle.  While EMS crews tended to the severely injured driver, the crew from 26 Rescue controlled hazards and performed and area search for additional victims.  The area search came back negative for additional occupants.  The driver was transported to the Dingman Township Firehouse to an awaiting MedEvac helicopter for transport to an area trauma center.  Also assisting on the scene was Pike County ALS Medic 401.  Pa. State Police at Blooming Grove handled the accident investigation.

Helicopter Landing and Structure Fire Assist

 12-16-2006-  Just before 11:30 a.m. Fire Station 26 was dispatched to set up a landing zone for MedEvac II who was coming in to transport an injured wrestler from the Dingman Delaware Middle School.  The landing zone was set up at the firehouse and Ambulance 268 transported the patient from the school to the landing zone.  Also assisting on the scene was Pike County ALS Medic 401.  At 1900 hours the Delaware Fire Department requested assistance of 26 Engine and 26 Tanker for a structure fire on Misty Morning Dr. in Wild Acres.  Twelve members responded to the call and assisted Delaware’s crews with fire extinguishment, overhaul, and water supply operations.  Crews were in service for 2.5 hours.

Weekend Yields Five Calls

12-09&10-2006-  Dingman Township volunteers responded to five calls over the weekend.  At 16:16 hours crews were alerted to a motor vehicle accident on Rt. 739 near the intersection of Log Tavern Road.  As fire officers arrived in the area no signs of the car accident were sighted.  A search of the area found a disabled vehicle just north of the intersection which possibly could’ve been the culprit of the alarm.  Units were place in service at 16:23 hours.  At 18:44 hours the Fire Station was once again dispatched, this time to a reported structure fire confined to a cooking stove on Spruce Dr. in Gold Key Lake.  Units arrived on scene to find the residence evacuated and one of the homeowners stating he believed the fire extinguished.  A check of the residence by the crew from 26 Ladder confirmed the fire as out and all units were available at 19:01 hours.  The EMS crews three medical calls throughout the weekend.

MVA with Entrapment

12-05-2006-  Both Fire & EMS volunteers were alerted at 17:23 hours for a vehicle accident on Log Tavern Rd. just east of the firehouse.  Assistant Chief O’Brien arrived on scene and updated the Communications Center that the driver of the vehicle was entrapped and requested Pike ALS Medic 401 to the scene along with MedEvac Helicopter on stand-by.  26 Rescue, 26 Engine, and Ambulance 268 arrived on the scene a short time later and began patient extrication.  The crew from 26 Rescue removed the roof, popped the driver’s side door, and rolled the dashboard to free the driver.  Luckily, the driver suffered only minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.  Crews operated for just over an hour on the scene.

 Mid Morning Structure Fire

12-05-2006- The volunteers from Station 26 were alerted for reported structure fire on Buttercup Terrace in Gold Key Lake.  26 Ladder, 26 Engine, 26 Rescue, and Ambulance 268 made the response with 11 volunteers.  First arriving units (26 Ladder and 26 Tanker) arrived to a ranch style home with heavy smoke emitting from the eaves.  Crews made an aggressive interior attack and quickly brought the fire under control.  The primary search found one dog had succumbed to the fire.  As personnel from mutual aid departments arrived they were assigned secondary search and overhaul duties.  No injuries were reported by fire personnel.  Pa. State Police Fire Marshal Unit was on scene to conduct the investigation.  The cause of the fire appears to be accidental.  Departments assisting on the fire were Milford FD, Hemlock Farms FD, Westfall FD, & Delaware FD.  Dingman Township units operated on the scene for two hours and forty minutes.

 First Snow Brings Four Accidents

12-04-2006-  Shortly after a snow squall struck the area Dingman Township Volunteers were alerted to assist Milford FD for a vehicle accident on Springbrook Road.  26 Rescue and Ambulance 268 made the response with seven personnel.  Personnel arrived on the scene to find a two vehicle accident with occupants suffering minor injuries.  Crews checked for hazards, controlled traffic, and provided EMS care.  Additional personnel from Dingman Township FD also responded to a report of a vehicle off the roadway with no injuries on Log Tavern Rd. and Dwarfskill Court while the Springbrook Road incident was happening.  Two additional vehicle accidents with no injuries were reported to the Log Tavern Road personnel while they were directing traffic.  All accidents were checked out and found to be without injury.  Personnel also answered a medical emergency in Conashaugh Lakes during these incidents.  Total time in service for this year’s first snow fall- one hour and fifty minutes.  Later on in the day crews were alerted to assist Delaware FD for a landing zone set-up at the Delaware Township’s ball field.  26 Engine arrived on scene and assisted with patient transfer.  The Engine returned to service in just over an hour.  The final call of the day came just after 22:30 hours for a motor vehicle accident near the firehouse on Log Tavern Road.  Personnel were able to quickly clear the roadway of the accident without incident.  Crews were in service for the last call just twenty minutes. 

 Trio of Accidents on Rt. 739

12-01 thru 03-2006-  Three days, three accidents on Rt. 739 has had the department busy.  The first accident happened on Friday 12-01 just as the severe storms began.  A single vehicle had struck the embankment at the intersection of Rt. 739 and Log Tavern Road.  No injuries were reported and only some minor traffic control was required from the department.  The second accident was at 15:13 hours when a commercial van went off the roadway and struck several pine trees near Seneca Drive.  Crews arrived on scene to find the accident and no occupants.  Crews stood by until the arrival of the State Police.  The third accident awakened the members at 05:38 hours Sunday morning.  Originally reported as a rollover with entrapment near the Whispering Pine Nursery, crews manning Ambulance 268, 26 Rescue, and 26 Engine arrived on scene to find a SUV on it’s side with the occupant standing alongside of it uninjured.  Crews checked for hazards and controlled traffic unit the Pa. State Police were through with their investigation.