Early Tuesday morning North Penn responded to an accident with injuries on Dekalb Pike between Meeting House Road and Swedesford Road.  It was quickly upgraded to a vehicle rescue.  A passenger car crossed onto oncoming traffic while hitting an SUV followed by colliding with a truck.  Squad and Air 62 extricated the victims while Engine 62 stretched a hose line.  Two victims were flown from the incident.  Wissahickon fire company secured the landing zone at Gwynedd Mercy High School.

Other Companies responding included: Fire Department of Montgomery Township, Upper Gwynedd Fire Company and Wissahickon Fire Company. Also Ambler Ambulance and The Volunteer Medical Service Corps Lansdale.

Photo Courtesy of thereporteronline.com

THE  NORTH PENN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY LADIES AUXILIARY FALL CRAFT SHOW

WILL BE HELD ON

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2010 FROM 9 A.M. TO 3 P.M.

    FOOD, CRAFTS, BAKE SALE AND RAFFLE

 

CRAFTERS:    8’ SPACE AT $20.00     

IF INTERESTED, CALL 215-361-1446

Last night at Hostelley Baseball Field, on Hancock Rd, crews from North Penn Volunteer Fire Company preformed Hose Advancement Drills. 62 stretched 550 feet of 5" Hose, 300 feet of 2 1/2" Hose and 400 feet of 1 3/4" Hose, all off of Engine 62 which runs out of 62's Sub Station, Station 62B. Also in service last night was the Aerial Master Stream from Ladder 62 out of the Main Station, Station 62A. After giving the baseball field a good soaking and repacking the 5" Hose, the crews from the Squad, Ladder, Engine, and QRS, all of which participated in drill, headed back to Station 62A to go over Repacking and Cleaning of Hose and also Deployment and Repacking of Apartment Packs.

Apartment Packs are used to enter buildings with Stand Pipes. The Apartment Packs are pre-packaged 150 to 200 feet of Hose with a Nozzle and Gated Wye. The Gated Wye is connected to the Stand Pipe. When both the Stand Pipe and Gated Wye are opened, the Attack Line can receive water several stories up from the Engine outside. The Engine pumps water to the Stand Pipe using the Fire Department Connection on the outside of the building. It is important to keep FDC's visible and clear of obstructions so the fire department can easily locate them. A second line, also known as a Back Up Line, can be connected to the Gated Wye. The Gated Wye takes in water from one coupling and sends it out through two smaller gated couplings. With Both Couplings having separate gates, the Back Up Line can go into service without ever shutting down the Attack Line.

     Are you as obsessed with Bertha as we are? The 81 year old American LaFrance Fire Truck of the North Penn Volunteer Fire Company.

     We know you are, so we created a new page dedicated just to her. At the top of this page just click on Bertha and it will connect you to the all new Bertha page.  We know you want to see pictures of her as well, but they aren't up yet, and we're sorry, but just keep checking back, and we promise they will be up on her page soon, but for now learn a little bit about her, and read an article written by Bonnie L. Cook, a North Penn Reporter Staff Writer, about the 6 and a half ton Bertha.

Enjoy

Sunday afternoon to the early evening, Engine 62 with a crew of 6 led by Battalion Chief Kristopher Dewey, headed over to Bridgeport as part of the Eastern LDH Task Force.

The LDH Task Force is made up of several Engines with at least 1000 feet of 5 inch hose which is referred to as Large Diameter Hose (LDH). The first Engine would get water from a hydrant or stream/river, and then supply the next truck. Then each Engine would then supply the next, each being 1000 feet away from each other. This is used to get water somewhere where there may not be any, or an area where all the water is already in use and more water is necessary.

Engine 62, along with the rest of the Task Force, staged until put in place. Once in place, Engine 62 layed 1000 feet of 5 inch and the driver of the Engine Engineer Michael Roellinghoff Sr. manned the pump panel as the remainder of the crew was called to man power. The crew assisted where they could, until it was time to head back to North Wales.

In one week will be the Montgomery County 5th Fire District's Annual Water Battle. Saturday the 10th, fire companies from the 5th District will be arriving in Hatfield starting at 9am for registration. The events will begin at 10am. The Hatfield Volunteer Fire Company will be hosting the event at the School Road Park on School Road in Hatfield. You do not have to be a firefighter to come out and cheer on your local heroes, and it does not cost a thing. Come cheer on the NuT HoUSe Crew as we compete for first place in events like the Tug of War and our personal favorite, the Midnight Run. Hope to see everyone there. And Happy 4th of July.

Don't forget this Sunday is the 4th of July, that not only means hamburgers and hotdogs. It also means the North Wales 4th of July Parade. Around 1 o'clock this Sunday you will get to see us and our trucks moving up Main Street, North Wales, along with a couple other participants. Make sure you come out early and get a good seat with a view.

Also please be careful grilling, cooking, and celebrating this weekend. Enjoy this 4th of July, and stay safe doing it.

We would like to congratulate FF Mark Donohue Jr. from the North Penn Volunteer Fire Company for graduating from the North Penn High School and Technical Center last Thursday. Also we would like to wish him luck this coming weekend as he faces the practicals of his FF1 Certification. Mark started at Station 62 when he was 16, as a Junior Firefighter, and now at 18, plans to stick with the company for many years to come.

Good luck Saturday Mark!

Fox 29's Sue Serio visited North Penn on Friday for their Firehouse Fridays. To view the videos click on the story's headline.

Sue interviewed, the President of the fire company John Strobel about the history of North Penn and the family that is 62, FF Dave Renner about a North Penn crew of 5 that saved the life of a young boy in 2008, UGFD's Chief John Scheiter about grilling in the Summer time, and QRS Captain Heidi Roellinghoff.

Sue also got the joy of going on a ride on our award winning 1929 American La France Pumper, Bertha.

Click on the link below to see a video from WBALTV.com, the Baltimore City's 11 news. The video is of the victim that Baltimore City Firefighter Jeff Novack pulled out of the burning building that he was injured at. In the video there is also an interview with Jeff, recalling what happened that Wednesday night. (The video is a few weeks old) Everyone at Station 62, The NuT HoUSe, are glad to say that Jeff has been making a fantastic recovery, and we all wish him the best.

www.wbaltv.com/video/23702579/index.html

Don't miss North Penn on Fox 29 this Friday.

North Penn Volunteer Fire Company was asked to appear on Fox 29's special segment called Firehouse Fridays. Firehouse Fridays gives the viewer a glimpse at different firehouses, the members, and the equipment they use in fire suppression and prevention, and rescues every week. For those that watch the program may remember that North Penn appeared on the show once already with their Fire Safety Trailer when Center Square Fire Company was on the program.

We hope you can watch us this coming Friday morning, and don't forget to tape it.

Monday evening North Penn was dispatched for a train fire at the North Wales Train Station.  Fire and smoke was coming from the side of the train car.  Crews made a quick knock on the fire from both above and below the station's platform. Crews then followed the train to the Lansdale Train Station where it was secured and out of the way for outbound and inbound trains.

The Upper Gwynedd Fire Company assisted with the call at the North Wales Train Station, and the Fairmont Fire Company of Lansdale assisted with the call at the Lansdale Train Station.

For more information on the incident and also a video interview with Chief William Goltz and a witness who was on scene from the start, go to TheReporterOnline.com

Photos courtesy of TheReporterOnline.com and Krista Hoblitzell

Saturday night, the North Penn Volunteer Fire Company responded with Station 80 to a wires down call.  While Squad 62 was returning to station from the call, North Penn was dispatched for a vehicle accident with injuries on Main St. in North Wales.  Following the vehicle accident a call came in involving a car into the woods on W. Montgomery Ave. QRS 62 handled Main Street with an engine from Upper Gwynedd Township, and Squad 62 handled the vehicle on Montgomery Ave.

Thank you to all the fire police that responded to assist with traffic control and making both scenes safe for us to operate.