2008 Total Calls: 1,789 100% Volunteer

Our Sympathy and Condolences go out to the City of Pittsburgh Police Department

The Berkeley Hills Fire Company would like to express our most sincere condolences to the families, friends, and fellow officers of the City of Pittsburgh Police Department. No words can express the sorrow we have for the loss of these three heroes in the line of duty.

We also would like to express our hopes for a rapid recovery of the two officers injured during these tragic events.

Far too often we as public servants go without the smallest offer of a thank you. We would like to take this time and thank all of you who put your lives on the line everyday so that the public may feel safe even at the cost of your own sacrifices so other may live.

We thank you and will never forget you.

Submitted by: roofcracker88
April 04, 2009

Berkeley Hills to Receive two FEMA AFG Grants, and State Grant

The Berkeley Hills Fire Department was notified of their approval of two FEMA AFG grants and one State Grant that will be publicly announced soon. The first of the three was a Regional UHF radio grant that will provide Ross Township and West View Borough full UHF capability and will allow for both fire departments to move to the UHF platform that will be supported by Allegheny County 911. The Ross Township and West View Borough Police Departments have not decided as of yet if they will be moving to UHF but will have full ability to do so when they make their decision.

The second grant that was obtained was an Operations and Safety grant for a new vehicle exhaust system for all five bays of the department and for complete replacement of all fire department hose, nozzles, and appliances.

The last grant received for the department was the State Grant that will help replace all power saws, fans, and the rope rescue equipment for the department. The ladder truck crews will have many new options when doing ladder company functions at the scene of structure fires with this multiple tool capability. Also the ladder crews will have up to date rope rescue equipment that will help assist Ross West View EMS crews on incidents in the Berkeley Hills District.

With these grants the department will be able to save much needed monies to help support the replacement of our current ladder truck that will be a priority project for the department.

Again, we want to thank our grant writer for his tireless efforts in obtaining much needed monies for us. He continues his streak that we hope will never end. We could not do it without you Josh.

Submitted by: roofcracker88
February 27, 2009

House Fire in Laurel Gardens

2/23/2009

At 0421 hrs, Companies 253, 248 and EMS were alerted to a house fire on 4th Avenue in Laurel Gardens. At 0428 hrs, Ross PD and 253 Chief arrived to find a working fire and suspected entrapment. With the reported entrapment, Station 247 notified county of an available crew in quarters if help was needed. 247 Engine was added to the call at 0431 hrs, and was second arriving at 0436. The Engine laid a supply line to 248 Engine 3, and the hydrant was pumped by 3rd arriving 248 Engine 1. The Engine crew worked to stretch additional lines, ventilate, control utilities, and place portable ladders and lighting. 247E2, 249E2, and 297 AIR were also added to the call a short time later. One victim was located by 247 Engine after the fire was knocked down.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video_legacy/18778793/index.html





Submitted by: Guido
February 25, 2009

Vehicle Crash

2/19/2009

Overnight, 247E was alerted to Sutter Road for a rollover crash with reported entrapment. The Engine arrived to find no entrapment, but an SUV that had rolled and came to rest on its wheels. The crew stabilized the vehicle, mitigated hazards, and packaged 1 patient.

 

Submitted by: Guido
February 21, 2009

Fire and Ice

Berkeley Hills Fire Company stood-by with an engine at the Fire and Ice festival at Northway Mall on Saturday night. The festival included a Chili Cookoff and ice carving.

 
 


Submitted by: droopy
February 07, 2009

2009 Schedule for CPR and FIRST Aid Classes

Berkeley Hills Fire Company has released its 2009 schedule of CPR and First Aid Classes on its web site at http://www.station247.org/site/cpr_sched.php. We provide these classes at a minimal fee as a service to the community, so that our residents and business owners and employees can be prepared in case they face a medical emergency in the homes, businesses, or in the community. Since we have instituted this program, we have trained hundreds of people in the community. We hope to see you attend one of these classes this year.

Submitted by: droopy
January 19, 2009

Annual Appreciation Dinner and Awards

Last night, Berkeley Hills firefighters gather together for their annual appreciation dinner. At the appreciation dinner, annual awards were given. Awards for this year were:

Firefighter of the year: Mike Allaway
President's award: Ralph Pagone
Chief John C. Haschke Leadership Award: Chief Emeritus John C. Haschke

The firefighter of the year was Mike Allaway. During 2008, Mike was one of the most consistent responders making 251 calls, or more than 53% of the calls. Mike also coordinated our public program of fire preventions, conducting classes both at the station and in the community.

Ralph Pagone, the recipient of the President's Award, created and runs a successful first aid and CPR program the fire company offers to the community. Ralph coordinates and teaches these classes monthly, and they help the fire company meet its mission of education to the community and help the community be prepared for medical emergencies they might face in their home or business. Ralph also was one of the top QRS medical call responders.

This year, the fire company created a new yearly award for leadership in the fire company in the name of the long-serving former chief, John C. Haschke. Chief Haschke was chief of the department from 1955 to 1986 and was instrumental in bringing innovation and leadership both to the fire company and the fire service in Ross Township and Allegheny County. From bringing the first aerial ladder truck to the fire company in 1958 to advocacy of commercial building codes to comprehensive training, Chief Haschke was a progressive leader. Chief Haschke is the first recipient of the Chief John C. Haschke Leadership Award recognizing that his significant contributions to the fire company have been instrumental in its success and continue to impact members to this day.

Submitted by: droopy
January 18, 2009

The Berkeley Hills Volunteers Finish Another Busy Year, Look Forward to 2009

The Berkeley Hills Fire Company finished another busy year at the completion of 2008. The Volunteers finished with a total of 1,789 calls on the year, 472 of which were fire and 1,317 of which were medical runs. A big thanks to the dedication the volunteers continue to show. Without your dedication none of this would be possible.

However, the Volunteers kept busy with more than just calls. In 2008 the members of the company accumulated 4,565 hours of training between in-house training and outside training, many of the members traveling as far as the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy in Lewistown to train. Some of the members dedicated time to training hard to receive their EMS certification while others trained to further advance in their Pro-Board certifications.

That being said, the Volunteers look forward to 2009 for another busy year and another year of training hard and making themselves the best firefighters they can be. So far for 2009, The Volunteers have already ran 81 calls as of January 12th, 2009. The Volunteers would like to wish the public and our fellow firefighters a safe and Happy New Year!


Submitted by: astudebaker
January 13, 2009