October 1st - Busy start to the month

Tanker 25 responded to two fire calls today - both in South Middleton Twp. The first call was a non-emergency mutual aid assist to Company 35 to help extinguish a controlled burn at 620 Gutshall Rd. While on location, Tanker 25 received a first alarm structure fire call for a house filled with smoke at 150 E Old York RD. Command 36 confirmed a fire within the structure and requested Tanker 25 to procede back the driveway to assist at the scene. Once released from the scene, the tanker returned to continue to assist with extinguishing the controlled burn on Gutshall RD.

Monroe Fire Co Completes Fire Prevention Programs

National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 7-13) was a busy week for members of the Monroe Fire Company. Members made several site visits, including visits to the Mountain Side Preschool, Monroe Elementary School, and Playful Beginnings Preschool in Mechanicsburg.

While at the Elementary School, the fire company conducted a fire prevention assembly which not only taught valuable lessons about fire safety, but also honored those students who won the annual fire prevention poster contest. 1st place winners will receive a ride to school in Engine 25.

To cap off the week, the fire company hosted its first annual open house, which saw a large turnout from area families. The Open House featured station and equipment tours, fire prevention education, free smoke detectors, and visits from the S. Middleton Smoke House, the Cumberland County Mobile 9-1-1 Center, and STAT MedEvac 13 (York, PA).

A very special thank you to all who participated in this year's events. See the photo galleries below for images from the events.

1st Annual Open House

Playful Beginning Preschool

Mountainside Preschool

Monroe Elementary Poster Contest

Open House Press Release

Sentinel News Article by Jason Scott

October 17th - Working House Fire; Box 25-06

At 19:45 hours, Engine Co 25 was alerted to a reported house fire at 188 Clouser RD. E25 was accompanied by E133, E128, Truck 28, Rescue 27, and Tankers 25 and 33. EMS was Ambulances 182 and 282. Chief 25 advised Headquarters of a large thermal column visible while responding. First-in crews found a vacant two-story brick farm house with heavy fire and smoke from multiple sides of the structure. Due to the fire load, and the fact the home was vacant, Command 25 (Farrell) decided the best attack would be from the exterior.

Crews made a defensive attack using Compressed Air Foam off E25 and darkened down the massive blaze within minutes. Several tankers from Cumberland and York Counties were used to fight the blaze. E233 established a fill-site a Kon Hause RD and W. Trindle RD at the site of the former WTPA-FM radio station.

A special thank you to the crews of Engine 430 and Tanker 24 who helped cover the 25 house and put our equipment back in service after the incident.

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October 19th - Dillsburg Standby & Storm Calls

Engine 25 covered for Dillsburg (York Co Station 64) while members worked at the annual Farmer's Fair. Shortly after the children's Halloween Parade, a strong rainstorm hit the area sending fairgoers scrambling. Unfortunately, the storm also sent drivers skidding on US 15 and Engine 25 was alerted along with Upper Allen Twp (Cumberland Co Station 23) and Monaghan Twp (York Co Station 67) for a multi-vehicle accident on Route 15 North at the county line in the 23-97 box. Chief 123 (Salter) arrived on scene and advised Headquarters that a number of vehicles were involved in the accident and that there were several injuries. Engine 25 arrived on the scene next and began patient care and extinguished a small engine fire. After the accident, Engine 25 was alerted to two instances of trees down in Monroe Twp. Mini-Pumper 25 and Chief 125 handled one tree at the intersection of Eppley Rd and Brindle RD and Engine 25 handled one down at S Locust Point RD and Park Place.

Several members of Co 25 completed a 16-hour RIT Operations training course by Traditions Training LLC. Following some classroom instruction, attendees completed a number of survival and rescue evolutions.

Poster Contest Winners Receive Ride to School

Oct. 29th -- This morning out first-place fire prevention poster contest winners received a ride to school aboard Engine 25 and Mini-Pumper 25. The seven students were greeted by cheers and shouts from the entire student-body as we pulled alongside the front curb at the elementary school. The seven students (grades K-5) were selected a first-place winners in the annual fire prevention poster contest. The theme for 2007 was "Practice your escape." We estimate about 90% of the students in the school submitted a poster this year - a number that continues to grow each year. This year's first place winners were:

• Alison Swank (Kindergarten)
• Samantha Schoffstall (1st grade)
• Ashlee Peters (2nd grade)
• Yahya Soliman (3rd grade)
• Andrea Dollinish and Trevor Lingle (tied - 4th grade)
• Madison Sauve (5th grade)

The Carlisle Sentinel also covered the event. The article can be read here.