Richland Township Fire Department is getting pumped for this year’s Thunder in the Valley, starting Wednesday.

Some of the events we are looking forward to:

• Celebrity Sports Charity Benefit
• 4th Annual Jeffrey J. Keyser Memorial Gob Run
• Whiskey River Panhandlers
• Jimbo and the Soupbones
• The fireworks display

… and that’s just naming a few.

RTFD will be serving food and cold beer during Thunder. Our bar and kitchen will be open Wed – Thurs 6pm to 12am and Fri – Sat 11am to 2am.

Click here to view the flyer

Click here to view the menu

On Monday, June 7th at 20:03hrs, Engine 1 (B/C Ellsworth), Engine 3 (Lt. Kapelewski), and Squad 3 (FF Ream) went on the air for a vehicle fire at 1229 Maken Drive, Richland Township. Shortly after all units responded, Communications advised that it was going to be a conversion van, fully involved. Engine 1 arrived on scene first, stretching a 200’, 1 ¾ “ handline. Upon opening the handline on the engine compartment and dashboard of the van, Engine 1’s crew were surprised with the fact that a lot of the dashboard was made from Magnesium. The handline from Engine 1, then began dowsing the flames on the backside of the van, while the front of the van was taken care of with Class D Extinguisher’s off of Engine’s 1 and 3. The van was briefly overhauled and checked over for hot spots, before all unit’s were placed available at 20:46 hrs.

For a chance to win season tickets for the Pittsburgh Steelers, come to RTFD’s kick off tailgater on August 29, 2010 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, at Solomon Run Station Pavilion. The winner will be announced at the party.

There will also be 8 runner-up prizes – 2 tickets to each Steelers home game!

This event costs only $25 per ticket and $100 for 5 tickets. There is a limited supply.

Click here to view the flyer

For a chance to win season tickets for the Pittsburgh Steelers, come to RTFD’s kick off tailgater on August 29, 2010 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, at Solomon Run Station Pavilion. The winner will be announced at the party.

There will also be 8 runner-up prizes – 2 tickets to each Steelers home game!

This event costs only $25 per ticket and $100 for 5 tickets. There is a limited supply.

Click here to view the flyer

On Monday May 3, at 21:41 hours, the RTFD RIT team was activated for a
working commercial fire assignment assisting Windber Fire (Somerset County)
at Top Hat Cleaners (1100 Graham Avenue). The Rescue immediately hit the
street with 7, as well as the Assistant & Battalion. As Squad 1 was
returning from the Shade substation, they happened to be in the area and
responded as well, bringing 13 volunteers from the RTFD to the scene. Crews
arrived, prepared equipment, secured utilities, laddered the establishment,
assisted with fire suppression, and completed other various tasks. After two
hours on the scene, all RTFD units went available at 23:45 hours. Throughout
the incident, 10 volunteers staffed headquarters in the event of another
activation.

Saturday March 27th Just as the volunteers of the RTFD were preparing to take in an evening of laughter at the annual comedy night fundraiser hosted by the RTFD. The bell was struck for Rescue3-1 (RIT) & Truck 3-1 for a reported church fire at 108 church street in the borough of Jenners Somerset County. Rescue 3-1, Truck 3-1 along with 3 chief went in route with a total staffing of 15. Chief 605 arrived on scene with heavy fire from the basement extending into division 1 and established the 605 command. Command 605 requested the 2nd alarm shortly after his arrival. Rescue 3-1 arrived and established the RIT team and completed a 360 evaluation and finished laddering the building and performed other scene safety task for the command. Truck 3-1’s crew split up to open the roof and perform extensive opening up of the basement and division 1 . RTFD Crews cleared at 100hrs.

At approximately 2000 hrs units from station 3 were dispatched to Curtis Dr in Richland Township for a report of smoke in the house. As units went en route the dispatcher advised that the caller could now see flames coming from the 1st floor. Car 3-1 (A/C Ober) arrived on scene with fire showing from side “C” Truck 3-1 (Lt Meyers) crew made entry and encountered heavy fire conditions on the main floor. Engine 3-3 (Lt Kapelewseki) & Eng 3-1( FF Shaffer) split their crews to secured the water supply and complete an aggressive primary search of all floors. Crews located 2 dogs and a cat that were removed and turned over to waiting EMS all were revived and are expected to make a full recovery. Chief Safety Officer Heffelfinger held the Curtis drive command and Deupty Chief Meyers was operation. Units cleared after approximately 3 hours. Overall the RTFD responded with 7 pieces of apparatus and 24 men.

At approximately 1145 hrs Rescue 3-1 & Eng 3-3 responded to Luray Ave & Crestview Dr in Richland Township for an accident with people trapped. Car 3-1 (B/C Ellsworth) Arrived to fine one person confined. Rescue 3-1’s crew quickly stabilized the vehicles and extricated the patient to waiting EMS while Eng 3-3 provided fire protection and scene cleanup services.

As the snow ball battle and shoveling was coming to a close Eng’s 3 & 1 took in a working car fire at WalMart on Town Center Dr. Car 3-1 arrived to find a working engine compartment fire in the middle of the lot. The fire was extinguished quickly and damage was limited to the original vehicle crews were back in service within 45 minutes.

With over 100 inches of snow that has fallen this season and more than 75 inches in the month of February alone it seems like our winter will never end. Structure collapses and roof leaks are becoming the every day norm in our region. The RTFD is no exception as we experienced leaking roofs in our stations this week. This week’s Tuesday training had crews working together to remove the snow from our station roofs. More than 20 members worked together for 2 hours Tuesday night to remove snow. And as most would expect before the night was over a good old fashioned snow ball battle was underway and Lt. Meyers earned a chore list from dad. Good Times.