The RTFD went out around 3:30 on a Saturday afternoon to a report of a brush fire near Solomon Run Road. Reports where giving to command from communications that we had a 1/2 acre off. As the first units from the RTFD arrived they found a fast moving brush fire which already took a vast amount of area. Command started the additional resources immediately to assist the RTFD with this fierce fire. Over 10 additional companies throughout Cambria County, Somerset County and the Dept. of Forestry as well as a helicopter from Centre County assisted with the RTFD. Crews finally finished clean up of the complete fire around 9:30pm that evening, which took nearly 60 acres of heavy wooded area and steep terrain. The RTFD thanks all the departments involved as well as the Dept. of Forestry who assisted the RTFD with this fire in our 1st due.

A press conference was held at 1321 Scalp Ave (Fire Headquarters) today to offically announce the merger between the Richland Township Fire Department and the Geistown Fire Company. This merger now brings these two departments into a single entity, The Richland Township Fire Department. Nine years ago, the RTFD was the first department in Cambria County to merge with the Solomon Run Fire Department, then with the Belmont Fire Department. The two organizations will begin implementing an integration plan immediately, starting with identifying the Lamberd Ave. firehouse as Staion 3-3 and restructuring the RTFD and Geistown Boro’s first due assignments to work together as one complete department. We would like to thank everyone who was involved on making this long and needed merge between the two departments. Check back for additional news as it occurs.

Local news link to story:

http://www.wjactv.com/localnews/19199416/detail.html

“Pride is our Strength”