July 25, 2009  Today the RTFD members gathered at 1321 for the yearly RIT certification.   Members who are on the RTFD RIT team must pass a physical test as well as a written RIT test, along with numerous fire operations credentials surrounding Rapid Intervention.  Testing start first thing in the early morning and went on till the mid afternoon as members  where prepared for the testing.  Good job to everyone who came out for this certification to be ready for the “second May-Day” 

“Pride is our strength”

July 21, 2009 @ 0524 in the early morning the RTFD was activated for a waterline break at 1144 Norwood Street.  The Engine and the Duty Chief went out to handle the incident and as they arrived on the scene and progressed down to the basement area, they found the cause of the waterline break….a vehicle went into the house causing the waterline break.  To every one’s surprise, they went to go to work to stabilize the vehicle and structure while trying to gain access to the patient who was unharmed from the accident, which the patient was very lucky.   The Rescue Squad went on the air after communications gave the update for the car into a house and assisted the Engine Crew down in the basement area with stabilizing the basement wall.  The patient was extricated from the vehicle minutes later and was handed over to East Hills EMS.  All RTFD units where placed back into service just under an hour for the incident.

July 17, 2009 at 0835 hours in the morning the RTFD went out to a report of an auto on fire at 1225 Annette Street in our first due area.  The Duty Chief, Engine 1 and the Rescue Squad all went on the road within seconds, fully staffed to go to work.  A large smoke column could be seen from the strip on Scalp Ave and a working auto fire was announced to communications.  As the Engine arrived on the scene,  the crew pulled the front bumper to go to work on a well off engine compartment fire.  The Squad’s crew worked with the tool to start opening up the hood to gain access.  The fire was quickly knocked down and all crews finished cleaning up.  All units where placed back in service just under 20 minutes for this incident.  On a side note:  while crews worked to extinguished the fire, the owner of the vehicle kept “yard shopping” to look for great deals!

July 17, 2009 at 0357 hours the Rescue Squad was requested for the RIT assignment to Route 30 in Boswell (Somerset County) for a house on fire.   This would be first of the two this week  for this assignment for Boswell Fire.  The Squad arrived on the scene and stood by for the RIT assignment as crews worked the  house that was on fire upon their arrival on the Bravo side attic area.  The Squad went back in service just over 2 hours and headed back to the Township without any further action taken.

July 13, 2009 at 2140 the department went out for a report of a house on fire at 211 Bertmin Street in our 1st due.  The Duty Chief was already handling a prior incident and went to the scene directly.  The Truck went on the road fully staffed ready to go to work.  The Duty Chief arrived on the scene with a 1-1/2 story, ordinary construction with fire venting out already in the basement area on the charlie side.  The Truck crew was split up to handle forcible entryinto the house to handle the primary search as well as the other crew was placed to working the fire.  Engine 1 went on the air and was giving the assignment to reverse lay to the plug. and supply the Truck.  The Rescue Squad arrived and was giving the assignment to handle the RIT.  The fire was under control just under 4 minutes and all crews worked together to handle overhaul and salvage operations.  A total of 27 volunteers worked this incident to put it under control.  Departments form Oakland Fire Department and Lower Yoder Fire Department handled standing by  at 1321 Scalp Ave for any other incidents within our 1st due response.  All units where placed in service by Command just under two hours.

July 11, 2009 at 1503 hours the RTFd was sent down to assist Bedford County for the Tanker for a fully involved house on fire just off of route 56 near the town of Ryot..  The Duty Chief and the Tanker went on the road and headed over the mountain to assist with tanker shuttle operations.  The Tanker remained on scenw well over an hour then was placed back into service.  As the Tanker handled the inceident,  Three crews remined in station to handle calls within the township.

June 23, 2009 at 1518 hours, bells went out for the report of an auto accident  with entrapment.  The Duty Chief went directly out with the Rescue Squad directly behind him.  Engine 1 and Squad 1 responded as well with full crews to assist the Rescue Operations.  The Duty Chief arrived and confirmed  the report with two people entrapped.  The crews from the Rescue set up a full tool set up with taking the front passenger door completely.  Once the Rescue gained access to the patients they assisted East Hills EMS with patient removal.  As the extrication was completed within 10 minutes, crews finished off the operations by cleaning up debris and controlling fluids, as well as handling traffic.  Engine 1 handling shutting down traffic at Scalp Ave. and Eisenhower Blvd.  A total of 16 volunteers worked the rescue operation and was placed back into service by the Duty Chief just under 45 minutes.

June 23, 2009 at 0126 in the early morning the RTFD went out again to Somerset County for the RIT assignment.  This time is was to assist Windber Fire for a smoke in the building at the Sheetz convenience store located on Graham Avenue.  The Rescue Squad and the Duty Chief went on the air with a total of seven volunteers to handle the assignment.  The Rescue arrived on the scene and was given the assignment to stand by with RIT.  No other actions where taken by the crew and was placed in service just under 30 minutes.  As the Rescue was handling the RIT call, the RTFD was able to keep two crews available for anything to happen in the Township.

June 16, 2009 at 0424 hours the RTFD was requested by Company 631 (Jerome Fire Department) out of Somerset County to assist with RIT and an Engine.  Engine 1 went on the air within seconds of the report and the Rescue Squad handling the RIT assignment followed directly behind Engine 1.  As Engine 1 and the Duty Chief arrived on the scene their orders where to assist with interior fire suppression.  The Rescue Squad arrived with handling the RIT assignment.  As the fire progressed, crews from the RIT started to work the fire as well as handling venting the roof.  As the fire was knocked down, the RTFD kept a full crew for RIT as well as working with crews to complete overhaul operations.   A total of 16 volunteers worked the fire while a full crew stood by at 1321 Scalp Ave. for any other incidents.  The RTFD went back into service just under 3 hours of work time.

June 6, 2009 at 1129 hours the RTFD went out for the report of an auto on fire located in the Home Depot parking lot near the car wash.  Engine 2 arrived first with an auto fully involved as the Rescue  followed behind  Engine 2 within minutes.  Crews stretched the front bumper line to put a knock on the fire while the crew from the Rescue Squad used the tool to start opening up the engine compartment.  Engine 1 and Engine 3 where placed in service before arrival on scene by the Duty Chief.  Knocked down was turned in just under 4 minutes and all units where placed available by command.