CENTER POINT BLVD. ~ DISTRICT 148 ~ WILDLAND FIRE (DCNR ASSIST)

Chief 143, Brush 143, and Tanker 143 responded into Plains Twp. in the area of the Valley Stone Quarry to assist DCNR Bureau of Forestry on a wildland fire on Saturday afternoon. The Specialized Wildland Crew from Station 143 was tasked with lighting back fires, preventing any flare-ups outside of the prescribed fire lines, and protecting two large utility towers that carried power from the PP&L Sub-Station. All of the crews from Station 143 would operate on scene for approximately 6 hours until the fire was fully extinguished.

Brush 143 responded into Newport Twp. in the area of Whitney Point to assist DCNR Bureau of Forestry on a large wildland fire early Saturday afternoon. The Specialized Wildland Crew from Station 143 was tasked with patrolling a dozer line and preventing any flare ups. Brush 143 operated on scene for approximately 5 hours until relief crews would be called in for the night.

Chief 143, Brush 143, and Tanker 143 responded into Buck Twp. to assist DCNR Bureau of Forestry on a large wildland fire along Route 115. First arriving crews had to deal with the warm summer temperatures and rugged terrain while trying to extinguish the fire. The Specialized Wildland Crew from Station 143 operated on scene for more than 11 hours under the direction of Lima 53 before the fire could be brought under control.

Chief 143 and Engine 143 responded on the special alarm to the rear of 333 Exeter Avenue in West Pittston early Wednesday morning on a RIT assignment. With manpower light, Rescue 112 who was the first due RIT Team would be put to work assisting with attack lines and overhaul.

Due to the rapidly rising morning temperatures and the extensive overhaul that was needed, Command 184 would put the crew from Engine 143 to work overhauling the first floor and request Kingston Rescue 3 to the scene to take over as the RIT Team.

The building and several vehicles would be destroyed by the fast-moving morning fire. All of the companies operated on scene for approximately four hours before being released by Command 184. The fire was ruled electrical by the PSP Fire Marshall.

Chief 143, Squad 143, and Ambulance 543 were all dispatched Saturday afternoon for the two car crash with injuries. Chief 143 was first arriving, reporting no injuries and that one vehicle crashed into a parked car which was pushed into the front porches of two different residences.

The Chief then requested Ambulance 543 to cancel and Squad 143 to continue in due to a large amount of fluids and debris on the roadway. Once on scene, the crew from Squad 143 went right to work checking the vehicles for further hazards and controlling the downed fluids. There was no structural damage to either one of the residences involved.

Chief 143 and Squad 143 would remain on scene for an hour until all of the debris was removed from the roadway and the vehicles were safely towed away from the scene.

Squad 143 and Ambulance 543 were dispatched to Rock Street for a one car crash with possible injuries. Squad 143 arrived on scene first to find a car that struck a utility pole and a steel pole with severe front end damage and fluids down. The driver was already out of the vehicle prior to the fire department's arrival and later refused to be transported to a hospital by EMS. The Squad Company ended up assisting with clean up and traffic control. Both units operated on scene for approximately 30 minutes before returning to service.

In late 2009, members of the Hughestown Hose Company and Ladies Auxiliary began work on a Flag Pole and Memorial Project to be constructed at the front of the Hughestown Hose Company. The project was developed in a series of phases beginning with Phase I in Late 2009.

The first phase (Phase I) included the purchase and installation of the flag pole and the concrete pad. The next phase (Phase II), which is currently underway, consists of building the brick walls around the flag pole, installation of the cornerstones from both fire stations, and the mounting of the existing memorial plaques. Once all of the work from the previous phases has been completed, the next phase (Phase III) includes the entire front yard being landscaped to enhance the flag pole and memorial. Finally, the last phase of construction (Phase IV), will conclude with the installation of the final memorial plaque and a dedication ceremony for the flag pole and memorial.

The Hughestown Hose Company Flag Pole and Memorial Project is now entering into Phase II of the project. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the people, businesses, and organizations that are listed below for their assistance in this project thus far. Without their continued support, this project would not have been possible.

• Coon Concrete Industries
• Dupont Monument
• Hughestown Lions Club
• Membership of the Hughestown Hose Company
• Multiscape
• Passeri Granite, Marble, and Tile
• Representative Mike Carroll and Staff
• Residents of the Borough of Hughestown
• The Former Ladies Auxiliary of the Hughestown Hose Company

Fire tore through a Pittston Twp. home in the Gable Crest Development on Thursday afternoon. As crews were responding, smoke was already visible from several miles away. Engine 166 was first arriving, reporting a fully involved residence, and quickly placed a 1.75" line into service to protect the exposures until a water supply was established. Engine 112 and Engine 126 were ordered to establish the primary water supply as the development has no hydrants. Engine 112 dropped 1,000 feet of supply line, making it to the development's entrance. Engine 126 would pick up the lay and drop an additional 800 feet to the scene. As the hydrant was turned on, a car drove over one length of hose, causing it to burst. This added an additional delay in getting the water supply established.

Engine 143 was tasked with pumping the supply line from the development's entrance, up the hill to the scene. The engine crew assisted in deploying multiple lines to protect exposures and assist with knocking down the fire. Crews operated on scene for five hours before returning to service.

The Hughestown Hose Company recently placed a six wheel All Terrain Vehicle in service at Station 143. The ATV is a 1992 Polaris Big Boss that was acquired from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry. This new acquisition, called ATV-1, will be utilized by the department’s Specialized Wildland Firefighter Crew. This new vehicle will enable the wildland firefighters to transport much needed supplies to the fire lines such as hose, Indian tanks, and personnel to areas where apparatus cannot access. The ATV is also equipped with a twenty four gallon tank and pump unit that can be utilized for filling Indian tanks on the fire line and knocking down small fires.

Around 0600 hours, Engine 143 would be sent to Foote Avenue in Duryea for the working garage fire behind a residence. Ambulance 526 was first to arrive on scene and confirmed that smoke was showing from the rear of a detached two car garage. The crew from Engine 143 would deploy a back up line to assist the crew from Engine 126 who deployed the initial attack line. Truck 963 and Rescue 112 would handle the truck operations, opening up the roof.

The crew from Engine 143 would remain on the scene for a time dousing hot spots and overhauling the roof area. The fire appears to have originated in a wood stove. All of the companies would operate on scene for an hour before being released by Command 126.

At approximately 0323 hours, Squad 143 and Ambulance 543 were dispatched to the Sunday Dispatch at 109 New Street for a report of a Motor Vehicle Accident with one vehicle into the building. Because of some confusion on the location of the incident, Pittston City Fire and Greater Pittston Ambulance were initially dispatched to the scene reporting that the car had struck and penetrated the side of the building. Ambulance 543 arrived on scene to find the driver already under the care of the Ambulance 565 and Geisinger Medic 303.

The crew from Squad 143 went to work, quickly stabilizing the vehicle, disabling the vehicle’s electrical system, and assessing the damage to the structure. Because of the nature of the incident, Ambulance 543 and Squad 143 remained on scene until the vehicle could be removed from the structure. All units operated on the scene for approximately one hour before being released by incident command.

Several employees of the Sunday Dispatch had to be removed from the building for a short period of time but were allowed to return to work. Luckily, none of the employees were injured as the work station closest to the accident was not in use.

Chief 143 and Engine143 were dispatched as part of a first alarm assigned to the area of Popple Construction, in the Connell's Patch section of Duryea for a fully involved trailer fire. Chief 963 arrived on scene first and reported a fully involved trailer fire with extension into a garage. Due to the location of the incident, Chief 963 would then request the first alarm of his Tanker Task Force to be dispatched to the scene.

Chief 143 was next to arrive and would take over the Incident Command duties while Chief 963 would assume the role as the Operations Chief. While the first alarm companies stretched hose lines and forced entry, Engine 143 and Rescue 166 would establish a supply line together, laying more than two thousand feet of large diameter hose. 

With a supply line established, crews operated on scene for three hours before the fire was fully extinguished. There were no injuries reported and the State Police Fire Marshall was called in to investigate the cause of the fire.

Chief 143 and Engine 143 responded on a second alarm assignment to Tompkins Street in Pittston City for a working fire. The first arriving crews found a working garage fire that was spreading to the exposures on both sides. Command 165 would quickly strike a second alarm to assist the first alarm crews with manpower.

The crews from Station 165 were able to get a quick knock down on the fire while the second alarm companies handled the fire in the exposure buildings. Chief 143 and Engine 143 would remain on scene for an hour before returning to service.

What started out being dispatched as a brush fire endangering a shed turned out to be a debris fire between two detached garages with extension into one of them.

Engine 125 and Brush 143 responded to the area of Lidy Road in Dupont for a report of a brush fire. Engine 125 was first to arrive on scene and reported a working garage fire with a hydrant in front of the residence. The crew from Engine 125 would establish their own water supply and would quickly place two lines in service to knock down the fire before it could spread to the second detached garage.

Brush 143 would assist with overhauling the fire and checking for extension. Command 125 would also request Engine 143 to the scene for assistance with manpower. Due to the quick knock down by Engine 125, the units operated on scene for approximately one hour before returning to service.