Member Information Archive - 2010
Member Information Archive - 2009
Member Information Archive - 2008
Member Information Archive - 2007
Member Information Archive - 2006

December 2005: Note from the Fire Chief: Winter Driving
Winter is here, and with it, driving conditions will be deteriorating. Snow, ice, frost, and road salt all affect stopping and turning ability. These conditions, plus decreased visibility because of frosty windows and lower sun angles, require that you drive with extra caution through the winter months. These conditions affect both personal and department vehicles. Be observant of weather and road conditions, and always drive safely. Remember, dead responders save no lives. Stay safe and arrive alive.

December 2005: Thermal Imaging Camera In Service
The new MSA Evolution 5200 Thermal Imaging Camera is in service on Engine 255-2. It is stored in the cab on the Officer's side dash. The backup battery is still being stored at the station, on the front duty desk. Once the vehicle charger is installed, the battery will be stored there. The device is easy to use, lightweight and durable. It can be used in the low temperature sensitivity mode for search and rescue, or in the high temperature sensitivity mode for fire extension and source assessment.

November 2005: New Accountability System in Operation
The new accountability tags are in place on most firefighters' gear, and the new accountability board and rings are in place on all apparatus except Engine 255-3. Please remember to adhere to the new accountability system on all calls. We will, no doubt, be refining the system as experience dictates. If you have any comments or suggestions, see the Fire Chief. Member ID Tags from the same system are completed. These were distributed at the November meeting. If you missed the meeting, you will find the tag hanging in your gear locker. These ID tags are equipped with a lanyard so as to be wearable ID at community events and mass response incidents.

October 2005: New Gear Fitting
We will be fitting firefighters for the new personal protective gear that we are getting through the Fire Grant. A list of members to be receiving the new gear is posted at the station in the lounge. All members so assigned should report on November 3rd or November 4th to be fitted for the new gear.

September 2005: Member Photos
We will be taking photos of all department members for the new photo ID membership and accountability cards in the next few weeks. The first session was at the monthly meeting on September 7th. More to follow.

September 2005: Equipment Changes -- Engine 255-1 and Engine 255-2

• The latest equipment changes were made at the drill on September 14. On Engine 255-1 and Engine 2552, we added the new submersible pumps along with the two section of discharge hose for each. On Engine 255-1 the pump is located in the driver side rear compartment behind the S.C.B.A. fill station and on Engine 255-2 the pump is in the driver side rear campbell compartment.
• Also the new zero-torque nozzles have been put on both engines. Operators: Check the pump panels for stickers that mark the proper PSI flow for these. We will work with the new nozzles in the coming weeks to get everyone oriented to their proper use. Any questions, see Lieutenant 255-B.

September 2005: Equipment Changes -- Engine 255-3 and Squad 255

• Squad 255 is now the designated response vehicle for all RIT calls. The RIT pack is being kept in the stokes basket right behind the Squad. Remember to place this on the vehicle for any RIT response.
• In the event of severe weather and pumping details, Squad 255 is set up to be equipped with the Gorman-Rupp trash pump and one small submursable pump, with two sections of hard suction, two sections of 3" and two sections of 1-1/2" SJ hose. These will be kept in the storage unit behind the squad. Place them on the vehicle for any pumping detail response.
• The 4" hose has been removed from Engine 255-3. Right now, the only supply line in the bed is the hard suction needed for the immediate weather problem. We will not be repacking this engine with supply line until the repairs have been made to the booster tank.
• For now, Engine 255-3 is to be used primarily for pumping details and as a squad. The booster tank is empty. 
• Engine 255-3 is equipped with the Honda trash pump, the two large submursable pumps, one small submursable pump and the wet vac, with three 50' sections of 3" and six 50' sections of 1-1/2" SJ hose. Two sections of 3" hard suction are in the hose bed.

August 2005: Severe Weather Plan in Operation

• All portable pumps, chain saws and auxiliary equipment have been tested and are ready for response to severe weather emergencies.
• Engine 255-3 is equipped with the Honda trash pump, the two large submursable pumps, one small submursable pump and the wet vac, with three 50' sections of 3" and six 50' sections of 1-1/2" SJ hose. Two sections of 3" hard suction are in the hose bed.
• Squad 255 is equipped with the Gorman-Rupp trash pump and one small submursable pump, with two sections of hard suction, two sections of 3" and two sections of 1-1/2" SJ hose.
• Chief 255 will be kept at the station with two small submursable pumps on board.
• Use Engine 255-3, Squad 255 and Chief 255 for pumping details. The chain saws are on Engine 255-1 and Engine 255-2. Use these vehicles for calls involving trees or poles down.

If severe weather strikes, the Scott Township Emergency Management center will be put into operation. All tasks will be assigned through this center once it is activated. Allegheny County Communications will direct all Scott Township calls through the Scott Township EMA center, with a designated frequency assignment made at the time of activation.

August 2005: NOTICE: Special Meeting - Preparation for Severe Weather
Hurricane Katrina is expected to continue inland and is very likely to cause severe weather, particularly heavy rains, in our area. While it's unlikely that these will be of the magnitude of the rains from Hurricane Ivan last September, it is still possible that widespread flooding and damage will occur. The storms are likely to arrive sometime between Tuesday, August 30 and Thursday, September 1. Therefore, we will have a special meeting on Monday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the station to review and begin to implement our natural disaster preplan. All firefighters should attend, and all support personnel are most welcome. If the event is sufficiently severe, we will need all our resources to serve the community. We will be marshalling all our existing equipment, and will add some new hard suction line and other supplies to try to provide the ability to handle multiple pumping details at the same time. Engine 255-3, Squad 255 and Chief 255 will all be configured for flood damage mitigation. Engines 255-1 and 255-2 will remain available for fire fighting incidents.

July 2005: Apparatus and Equipment Notes

• Engine 255-2 is back in service for all calls. Use it as the first-out engine for all structure fire calls in Bower Hill, and the second-out engine for all other calls. The headlight switch has been replaced.
• The officer's side main discharge on Engine 255-2 can only be used with 2-1/2" line, unless you use a 2-1/2" to 3-1/2" adapter.
• One of the SCBA from Engine 255-3 has been moved to Squad 255 to temporarily replace a unit out for repair. Remember to move it back if you use Engine 255-3 for a RIT response. 
• The correct 4" to 3-1/2" and 3-1/2" to 4" adapters are in service on Engine 255-3. The 3-1/2" to 4" is connected to the Humat valve and the first section of hose, and the 4" to 3-1/2" is in the forward Campbell compartment. The 4" hose is compatible with that used by South Fayette departments, so you will not need the adapters if it becomes necessary to lay line to a Station 266, 267, 268 or 269 engine during a RIT operation in South Fayette.
  

July 2005: Squad 255 to the Pittsburgh Fire Expo
Squad 255 will be on display by 1st Out Specialty Vehicles and Equipment at the Pittsburgh Fire Expo at the Monroeville ExpoMart from July 8th to July 10th. The vehicle will be out of service from 8:00 AM July 8th, when it will be placed on display, until 5:00 PM on July 10th, when the event ends. The hours of the expo are July 8th, 1PM to 6PM, and July 9th and 10th, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Anyone who wants tickets to the event should see the Fire Chief as soon as possible.

June 2005: Standard Operational Guidelines Updates
Updates and revisions to the SOGs are complete. A draft copy is available at the station or from the Chief. These guidelines took effect June 1st.

June 2005: Pump Operations Class Session Rescheduled
Note the time change for this session.

The second session of the Pump Operations 1 course scheduled for May 14, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. has been rescheduled to June 11, 2005. The class will meet at 08:00 at the station, and after a short didactic session, travel to Mayview for the practical portion of the class.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Jason at (412)670-6346.

May 2005: Special Department Meeting, May 19, 7:00 PM

May 2005: Pump Operations Class Session Postponed
Note the time change for this session.

The second session of the Pump Operations 1 course scheduled for May 14, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. has been postponed because of the probability of severe weather. The current forecast is for strong to severe storms throughout the day. Check this page for a reschedule date and time.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Jason at (412)670-6346.

May 2005: Fire Expo Trip, May 20 - 21
Department members who are attending the Lancaster County Fire Expo in Harrisburg on May 20th and 21st should see the Fire Chief as soon as possible, to see when tickets will be distributed. See Gary for details. Visit the Lancaster County Fire Expo Site for details on the attractions at the Fire Expo.

May 2005: Engine 255-2 out for cosmetic work
Engine 255-2 is temporarily out of service at 1st Out Specialty Vehicles for cosmetic work. It is being re-striped and re-lettered to match Engine 255-1. It should return by May 14. Meanwhile, the Chief 255 vehicle is being kept at the station for use as an additional Squad. It has SCBAs and extra equipment on board. While Engine 255-2 is out, use Engine 255-1 as the first-out attack engine on all calls, with Engine 255-3 remaining as a last back-up. Remember that Engine 255-3 has 4" supply line at the moment.

April 2005: New Hose Loads for Engines

• Engine 255-1 is now packed with 1000 feet of 3-1/2" supply line in a single straight lay, flat load. This will be filled out once the rest of the new hose arrives.
• Engine 255-2 has been filled out to the full 1600 feet of 3-1/2" supply line in a single / dual split straight lay, flat load.
• Engine 255-3 is now packed with 1200 feet of 4" supply line in a single straight flat load. Thanks to Fairview VFD for donating this hose. You will need 4" to 3-1/2" and 3-1/2" to 4" adapters to use this line with any of our other supply line. Once the rest of the new hose arrives, we will probably revert to a split bed, with 1200 feet of 3-1/2" on the street side and 800 feet of 4" on the curb side. More details to follow as we work to improve the utility of this engine.

April 2005: Pump Operations Class
To sign up, see the message posted at the station on the bulletin board in the lounge.

The Pump Operations 1 course will be held April 30 and May 14, 2005 at the station from 9:00 a.m. each day, and is open to any member that wants to drive any of our engines. Current operators are welcome to attend as a refresher.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Jason at (412)670-6346.

April 2005: Fire Expo Trip, May 20 - 21
Department members who wish to attend the Lancaster County Fire Expo in Harrisburg on May 20th and 21st should see the Fire Chief as soon as possible, but no later than April 25th, so we know how many tickets to purchase. See Gary for details. Visit the Lancaster County Fire Expo Site for details on the attractions at the Fire Expo.

January 2005: From the Fire Chief - Operational Guidelines Updates
For more information, see the message posted at the station.

1. All firefighters shall leave their firefighting equipment at the fire station ready for service. Only department officers may carry their gear with them.
2. The Captain will keep a log of all equipment distributed to each member of the department.  He will be asking each member for this information so that it can be entered into our inventory program. Blank forms have been placed in each firefighter's locker. Complete the form and have it verified by a line officer by February 23, 2005.
3. All Firefighters MUST respond to the fire station for every call. Members shall remain at the station and contact the Bower Hill officer in charge or the acting officer of the vehicle that has responded to the call for further instructions. If you are unable to make this contact, staff the station and get the next-due piece of equipment ready for response. Lieutenants shall also report to the station unless they are going to pass the scene or have been directed otherwise by a senior officer. Use the Nextel phones to arrange this.
4. All personnel (except the Driver) shall be dressed in bunker gear and all personnel shall be seat belted before the apparatus leaves the station -- SAFETY is our first consideration. The Driver and the Officer are responsible for compliance with this procedure.
5. All current drivers will be recertified on the new Squad. It is sufficiently different from the old Squad that everyone will need to be checked off by a line officer.
6. All new prospective drivers must complete an EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course) before becoming a driver on any vehicle. All new prospective Engine operators must pass a state-recognized Pump Operations Course (we will be providing one soon at the station), pass an Engine-specific review test, and be signed off by at least two of the authorized Engine Operator Trainers (see the list at the station). After being signed off, the driver must respond to two emergency response calls with a driver trainer. Every step shall be documented, and all driving time needs to be logged and tracked.
7. Officer responsibilities have been specified. See the list at the station.

All firefighters must comply fully with all current SOGs that have been distributed and reviewed. All officers must insure compliance with the SOGs. Failure to comply with an SOG is failure to comply with a direct order from the Fire Chief, and entails departmental action. If you need a copy of the SOGs, please see Dave Martz.