Member Information Archive - 2010
Member Information Archive - 2009

December 2008: Apparatus Notes
Tire chains are applied to Engine 2. Use this engine as the first-out unit when snow depth on the road exceeds six inches.

December 2008: Administrative Issues
The annual membership dinner will be January 17, 2009. RSVP to the department secretary no later than January 12th.

December 2008: Operational Issues
From Pat Mulligan at the Kane Scott Regional Center: Unit 2A has been reopened. This unit is now a Transitional Care Unit. There have been floor plan modifications to be building. There is no longer a "dog leg" hall in this unit. 

November 2008: Apparatus Notes
Cab heaters are now turned on in all engines.

November 2008: Operational Issues
The fire hydrant at 69 North Wren Drive is back in service.

November 2008: Operational Issues
The fire hydrants on Bower Hill Road and Kane Boulevard reamin subject to occasional removal from service. PAWC has been diligent about notification when they are out of service, but less so when they are back in serice. The following hydrants are affected: 1520 Bower Hill Road, 1702 Bower Hill Road, 310 Kane Boulevard, and 346 Elmbrook Lane. Plan for alternate water supply for any call on Bower Hill, Kane, the 300 block of Vanadium, Green Commons, and the 300 block of Elmbrook.

October 2008: Apparatus Notes
High-angle rescue gear has been placed on Engine 1 and Engine 3. Either Engine is be capable of fully supporting these operations, but consider using Engine 1 because it has the winch.

October 2008: Equipment Notes
The second thermal imaging camera has been moved from Engine 2 to Engine 1. Remember to take it from Engine 1 if you need to use Engine 2 for a RIT response.

October 2008: Equipment Notes
All SCBA are back in service. New SCBA are in place on Engine 3. Please orient yourself to their use. There are a few differences from the older models.

October 2008: Operational Issues
255 Engine 3 is now the first-out unit for all structure fires in Bower Hill. Engine 1 remains the first-out unit for mutual aid and automatic aid responses, and all non-structure fire calls, motor vehicle collisions and chemical spills. Engine 2 is now the RIT engine, and must be used for all RIT responses. Do not use the Squad for a RIT response. Engine 2 will also be the first-out unit for flooding conditions and pumping details, and will be the second-out unit on structure fires in Bower Hill, especially when longer additional hose lays may be needed.The Squad is never the first-out unit for an emergency call. Once the run card is filled, the Squad may be used for additional manpower response.

September 2008: Apparatus Notes
255 Engine 2 has a slightly different configuration for the rear 2-1/2" attack line. Please check it out and make sure you are familiar with its use.

September 2008: Apparatus Notes
The new relief valves have been installed on 255 Engine 1 and 255 Engine 2. These valves are on the operator's side main suction barrel. They are set to receive 3½" threaded supply line couplings used by Bower Hill 255 Engine 1 and Engine 2 or any Glendale apparatus, or with one breakdown, 4” threaded supply line couplings used by East Carnegie and the new Bower Hill 255 Engine 3. We will still need to order a few adapters and dead caps to complete all of the supply line options. Please take some time to review the addition to each engine and analyze the connection possibilities. The old AUX intake is still readily available, set up the same way as it always was, for those drivers who can't catch on right away. Both valves are set at maximum pressure relief (200 pounds). Remember to open the mounted relief valve first as the supply line begins its charge, then close the air relief, then open the main barrel valve on the pump panel.
The control on 255 Engine 2's main barrel is labeled suction left and suction right. The control on 255 Engine 1 is labeled master intake (and is an electric valve).

September 2008: Equipment Notes
All firefighting members need to check all apparatus for new equipment locations. Since the arrival of Engine 3, many items have been relocated, and some new equipment is in service

August 2008: Apparatus Notes
Most of the adapters have arrived for Engine 3, and are in place. Take a look, and familiarize yourself with the configuration. The 4" connections for the Humat valves have not yet arrived. If you need to use the Humat for its intended prurpose, to connect to an engine to boost pressure to the supply line, you will need to use the Bliss to 4-1/2" adapter, the 4-1/2" to 3-1/2" adapter, and whatever other adapter to connect to the line you need to accept. Consider your incoming units and plan accordingly when you hit the hydrant. Do not expect the incoming unit to have the appropriate adapters.

August 2008: Equipment Notes
The new multi-gas detectors have arrived and are in service. Operation is slightly different from the old MSA Solaris models. Please make yourself familiar with their operation.

August 2008: Equipment Notes
Keys for Kane are now in the clipboard holders.

July 2008: Operational Issues
From Pat Mulligan at the Kane Scott Regional Center: Unit 2A is closed for renovation. There are no residents housed or activities taking place on this unit. For the most part, the entire unit is being gutted and remodeled.  The elevators serving this area are programmed not to stop on this unit if a call is placed in the elevator cars. The elevator will respond if a call is placed at the landing on 2A. The Fire Service Return and Independent Service feature is operational, and the keys to operate these functions are on the Fire Department key ring at Security. The 270 to 280 hallway is blocked off and there is no normal access to this area.  The 290 hallway on this unit is open and per Life Safety requirements is accessible as an emergency exit pathway for horizontal or vertical evacuation of residents from a different smoke zone on 2B.

July 2008: Operational Issues
The fire hydrant at Greentree Road at Ursula Drive is out of service.

July 2008: Apparatus Notes
255 Engine 3 was placed in service on July 5th. The large diameter discharge on the officer's side of the vehicle still has a 5-inch Storz connection. This will be replaced by a 4-inch threaded connection as soon as the fitting arrives. The communications headsets have no radio interface yet, pending arrival of a cable. Use the hand microphone as normal. Some other small fitting have yet to arrive, but these do not affect the use of the engine for its intended purpose, as an attack engine for structure fire calls in Bower Hill. 

July 2008: Apparatus Notes
The Cutter's Edge saw on Engine 1 is back in service. 

June 2008: Administrative Issues
Because of excessive and increasing fuel costs, the department will no longer attend any parades outside of Scott Township. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis

June 2008: Training Opportunities
STEMS is sponsoring a CPR Instructor course at Station 257  on July 2. See Ceil if you wish to attend.

May 2008: Apparatus Notes
The new 255 Engine 3 was delivered on May 7th. Training for Line Officers and Operators with the Sutphen representative will be at the station on May 8th at 18:00. If you cannot make it, you will be trained by one of the officers and operators who did attend the training. All other firefighters need to attend upcoming drills to get oriented to the features of the new engine. The hose has been packed, the SCBA are installed, and most of the portable equipment is in plce. The water tank is full. However, radios are not yet installed, and some other work needs to be done. The unit will not be in service for response until the end of the month.

May 2008: Apparatus Notes
The apparatus committee and Line Officers have authorized Sutphen to display the vehicle at the Lancaster County Fire Expo in Harrisburg from May 16th through May 18th. Sutphen will be covering the costs, including fuel, for the event. Any member who is available to do so is welcome to go to the Expo to support the display. The process of mounting the body on the chassis will be featured in an upcoming television program (probably, "How It's Made") on the Discovery Networks. They filmed the installation of the pump module and body on the chassis at the Sutphen plant on March 10th. Check back for the air date of the episode. It will probably be in the fall of 2008. 

May 2008: Apparatus Notes
The Class A foam is in service on 255 Engine 2. The backup alarm and one backup light are out. Be careful around this engine when it may be in reverse. Watch the Auto-Eject when you start the vehicle. The plug does not always fully eject. You may have to pull it manually.

April 2008: Apparatus Notes
The CO meter from 255 Squad is out for repair. We have a loan unit from MSA. It is an Orion model, slightly different from our usual Solaris models. The loaner is on Engine 2, while the Solaris from Engine 2 is on the Squad.

April 2008: Apparatus Notes
The new 255 Engine 3 is complete, and is out for installation of small equipment. It should be delivered around May 7th. The apparatus committee and Line Officers have authorized Sutphen to display the vehicle at the Lancaster County Fire Expo in Harrisburg from May 16th through May 18th. Sutphen will be covering the costs, including fuel, for the event. Any member who is available to do so is welcome to go to the Expo to support the display. The process of mounting the body on the chassis will be featured in an upcoming television program (probably, "How It's Made") on the Discovery Networks. They filmed the installation of the pump module and body on the chassis at the Sutphen plant on March 10th. Check back for the air date of the episode. It will probably be in the fall of 2008. 

April 2008: Equipment Notes
Equipment for the new engine is arriving daily. Keep this eqipment in the back of bay 2, in front of the lounge. All equipment must be inventoried. It will be taken to Sutphen for delivery to Summers Brothers at the time of the final insection tour.

March 2008: Operational Issues

• Use respiratory and barrier protection for all responses to Kane during influenza season. Patients are particularly at risk for flu, since the vaccine distributed nationwide does not cover two of the most currently widespread strains of flu.
• The garage door for Bay 2 will be replaced during the week of March 30th. The bay will be completely out of service that week.
• March 2008: Administrative Issues
• All members need to help in the setup for the Fish Fry during the week of March 16. We need the most help on Thursday, March 20, for breading the fish and packing the coleslaw.
• Scott Township is sponsoring a Blood Drive on April 10th. Sign up sheets are posted on the board in the lounge.

February 2008: Operational Issues
On all responses to the Providence Point construction site, an employee will meet you at the main gate and lead you to the proper location on site. Stay on paved surfaces whenever possible. Access routes change daily. The workers have a fully operational accountability plan. For any trench rescue situations, call stations 284 and 198 for the trench rescue equipment immediately upon being made aware of the nature of the emergency. The designated air medical landing zone for the site is Our Lady of Grace, in the upper church parking lot, closest to the Kane lot.

February 2008: Training Opportunities
The annual CPR training update will be rescheduled to accomodate Station 257's joint drill. All firefighters should maintain certification in CPR. If you fail to recertify at the department, you may have to pay to do it elsewhere.

January 2008: Operational Issues
All drivers, remember that the On-Spot tire chains on Engine 1 and Engine 2 cannot be used at speeds in excess of 35MPH, nor applied at speeds in excess of 20MPH. Please be careful.

January 2008: Apparatus Notes
255 Engine 3 has been removed from service and has been sold.

January 2008: Important Notice
All members who have issued department radios are to report to the station on Wednesday, February 6th at 19:00 to have the radios reprogrammed to current county standards. If you cannot be there at that time, you must turn your radio in to the chief prior to that time so it may be properly reprogammed.

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