House On Means Hollow Road Heavily Damaged

On December 16, 1958 at 6:50 a.m. firemen responded to the Means Hollow for a house fire. An improperly installed stovepipe sparked a fire that caused heavy damage to an occupied 1-½ story frame house. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose Company extinguished the blaze. Later in the day at 9:41 p.m. the Vigilant’s responded to the Walnut Bottom Road in the area of the dump for an auto fire.

Mainsville House Damaged In Blaze

On December 15, 1950 at 5:15 a.m. firemen were sent to Shippensburg R. R. 2, near Mainsville for a house fire. An overheated heatrola sparked a fire that damaged an occupied dwelling. The fire damaged the wall behind the stove and extended to second floor voids before being brought under control. Neighbors and family members formed a bucket brigade to keep the blaze in check before the arrival of firemen. Damages were estimated at $500. The Vigilant Hose Company answered the alarm.

Early Morning Fire Damages House

On December 14, 1965 at 12:35 a.m. firemen responded to Shippensburg Star Route the James McCurdy residence for a house fire. A fire that started above the furnace destroyed two rooms and their contents. Firefighters were able to confine the fire to two rooms of the nine room 2-½-story stone house. The entire structure was damaged by smoke. Damages were estimated at $5,000. The Vigilant Hose Company battled the blaze. The Vigilant’s returned to the scene about 8:30 a.m. when a small fire rekindled around a windowsill. Later in the day at 2:30 p.m. all three Shippensburg fire companies answered a smoke investigation at the intersection of North Washington Street and East King Street. A trash fire was found and extinguished at that location. The Cumberland Valley community ambulance also made one run for the day.

Family Of Nine Homeless After Fire

On December 13, 1982 at 1:04 a.m. a 47 box was struck for a house fire on the Mud Level Road (just outside Oakville), North Newton Township. A fire caused by an overheated stovepipe started in the first floor and extended rapidly damaging most of the occupied 2-½-story frame house. A family of nine was displaced. Damages were estimated at $15,000. Firefighters from seven companies had the blaze under control in 30 minutes and remained on the scene almost four hours. The Newville, South Newton, Upper Franford, Newburg, Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies operated at the scene.

Shoe Store Damaged By Fire

On December 12, 1895 at 11:00 a.m. an alarm of fire was reported for West Main Street and Bridges Alley, H. C. Walter’s Shoe Store. A fire that began in an overheated stove caused considerable damage to Mr. Walters’s stock. Damage to the shoe store was estimated at $1,100, damages to the second floor residence were estimated at $200. The fire was extinguished in about 30 minutes. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies answered the alarm.

Neon Clock Installed In Front Of Vigilant Station

December 11, 1933, does anyone remember the clock that used to be on the front of the Vigilant Hose Company building between the two bay doors? I remember one as a child. At a borough council meeting in 1933 on this date M. Garfield Barbour, president of the company asked councils permission to erect the clock on the front of the firehouse. The clock put up at this time was not the one I remember, as this one was neon light so it could be seen at night. The earliest photograph I have of the Vigilant’s with a clock is 1950 and it is the later clock that I remember.

Child Dies In Accidental Fire

On December 10, 1993 at 7:05 p.m. firefighters were alerted to a townhouse fire at145 Meadowcreek Drive, Hamilton Township Franklin County. A tablecloth to close to electric baseboard heat caused a fire that killed a three-year-old boy. The blaze destroyed one 2-½-story frame town houses and caused smoke and water damage to two others. Damages were estimated at over $180,000. Over 100 firefighters from 15 fire companies battled the blaze for nearly six hours. Four firefighters were injured. The newspapers did not list the responding companies but some of the 15 responding were the Franklin’s, St. Thomas, Chambersburg, Fayetteville, Letterkenny, Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies operated at the scene.

Penn Street House Burns During Strong Winds

On December 9, 1876 in the morning hours firemen raced to Penn Street for a house fire. A fire of undetermined origin was discovered on the roof of an occupied frame dwelling. A strong wind was prevailing from the west threatening the other frame houses in the area. Firemen and citizens removed the belongings from numerous houses. The Vigilant and Cumberland Valley engines each secured water sources from wells and cisterns and did good work in keeping the fire from spreading. A damage estimate was not available. Temperatures were only six degrees during the blaze and the hoses quickly froze when the water was stopped.

Sawmill Shop Destroyed By Fire

On December 8, 1984 at 9:45 a.m. firefighters responded to a building fire at 2015 Orrstown Road, Forrester’s Sawmill. A cutting torch ignited gasoline sparking a fire that gutted the interior of a large one-story block building. Firefighters had the blaze under control in 20 minutes and remained on the scene about two hours. WEFR firefighter Randy O’Donnell suffered second-degree burns battling the blaze. Damages were estimated at $20,000. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose, West End Fire and Rescue, Pleasant Hall and Newburg fire companies answered the alarm.

Towing And Detail Shop Damaged In Blaze

On December 7, 2002 at 1:11 p.m. firefighters were sent to 408 S. Fayette Street, Shannon’s Towing and Detail Shop for a building fire. A fire caused by spilled gasoline caused heavy fire damage to the first floor of a large 2-½-story frame and masonry building. A couple of cars were also lost in the two-alarm fire that took 20 minutes to control. A damage estimate was not available. This same building burnt in the 1970’s(I didn’t feel like looking up the exact date, it burnt worse that time but only required the use of the three Shippensburg companies). The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose, West End Fire and Rescue, Pleasant Hall, Newburg, South Newton, Newville and Franklin fire companies battled the blaze. Squad 15 was involved in an accident when they struck a car at the intersection of Orange and Fayette Streets while responding to the incident.

Shippensburg companies also answered a reported structure fire on the Walnut Dale Road and a working house fire at 2915 Roosevelt Drive on this day.

Fire Damages Mongul Home

On December 6, 1938 at 12:00 p.m. firemen responded to the Roxbury Road, just north of Mongul for a house fire. A fire that started in the area of the chimney destroyed two rooms on the first and second floors of an occupied house. Damages were estimated at several thousand dollars. Neighbors quickly carried furnishings from the home saving most and fought the blaze on the first floor with water from a nearby cistern until firemen arrived. The Vigilant Hose Company extinguished the fire.

Route 11 House Damaged By Fire

On December 5, 1970 at 3:15 p.m. firemen responded to house fire at Route 11, Shippensburg R. D. 1, near Foltz’s Service Station. A fire that was caused by a faulty chimney damaged a wall in an occupied 2-½ story home. Firefighters were on the scene two and a half hours. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant’s Stations 1 & 2 and the West End Fire and Rescue Companies answered the alarm.

At 4:11 p.m. the Vigilant Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies responded to a mountain fire at Shippensburg R.D. 2 near the Walnut Dale Speedway. The CV ambulance also answered one call for the day.

December 5, 2004 Jackson Gerhart, 65, died of his injuries at 5:17 p.m. at York Hospital. Jackson was injured on November 30 while helping the Chambersburg Fire Department at the scene of a house fire. Jackson was surrounded by his family and friends in his final hours.

Jackson had dedicated his life to the fire service having started his career as a volunteer with the Junior Hook and Ladder Company in Chambersburg. Jack was employed by the Chambersburg Fire Department for about two years before being hired in Washington, D.C. as a fireman where he worked for 32 years (most as the driver on 17 engine) before retiring in 1994. While in D.C. Jack was the secretary of IAFF Local 36 for 17 years.

While living in Maryland Jack was active with the Mt. Rainier Volunteer Fire Department and the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department serving as Assistant Chief and Deputy Fire Chief. After retirement Jackson returned to Shippensburg where he was an active volunteer with the West End Fire and Rescue Company and the Cumberland Valley Hose Company.

Jackson was a member of many other volunteer fire companies in the area including a life member of the Fayetteville, Pleasant Hall, Metal Township, West End Fire and Rescue and New Franklin Volunteer Fire Companies.

Jackson had a major impact on the careers of many young firefighters in the area, assisting them in getting career jobs and mentoring. Jack loved to help people and assisted numerous fire companies in getting started or anything else they needed. He was also very active in his church and delivered meals on wheels.

Jackson was well known for his large collection of fire toys. He loved photographing fire apparatus and assisted in numerous publications and books.

This is a post that is made every year and I will continue to do so as long as I publish the blog. I miss you Jack, you were a great friend.

Mid Day Fire Displaces Family

On December 3, 2004 at 12:30 p.m. Cumberland County 911 alerted firefighters to a mobile home fire at 217 Neil Road, Southampton Cumberland. An accidental fire possible started by a ceiling light/fan destroyed a mobile home displacing a family of six. Firefighter from four companies had the fire under control quickly and remained on the scene about 1-½ hours. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose, West End Fire and Rescue and South Newton Twp. fire companies operated at the scene. Later in the evening all three Shippensburg Fire companies answered a furnace malfunction at 4386 Orrstown Road.

Township House Destroyed

On December 2, 1988 at 8:24 a.m. firefighters responded to a house fire on the Walnut Bottom Road (just past Leesburg), Southampton Township. A fire that originated in a faulty pipe to a wood stove destroyed an occupied 2-½-story brick and frame house. Approximately 40 firefighters from six fire companies had the blaze under control in 20 minutes and remained on the scene until 11:00 a.m. One firefighter was injured. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose, West End Fire and Rescue, South Newton Twp., Penn Twp. and Pleasant Hall fire companies battled the blaze.

Fire Destroys Downtown Shed

On December 1, 1962 at 7:00 a.m. firemen responded to Box 222, 44-50 West King Street (now the post office) for a shed fire. A fire of undetermined origin completely destroyed a shed and its contents. Before being extinguished by firemen it badly scorched the outside of a garage at 52 W. King Street. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies answered the alarm. Firemen no sooner went in quarters when they responded to a furniture van fire at South Earl Street extended. The Cumberland Valley Community ambulance also made two runs for the day.