On February 15, 1983 in the morning hours a passing firefighter noticed smoke coming from a one-story summer cottage on Lindsey Lot Road. An improperly installed wood stove sparked a blaze that caused extensive damage to the 15 by 30 foot 1-1/2 story frame building. Firefighters from three companies had the blaze under control within minutes. A damage estimate was not available. The West End Fire and Rescue and Vigilant Hose companies operated at the scene.
If I remember correctly it was Gerald Holtry that spotted the blaze and I was riding Engine 252 for the job. This was back in the day before rehab and all that other fancy sensitive stuff. These were the types we put out with damp mops backed up with a can. Today we would need a working fire dispatch or additional alarms, along with RIT, and rehab and well you get the point. Sometimes my old headed ways want to come out.
5 comments:
Remember when you could freelance & didn't have to go through a manpower pool?
What I can't understand, we have RIT, Rehab, manpower pools, & working fire dispatch. And we still kill the some amount of firefighters every year. So is it all helping?
I know the reason why. Because certain Fire Chief's who have never been in a fire decided that they could make more money on the side.
Always remember do as the Fire Chief says not as he does.
I put this fire out about 90% by shoveling snow through the hole it burned in the roof. When E252 got on the scene Danny Byers was the first in the building,and came backout to me and said the fire was out . Theres two foot of snow on the stove
Times have changed, now I have to put a vest on to be on the street, I guess it makes me a bigger target to get ran over or shot. I am glad I learned from the old school people that used common sense and got the job done. It just makes it hard for me to teach the young now because I am not politictly correct enough. I just want to thank the old Shippensburg men for teaching me to be a fireman.
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