On January 16, 1983 at 5:10 a.m. Cumberland County 911 dispatched firefighters to a house fire on the Gilbert Road, Southampton Cumberland. A fire caused by a defective chimney caused heavy damage to an occupied 2-½-story frame house. The fire started in the second floor wall and destroyed most of the second floor and attic along with the first floor kitchen. Due to extreme cold and icy conditions a second alarm was requested. Enroute to the alarm Chief Charles Myers was unable to stop at the intersection of Orange Street and Rt. 174 because of the icy roads, he struck the side of Engine 252 causing light damage to the engine and destroying his car. Firefighters laid 2,200 feet of hose to the hydrant in Cleversburg to supply water to the fire ground. A damage estimate was not available and a family of five was displaced. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies answered the alarm along with units from South Newton Twp., Pleasant Hall and Fayetteville.Can you guess who the firefighter is on the right?
9 comments:
-I was back up to the nozzleman (Ordy). I tried to get him to go into the 2nd floor bedroom to attack the fire and he kept saying he couldn't. I told him, "Yes you can". He replied that he couldn't because there was no floor.
-Cold is an understatement for that morning.
-There are pictures of me on the roof, but neither one is me.
The pic makes it sorta hard to see who the guy is, but based upon my experiences, I'll take a stab in the dark. Whenever we get dispatched to Leesburg, it never fails that when we get there Davey Byers will be on the roof. Don't know what he's doing or how he got up there, but he's there! I'll make that my guess...
TJ
Brad,
I'll have a go at that. The fellow on the right is none other than W. F. Dubbs Jr.. I missed this blaze, working in Chambersburg at the time.
Kenny
Thanks guys, I was starting to think that no one else read this post or that they just didn't give a crap. I also missed the fire because I was working, had to lislen to Ged telll the ambulance that we hit the Chief, him say he was alright. Then continue to the alarm in the ambulance.
Kenny is right it is Bill "The Ragman" Dubbs, I am not sure but I think that may be Tony Graham with him.
Where did the name Ragman come from, I remember him being called that, but never knew why..
JD, probally has to do with something around the firehouse. Example: Anklebiter and I will leave it at that.
WMIT
Yeah, I won't answer that one, you can stop in Chambersburg and ask him yourself. I can remember it being at his gear in place of his name and it may have even been on the back of his leather. Dang that was a loooong time ago.
Yea, that's me, the "Ragman"
I was riding tail step on the officer's side. Don't remember who else was on tailstep, but do remember the roads were covered with snow and Chief Myers rolling down Orange St. All you could hear in the still and quietness of the snow was the siren wailing and the engine roaring. Poor Charlie couldn't get stopped in time as we met him at the intersection of Orange St. and Rt. 174. As we hit Charlie's car it was like running over a 4x4 piece of lumber laying across the road. The engine took a little jump and looking backwards all you saw was a puff of snow powder wisping up in the air and Charlies car doing a couple of 360's with the red light still revolving. AAAhhhhhh! the memories.
This was the Richard Baum house I believe. Up on the hill from the church in Cleversburg. I believe Renna Bittinger (a member of the Viggie's) called this fire in.
Dang Ragman, like all Chief's you are a little slow, LOL. You are right about the occupant, and Rena was one of the people to call in the fire. I still have the audio tape of the incident, if I knew how I would have uploaded some of it for here.
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