On August 30, 1922 around 10 a.m. firemen responded to the Kline farm near Walnut Bottom for a house fire. The blaze was caused by an overheated stove in the washhouse and quickly spread to the second floor of the two and a half-story frame house. Passing motorist noticed the blaze and helped the family save all the furnishings except that that was in the attic. A call was sent to Shippensburg and after receiving permission from Borough Chief Hargleroad the Cumberland Valley Hose Company responded to the scene arriving in 15 minutes. The second floor and attic were destroyed but the first floor was saved with only water damage.
On August 29, 1983 shortly after 9 p.m. firefighters were dispatched to the Melvin Beam residence, one mile east of Newburg on Rt. 641 for a barn fire. The Newburg Fire Company was returning from Path Valley when the noticed a glow in the sky and went to investigate finding the barn well involved. Neighbors were able to rescue the livestock from the barn but about 20 tons of hay and a corn picker were destroyed in the blaze. Firefighters managed to protect the house and several out buildings located only about 25-30 yards from the barn from burning. The cause of the fire was undetermined but under investigation by PSP Trooper Fred Klages and Newburg Chief Roger Anderson. Damages were estimated at $100,000. About 50 firefighters from the Vigilant Hose, West End Fire and Rescue, Newburg-Hopewell, Friendship Hose of Newville, Pleasant Hall and West Pennsboro Twp. answered the alarm and remained on the scene until about 2 a.m.
On August 28, 1941 at 6:45 p.m. firemen were sent to the Daniel Wolfe residence located between Cleversburg and Mainsville for a house fire. When firemen arrived the two-story house was almost leveled and they reported that the blaze had apparently been burning for some time. The home and all its contents were destroyed in the fire of unknown origin. The Vigilant Hose Company responded to the incident.
On August 27, 1985 at 11:42 a.m. units were dispatched to a house fire at 314 East King Street. The blaze was caused by an electrical short and confined to the roof and attic in the rear of the 2-1/2-story stone structure. Damages were estimated at $10,000 and companies remained on the scene until 1:30 p.m. Firefighters from the Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose, West End Fire and Rescue and South Newton Twp. answered the alarm.
On August 26, 1969 at 12:25 a.m. Shippensburg firemen were sent to West Orange Street for a building fire. At the time companies were fighting another suspicious fire on Brookside Avenue. When units arrived they found the fire to be in an aluminum warehouse owned by Bogar Lumber Company. Borough Fire Chief Dan Orris said damage to the contents of the building, which consisted of plywood, insulation, paneling and assorted hardware, was estimated at $35,000. For the dollar loss unfortunately little information was provided in the local newspapers. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies operated at the scene. The Cumberland Valley’s community ambulance answered one call for the day.
On August 25, 1954 at about 9 p.m. firemen were dispatched to a house fire at Shippensburg R. R. 1 (on a dirt road approximately a mile north of the Ridge Rd. and another mile and a half from the Shippensburg-Newburg Rd.). At 8:30 p.m. the family smelt smoke and attempted to extinguish the blaze with a garden hose and bucket brigade before realizing the fire was too much for them. A kerosene stove in the washhouse alongside the six-room frame house caused the fire. Firemen responded with a tank truck and engine and obtained water from a well on the property. Firemen almost had the blaze controlled when they became unable to obtain more water from the well, the tanker was soon sent to Quigley’s bridges for more water. A large portion of the north wall and the second floor and attic were badly damaged. One civilian was injured while battling the blaze. The Vigilant Hose Company answered the alarm.
On August 24, 1979 at 2:49 p.m. firefighters responded to 521 West King Street for a garage fire. When firefighters arrived they found the first floor well involved and fire extending to the second floor of the 2-1/2-story frame garage. A cause was not determined but the blaze began in the first floor rear and caused $8,000 damage to the structure and contents. Firefighters remained on the scene until 4:05 p.m. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies answered the alarm.
On August 23, 2000 at 5:30 p.m. Franklin County 911 alerted units to a mobile home fire at 1595 Coldsmith Road, Greene Township Franklin County. According to Fayetteville Deputy Chief Bob “Squirrel” Albrecht when firefighters arrived the home was 75% well involved. Firefighters from five companies had the blaze under control in 15 minutes. The blaze began when the occupant was heating oil in a pan on the stove. After the oil began burning they tried to extinguish the blaze with water before calling 911. The family of four was displaced; a damage estimate was not available. The Fayetteville, Letterkenny, Franklin, West End Fire and Rescue and Cumberland Valley Hose companies operated at the scene. Earlier in the afternoon all three Shippensburg fire companies answered an inside investigation at 211 E. King Street.
On August 22, 1957 at 4:30 p.m. firemen were sent to the Henry Baer farm along the Shippensburg-Roxbury road near Mongul for a barn fire. By the time firemen arrived the barn was well involved and efforts were concentrated on saving the exposures. Lost in the fire were a calf, 2,000 bushels of wheat, corn, hay and an elevator. A damage estimate was not available. A 15 year old boy living with the family after being placed there by Cumberland county welfare later admitted to setting the fire along with one that destroyed another barn two days later. The Vigilant Hose and Letterkenny fire companies answered the alarm.
On August 21, 1939 in the morning hours firemen responded to the Cumberland Valley Cooperative property in Walnut Bottom for a building fire. Fire started on the outside of the large lumber and hay shed and spread quickly before being noticed. Firemen responded with two pumpers and had two large streams of water on the building but were unable to save the building or its contents. Water was obtained from a nearby cistern. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose Company responded to the blaze.
On August 20, 1937 at about 3:15 p.m. lightning struck a barn owned by Norman Booz, 2-1/2 miles east of the Ridge Church in Hopewell Township. The barn filled to the roof with crops, burned quickly. The flames spread so quickly that no machinery could be removed. The blaze spread to a wagon shed and hog pen before being contained. A damages estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose Company answered the alarm. This was the second barn for the Vigilant’s within minutes that burned after being struck by lightning. The other was posted last year and occurred near Pleasant Hall, the company’s Reo responded to that fire and the Seagrave responded to the Hopewell township incident.
On August 19, 2006 at 7:51 a.m. firefighters were dispatched to 878 Rowe Road, the Arlin Hege residence for a barn fire. Tanker 52 was returning from another call near Chambersburg and was the first to arrive finding the barn heavily involved. A second alarm was requested along with additional tankers. Water was shuttled from a hydrant in Shippensburg to the scene. Almost 75 firefighters from 14 companies battled the blaze until 12:44 p.m. Damages were estimated at $200,000. The West End Fire and Rescue, Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose, Pleasant Hall, Franklin’s, Chambersburg, Newburg-Hopewell, South Newton, Fayetteville, Penn Twp., Fannett-Metal, Newville, Mont Alto and Buchanan Valley Fire companies answered the alarm.
On August 18, 1968 at about 3 p.m. KGD-556 alerted Shippensburg firemen to a building fire at the Grant Martin Tin and Roofing Shop on East Martin Avenue. When firemen arrived smoke and flames were pouring from the shop and storage shed next door. Borough Fire Chief Dan Orris described the blaze as “very hot”. Two firemen suffered smoke inhalation while battling the blaze. Randy Eastep of the Vigilant’s was transported to Chambersburg Hospital and Rural Chief Charlie Myers was treated at the scene. The heavy smoke from the blaze plus fumes from an acid bottle caused several other firemen to leave the building quickly including Chief Orris, none required treatment. The buildings were destroyed along with most of their contents including a 1963 Cadillac. Telephone and power lines were also burnt through effecting portions of the borough. A cause was not given, however Chief Orris requested trooper William Sweet to help with the investigation. Chief Orris and Bob Jones returned to the scene about 11 p.m. and emptied the jug of acid after neutralizing it. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies answered the alarm. The C.V. ambulance also answered two calls for the day.
On August 17, 1998 at 4:38 p.m. Franklin County 911 alerted units to a house fire at 4017 Main Street in Scotland. A fire of undetermined origin damaged a kitchen and caused heat and smoke damage to the remainder of the home. Firefighters from six fire companies had the blaze under control in 10 minutes and remained on the scene for 1-½ hours. Damages were estimated at $15,000. The Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department, Franklin’s, Letterkenny, West End Fire and Rescue, Cumberland Valley Hose and Franklin County Air 10 operated at the scene. Earlier in the morning the Cumberland Valley Hose Company assisted at the scene of a working barn fire on 3233 Falling Springs Road, Guilford Township, Franklin County.
On August 16, 1930 at about 4 a.m. Earl Dehart of Shippensburg R. R. 3 was awakened by an odor of smoke, upon further investigation he found a fire on the first floor of his two story home. The family of six escaped the blaze from a second floor window and called Shippensburg requesting assistance from the local fire companies. Because of the lack of water in the area the companies did not respond to the fire. The blaze was thought to have been started by the kitchen stove. All the household goods and home were destroyed.
On August 15, 1963 in the morning hours firemen were sent to the Mary Davidson farm in Newburg for a structure fire. A summer kitchen was partially destroyed in a fire believed to have been caused by defective wiring. Quick action by firemen prevented the blaze from spreading to the home. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose and Newburg-Hopewell fire companies answered the alarm. The C.V. ambulance also answered one call during the day.
On August 14, 1981 at 2:20 p.m. Franklin County alerted units to a barn fire at 2183 Anthony Highway, Guilford Township, Franklin County. When the first units arrived the barn was well involved and a second alarm was struck. The barn was a total loss along with a wagon, silage blower, hay elevator and 8 calves. Water was shuttled from a hydrant in Fayetteville almost 4 ½ miles from the scene and six engines were used to lay a line and relay waster from a pond 2 ½ miles away. Damages were estimated at $100,000. Almost 100 firefighters from eight fire companies battled the fire. Units from Fayetteville, New Franklin, Mont Alto, Franklin’s, Vigilant Hose, West End Fire and Rescue, Waynesboro and South Mountain fire companies answered the alarm.
On August 12, 1930 at 4 a.m. a call was sent to Shippensburg firemen for their assistance at a barn fire on the Paul Staver farm just east of Orrstown. By the time firemen arrived the barn was well involved and had spread to the hogpen, strawshed, wagon shed, buggy house, chicken house and silo. A creek about 600 feet from the barn furnished an ample supply of water but the barn and other buildings were almost consumed by the time the water supply was secured. Lost along with the buildings were a binder, manure spreader, wagon and milking machine, 1,000 bushels of wheat, 800 bushels of oats, 100 chickens, over 200 bushels of grain and 500 bushels of rye. A damage estimate and cause were not listed. The Cumberland Valley Hose Company battled the blaze with two pumpers under the direction of borough fire chief Earl Burkholder. Later in the evening the C.V. boys returned to the scene to extinguish a rekindle.
On August 11, 1927 at 9:30 p.m. firemen were summoned to the Frank Hollar farm about one and a half miles east of town on the Pike for a barn fire. At the time of the alarm delegates from all over Cumberland County were attending a meeting of the Cumberland County Volunteer Firemen’s Association at the C. V. firehall. The meeting was quickly adjourned and many of the delegates headed to the blaze with the Shippensburg firemen. By the time firemen arrived the barn was well involved. Firemen pumped water into a trough with a gasoline engine and then pumped water from the trough with their engine to battle the blaze and protect the exposures. One of the exposures was a large lead cable of the American Telegraph & Telephone Company that ran from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh. The firemen applied all their chemicals to the line and then used water saving the line. The cause of the fire was undetermined but was believed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion since the farmer just finished harvesting days before the blaze. The loss was said to be heavy to the owner and tenant as the barn was said to be one of the largest in the county. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies answered the alarm.
On August 7, 1931 at about 9:30 p.m. a telephone call was made to the Cumberland Valley Hose Company requesting their help in fighting a fire in McKinney that was threatening another home. McKinney was located between Newburg and Roxbury on the Franklin Cumberland county line. Borough Fire Chief Earl Burkholder took the call and inquired if there was water available on the scene for firefighting purposes, upon being told there was he and the Cumberland engine headed to the fire. Upon reaching McKinney all was dark and quiet and no evidence of a fire could be found. Soon a man with a lantern that was not burning flagged them down and informed them that the fire was over in the bushes. An investigation revealed an unoccupied house belonging to Gene Sommerville had burnt down 17 or 18 hours before the call was placed for their help. The C.V. boys were upset that they made a run the whole way to McKinney only to find that their services were not needed.
On August 6, 1966 at 1 p.m. firemen responded to the Charles Black residence at Newburg R. D. 1 for a barn fire. A fire of undetermined origin destroyed a medium sized barn and chicken house. Lost in the fire were a hog, two goats, two sows and 60 chickens as well as a tractor, 50 bales of hay, 200 bales of straw and 125 bushels of grain. In addition two farm wagons were partially destroyed. A damage estimate was not available. The Newburg-Hopewell and Vigilant Hose companies battled the blaze.Earlier in the day the Vigilant Hose Company answered a grass fire at the Shippensburg dump and the Cumberland Valley’s community ambulance made one run.
On August 5, 1991 shortly after 7 p.m. firefighters were alerted to a building fire at Jim’s Country Market, Grant Street Chambersburg. Firefighters arrived to find fire showing and heavy smoke in the area. As flames spread in the ceiling and across the roof a second alarm was requested. The fire was mostly contained to the rear portion of the building housing the flea market with smoke damage to other portions of the building housing a farmers market and an area with antique cars. The blaze was intentionally set on the outside of the building and caused more than $50,000 in damage. The Chambersburg Fire Department, Franklin's, New Franklin's, Fayetteville, West End Fire and Rescue and Cumberland Valley Hose companies answered the alarm.
On August 4, 1956 shortly after 5 p.m. fire apparatus was sent to the Samual H. Stake farm on the turnpike road about one mile from Roxbury for a barn fire. When firemen arrived the barn was well involved and all efforts were made to protect the nearby buildings. Lost along with the building were a hammermill, corn planter, plow and small tools along with the oats, barley and wheat. Other than the Vigilant Hose Company answering the alarm I am unsure which other companies responded as the article listed the units responding and standing by in the same paragraph. They were Franklins, Letterkenny, Pleasant Hall and West End Fire and Rescue.
A John Beam high-pressure demonstrator engine from Lansing, Michigan also assisted at the scene. They were returning home from Gettysburg when they noticed smoke and sped to the scene. A damage estimate or cause was available.The Cumberland Valley Community ambulance also answered one call for the day.
On August 3, 1949 at 2:20 a.m. firemen were sent to the old Landis Smith farm on the east side of South Main Street Orrstown for a barn fire. The Vigilant rural engine soon arrived and laid two lines from the town hydrant. The main barn, empty for six years was well involved and the flames had already spread to the roof of a nearby barn and a small shed. Firemen quickly extinguished these two buildings and then focused their attention on protecting the other buildings. Damages were estimated at $5,000. The Vigilant Hose Company answered the alarm, a rig from Letterkenny also responded and stood by for a short time but there services were not needed.
Later in the day the Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies answered a working chicken house fire at 305 N. Prince Street, but I will save that entry for another year.
Last year I posted an incident that occurred in 1988, I have not completed the database but I believe that to be the only major incident to occur on this date. With that being said I am winging it today with this post. I would like to get back to featuring the Cumberland County Fire Departments that I started a few months ago and detailed histories on the various Shippensburg rigs, I just need time to set down and type things into the computer. Maybe when winter hits I will find that free time once again. There is other things I would like to put up on the blog when I get them ready, like photographs of toy fire trucks made for Shippensburg apparatus, mugs the companies put out for various events and some of the other items like different t-shirt backs over the years. 
