Monday, November 30, 2009

Fire Damages National Distributing Co.

On November 30, 1997 at 1:00 p.m. Franklin County 911 alerted units to a building fire at 39 N. Third Street, Chambersburg, National Distributing Co. Inc. An accidental fire caused heavy damage to a first floor garage area and smoke damage to the second and third floors of the three-story brick building. A damage estimate was not available. The Chambersburg Fire Department, Franklin’s and West End Fire and Rescue Company operated at the scene, the local papers did not give a listing of responding companies so some may have been missed.

On November 30, 2004 Jackson Gerhart a retired fireman from the Washington D.C. fire department and a Shippensburg volunteer was severely injured when he apparently fell from the rear of an engine and struck his head while attempting to lay a supply line on a house fire. Jack was flown to York hospital in serious condition. The alarm was turned in at 1006 hours for 541 E. Washington Street and gutted a second floor bedroom causing $10,000 in damages. This has been a post the last three years and will continue to be posted as long as this blog is active.


6 comments:

Sparky said...

Nice that you still remember Jack. It is sad to say but here goes, the first year everyone talked about Jack. And every year later fewer and fewer people talk about him and his stories. keep up the memory and this great site.

Heckman said...

I think about Jack everday 4th day since I got assigned to "The House That Jack Built" ENG17INE, thanks for posting this Brad, if it weren't for Jack a lot of guys wouldn't have a job south of the Mason Dixon Line.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I am on board also. That is one person we can't let go of. Jack was Mr. Firefighter to a whole bunch of folks. Jack has alot of finger prints on things fire service wise there in the Cumberland Valley. Keep his memory alive. He is like Chief Jim Cutshall and Lt. Keith Hess and others. We must remember them for "Service Before Self Reward"

C.W.

Brad Myers said...

Thank you guys, I was glad someone commented. We need to continue to remember the peolpe that helped to shape the fire service on our area, as well as those that paid the extreme sacrafice.

Woody said...

Very nice tribute Bradley. I hope you keep it going for as long as possible.

On a different note, is that fireman you in the foreground by chance?? with the 5 inch line??

Brad Myers said...

No Woody that is not me, because of union rules I can not run into Chambersburg.