Sunday, March 28, 2010

Woodstove Causes House Fire

On March 28, 1981 at 6:05 p.m. firefighters were sent to the Ridge Road, North Newton Township for a house fire. An improperly installed wood stove caused a fire that damaged a room on the first and second floors of an occupied 2-½-story frame house. The rest of the home suffered smoke damage. Approximately 60 firefighters from five companies battled the blaze and were on the scene 1-¾ hours. Damages were estimated at $15,000. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose, Newville, South Newton Township and Newburg-Hopewell fire companies operated at the scene.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

There's a Vigilant sub-station on Ridge Road, as I recall.

RB

Brad Myers said...

RB if you are speaking of the Kerns house that was some time ago. The engine has changed hands twice and is now in Walnut Bottom and being restored. The quad changed hands numerous times before being sold at auction a couple of years ago out by Pittsburgh, it is now in New York state I think. I was going to bid on it but Ivan talked me out of it, glad he did.

Anonymous said...

Yep, that's what I had in mind, Brad. The private reserve station.

I guess the one being restored is the '63, it was a keeper and a great ride. Maybe I missed the info if it was already posted.

RB

Brad Myers said...

Yes and No RB, the engine Larry had on the Ridge Road was the 1948 the Viggies purchased from Hummelstown for use at Station #2 Walnut Bottom. After they became Co. 49 Larry purchased it, from there it went to Andy Spotts and now is owned by Rick Hosfeld. He is retoring the rig.

The 1963 changed hands numerous times also. When Jackson Gerhart was still alive we found it in Virginia. In trying to get a hold of the man for me to purchase he called the Viggies and that put them on the trail. They got it back and Rick is restoring it for them right now. The pklans are for it to be done by 2013 (there is other things planned for that year but I do not know if I am to leave that out), e-mail me for more info if you want it. I am glad I didn't get it because it is to costly of a restoration for me.

It was sweet, the rig was to be delivered the day I was born but was delayed. I caught my first job as a firefighter off of it with Larry driving and my first job as an officer on it with Pap Sanders driving. Lots of good memories of that rig.