Firefighters Battle Attached Garage Fire

On December 31, 1998 at 3:30 p.m. firefighters were dispatched to 7925 Nyesville Road, Greene Township after a neighbor spotted a fire in an attached garage. The garage was well involved when firefighters from five companies arrived. Firefighters had the blaze under control in 15 minutes but not before it destroyed the garage, a business van, car and other items. The house sustained water and smoke damage. A cause or damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene.

WEFR Places 1968 Engine In Service

On December 30, 1977 at 7:00 p.m. the West End Fire and Rescue Company placed into service a 1968 CF Mack engine. The engine was purchased from the Cresson Fire Department. The unit replaced the 1949 Ford that was recently sold to Baker Heights Va. Volunteer Fire Company.

In the photo Mike Martin is in the officers’ seat, I don’t know who is driving. In the CV ALF behind, Dale Myers Jr. is on the officers’ seat and David Myers is standing in the jump seat.

Barn Destroyed And Livestock Lost

On December 29, 1949 at 5:00 p.m. an alarm of fire was sounded for a barn fire at the Harry Vaughn residence, Shippensburg R. R. 1. A fire of undetermined origin destroyed a bank barn and its contents. Lost in the fire were three horses, a bull, two pigs, several chickens, all the machinery and most of the year’s crop. Damages were estimated at $5,000. The Vigilant Hose Company operated at the scene.

Fire Damages House Near Lurgan

On December 28, 1977 at 3:33 a.m. firefighters were dispatched to a house fire near Lurgan. A fire of undetermined origin caused heavy damage to the second floor and attic of an occupied 2-1/2-story frame house. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene.

We should be all caught up, thanks to stealing wireless from someone here in the park over the last week. The WEFR patch pictured was their first. I would like to tell you more about it but no one seems to remember it. It is owned by Budd Montague and he kindly left me photograph it.

Barn Destroyed In Southampton Cumberland

Sorry I missed a day, we spent the last couple of nights on Disney property and would you believe that with all they charge if you want Internet it cost extra, I am to cheap for that. With that being said I really didn't want to miss a post so I will do the 27Th and 28Th today.

On December 27, 2002 at 10:00 p.m. firefighters were alerted to a barn fire on McCulloch Road, Southampton Township. A fire of undetermined origin completely destroyed a barn and its contents. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies answered the alarm.

Green House Destroyed

On December 26, 1924 at 6:30 a.m. an alarm of fire was sounded for the Hargleroad Bros. Green House on South Prince Street. An overheated furnace caused a fire that destroyed a boiler shed, storage shed, garage and three green houses. Even after the fire firemen remained on the scene assisting the owner. Damages were estimated at $5,000. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies operated at the scene.

Barn Fire On Christmas Day

The Vigilant Hose Company Christmas photograph is from 1959.

On December 25, 1985 at 2:15 hours as volunteer firefighter were recuperating from a large holiday meal a box was sounded for a barn fire on the Ridge Road in Hopewell Township. An electrical short caused the fire the did considerable damage to the barn and its contents. Over 100 firefighters from eight companies battled the blaze for two hours before bringing it under control. Firefighters managed to save the barn after removing 30 tons of hay and straw. Units remained on the scene for almost 10 hours ending their Christmas plans. Damages were estimated at $30,000. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene.

West Wing Of White House Damaged By Fire

Because so many local firefighters work for the DCFD and a number of you look at this site, this post if for you.

December 24, 1929 at 8:09 p.m., while President Hoover was entertaining guest a blaze broke out in the West wing of the White House causing an estimated $60,000 to $100,000 in damages. At 8:09 p.m. box 1-5-7 was transmitted for the White House, by 8:28 p.m. four-alarm had already been transmitted. It was said that at one point 25 to 30 streams were being played on the fire by the 18 engines, six trucks and one rescue to respond to the alarm. The fire was determined to be under control at 10:55 p.m. Almost 300 off duty firemen were recalled to man the reserve apparatus.

Unattended Candle Causes House Fire

Vigilant Hose Company Christmas 1941, note the size of the tree and the lack of the annex.

On December 23, 1978 evening hours (exact time unknown) 302 West King Street. An unattended candle sparked a fire that did heavy damage to an occupied 2-1/2 story multi-family dwelling. The fire started in the first floor causing heavy damage before extending to the second floor and attic via the outside of the house. The attic was gutted and one bedroom on the second floor suffered fire damage. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies answered the alarm. Shippensburg firefighters worked another job earlier in the day on East King Street.

GE Gets Contract For Civil Defense Radios

On December 22, 1954 Cumberland County commissioners awarded a contract to GE for the county’s new Civil Defense two-way radio system. The contract was to provide for three base stations, 65 mobile units, 21 receivers to trip fire sirens simultaneously, two selective call control panels, 35 weather proof boxes and two walkie talkies. GE’s low bid was $38,051.47. Delivery and installment is to start within 30 days and be completed in 60 days.

Firemen Make Multiple Rescues

December 21 1932 at 6:00 a.m. M. L. Beistle Building (G.C. Murphy Store), King and Earl Streets. A fire of undetermined origin broke out in the basement of the three-story brick taxpayer (292 X 65 feet). It was believed the fire began when the motor of the elevator ignited a gas leak in the basement. The blaze started on the Earl Street side of the basement, burned up the stairway and raged along the west wall before spreading to the King Street side of the building.

Upon arrival firemen were faced with the task of controlling the fire and seeing that the tenants of 32 apartments were out of the building. Firemen assisted numerous people from the building some from the rooftop. As firemen began connecting to plugs in the 6-degree weather the water pressure began dropping indicating a need for assistance. The Good Will pumper from Chambersburg was soon requested. The Good Will engine was sent to the branch stream where they drafted to supply their deluge gun (Shippensburg had none at this time). At this point there were five engines flowing ten streams of water onto the fire. The Cumberland Valley Fire Company of Chambersburg was requested later in the morning to assist with pumping and to supply much needed gas masks.

Firemen had the blaze under control by 1:00 p.m. At one point the water was shut off to allow the hoses to be disconnected to let the P.R.R. train to pass through town. Numerous firemen were injured battling the blaze; some were overcome by smoke and others from exposure. Temperatures only warmed up to 20-degrees as the day went on. The 65 firemen manning the three pieces of equipment from the Chambersburg Fire Department returned to Chambersburg at 6:30 p.m. Firemen remained on the scene late into the night, some pumping the six feet of water from the basement of the building.

Businesses damaged by the blaze were Whorley’s meat market, Over’s poolroom, the Town Stationary, G.C. Murphy’s, G. Herman’s Grocery, R. Paul Smith’s meat shop and 32 occupied and vacant apartments. During the fire Harrisburg City Fire Chief Millard M. Tawney and former State Fire Marshall William Morgan were on the scene to render their assistance in battling the blaze. Damages were estimated at $100,000. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies answered the alarm.

Shed Destroyed In Accidental Fire

On December 20, 1997 at 1:00 p.m. units were dispatched to Alleman’s Furniture Store, 54 Horst Avenue, Greene Township for a structure fire. An accidental fire destroyed a small shed containing furniture and lacquer. Damages were estimated at $8,000. The West End Fire and Rescue and Vigilant Hose companies assisted at the scene.

Hopewell Township Home Burns

On December 19, 1987 at 8:10 a.m. a 51 box was alerted for a fire in a dwelling on Rt. 696, 1-1/2 miles north of Newburg in Hopewell Township. A gas light overturned and started a fire in the first floor kitchen and quickly spread to the second floor. Approximately 50 firefighters from five companies had the fire under control in 30 minutes but not before it destroyed the kitchen and second floor bedroom. The entire house suffered smoke damage. Firefighters shuttled water from a creek one half mile away. Damages were estimated at $30,000 to $40,000. Firefighters remained on the scene until after 10:00 a.m. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene. Shippensburg firefighters also answered two other structure boxes and a transfer for the day.

Garage Destroyed In Borough Blaze

On December 18, 1934 10:30 p.m., Shippensburg firemen were alerted for a fire at the Charles Myers residence on Queen Street (exact location unknown). A garage containing a Ford Roadster was destroyed in a fire of undetermined origin. A damage estimate was not released. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies answered the alarm.

Congratulations to WEFR Chief Randy O'Donnell on his recent promotion at the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services, Mechanicsburg. Pa. (Cumberland Engine 37). Captain O'Donnell hired on at the Navy in 1987 (then SPCC) and has worked his way up the ranks to Battalion Chief. Good luck Randy.

Chambersburg Elementary School Destroyed By Fire

On December 17, 1973 at 3:57 a.m. a passing motorist spotted a fire in the Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School, South Main Street, Chambersburg. When firemen arrived the fire had control of the void spaces, about 20 firemen were inside the building when the blaze broke through the roof. All were evacuated and a defensive stance was made. Fireman manning 35 pieces of apparatus from 14 fire companies had the fire under control by 4:30 a.m. and remained on the scene into the afternoon. For you young guys Chambersburg still operated with five companies at this time, each having there own chief and a volunteer chief of department, John Shatzer. The building was destroyed in the blaze with damages estimated at $650,000. The West End Fire and Rescue and Cumberland Valley Hose companies assisted at the scene.

For those that look at my sites expecting to see post made in the morning you can thank mother nature for the late entry. We have been without power since yesterday morning and just got it back a couple of hours ago. We relocated to the Embers last night, and their wireless this morning was so slow that I was not going to attempt to make a post. Shane and I headed to Borders for coffee and wireless only to find out you have to pay for the wireless there, being cheap and all I said no way. Things are looking up, 5 years, two months and one day and I can retire and leave the cold.

Vigilant Hose Purchases First Tank Truck

December 16, 1949 at the Vigilant Hose Company’s regular monthly meeting the members voted to purchase a 1949 International, 1,000-gallon tank truck. The tanker was a demonstrator and purchased from the American Equipment Company in Mechanicsburg, Pa. for $7,000 and the 1936 Reo Seagrave engine (October 16, 2007 post w/photos). The tanker was the company’s first and made its rounds in the area before heading to Florida. The Vigilant’s sold the rig to Marion Co. 8, Franklin County Pa. and from there it went to WEFR and then to Silver Springs Co. 31 in Cumberland County.

The photo is from microfilm of the News Chronicle, Shippensburg. It is the only image I have found of it as a Vigilant unit. I have better photos of it while in the possession of Marion and WEFR and will post them at a later date. If any one has any photos of it during its stay at Sliver Springs I would like to get a copy.

Mobile Home Damaged By Fire

On December 15, 1981 at 3:36 a.m., units were alerted to a Station 4 box at Rife’s Mobile Home Park, 2004 Philadelphia Avenue, Greene Township for a mobile home fire. The fire started in an unused bedroom and gutted that room and extended to two other rooms before being controlled by firefighters from three companies. Firefighters operated on the scene for one and one half hours. A cause was not determined; damages were estimated at $2,500. The West End Fire and Rescue Company assisted at the scene.

Fire Damages Upper Strasburg House

On December 14, 2000 at 12:34 a.m. firefighters were dispatched to 10,726 Upper Strasburg Road for a house fire. A four-year-old boy playing with matches sparked a blaze that caused extensive damage to a 1-1/2 story house. The fire damaged a bedroom and kitchen and caused smoke and water damage to the remainder of the home. Firefighters from six companies battled the blaze. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene.


Pat Shoop sent the photograph for today's post. Pat said the photo was taken in 1969 when he was one year old. I would assume his father, long time Vigilant member Mick took the photo. Pat is sitting on Buzzy Naugles lap in the radio room, KGD 556 located in the Municipal Building (Vigilant Hose), Shippensburg. Pat also sent four other photos that I will use at a later date. Thanks Pat.

Downtown Shippensburg Threatened By Fire

On December 13, 1869 at 5:00 p.m. Shippensburg fire bells rang for an alarm of fire. As firemen ran to the fire stations it was soon learned that the fire was located on East Main in the area of Railroad Street and that all hands would be needed to extinguish the blaze. The Vigilant’s with their button hand engine and two wheel hose reel and the CV’s with their Philadelphia style hand engine and two wheel hose reel quickly raced along Main Street to the scene. The blaze started in a small frame stable by a burning wad shot from a gun. The fire quickly spread to the east, west and north. Before firemen could control the fire the stable of origin was destroyed along with another stable, a warehouse containing grains and feed for a store, a corn crib and hog pen. One other stable also suffered fire damage along with numerous other buildings. Damages were estimated at $3,650. The Vigilant and Cumberland Valley Fire companies answered the alarm.

House Built In 1867 Damaged By Fire

On December 12, 1969 at 3:15 a.m., an alarm of fire was sounded for Shippensburg R.D. 2, South Newton Township for a house fire. A blaze caused by a defective chimney damaged a dwelling built in 1867. Firemen from three companies were able to contain the blaze to one room on the second floor and the attic of the 12-room house. The attic was used to store antiques and most were lost in the fire. A damage estimate was not available. Firemen remained on the scene over six hours. The Vigilant Hose Company Stations 1 & 2 and the West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene.

This add appeared in the Shippensburg News Chronicle in 1972. WEFR sold trees for years at various locations.