60 Firefighters Battle House Fire

On March 31, 1981 at 12:03 a.m. firefighters responded to Lees Cross Roads, Southampton Cumberland for a house fire. A fire of undetermined origin caused heavy damage to an occupied 2-½-story frame and log home. Fire damaged three rooms on the first floor, one on the second and the attic. The rest of the home suffered smoke, heat and water damage. Approximately 60 firefighters from five companies battled the blaze for almost an hour before bringing it under control and were on the scene until 4:26 a.m. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies answered the alarm.

Two People Killed In Auto Accident

On March 30, 1990 at 1:18 p.m. a rescue local was sent to US 11 and Route 433, Greene Township for an auto accident. Two people were killed when their car pulled into the path of a tractor-trailer causing a three-vehicle accident. No other injuries occurred. Rescue personnel had to extricate the victims from the car. The West End Fire and Rescue Company assisted at the scene.

C.V. Hose Accepts Delivery Of 1998 E-One Ladder Truck

On March 29, 1998 the Cumberland Valley Hose Company’s 1998 E-One 95 foot ladder tower arrived in Shippensburg. President Bruce Hockersmith estimated the final cost of the rig to be $642,000. The truck is equipped with a 1,500-g.p.m. pump and supplied air to the bucket. It replaces the former CF Mack FDNY Tower Ladder, and becomes the third truck in company history. The truck was in town briefly before being taken to have equipment mounted and be shown at Fire Expo.

Newville CV Coop Warehouse Burns

On March 28, 1964 at 11:18 p.m. firemen responded to the CV Co-op warehouse, Newville. A fire of undetermined origin destroyed a 40 by 125 foot two-story frame building and its contents. Firemen were able to save nearby buildings and a lumberyard. Over 125 firemen from six companies battled the blaze. Donald Witter, Shippensburg borough fire chief, fell through the burned floor into the basement and was covered to his chest in corn. Newville fire chief Harold Heckendorn and another fireman pulled Witter from his boots. The trio then escaped by climbing a lowered hose. Damages were estimated at $65,000. The Vigilant Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene, the last of the four units returning to Shippensburg at 4:30 a.m.

Two Firefighters Rescue Young Girl

On March 27, 1980 at 7:39 a.m. firefighters responded to a house fire on the Airport Road, Southampton Cumberland. An accidental fire gutted a kitchen and laundry room and caused extensive heat and smoke damage to the rest of the 1-½ story brick occupied house. When firefighters arrived they were informed that a 10-year-old girl was still inside the house. Firefighters Ken Nehf Jr. and Matt Hammaker entered the building and located the girl on the floor in her bedroom. When the child was handed out the window she was not breathing. The young girl was later transferred to Hershey medical center in serious condition. The child recovered fully from her injuries. Firefighters from three companies had the fire under control in 10 minutes. Damages were estimated at $30,000 to $35,000. The family dog perished in the blaze. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies answered the alarm. The home had no working smoke detectors.

Firefighter Rescues Woman From Blaze

On March 26, 1966 at 2:30 a.m. Shippensburg firemen responded to 31 South Earl Street for an apartment fire. According to Edward Thrush, borough fire chief, a carelessly discarded cigarette sparked a blaze that gutted the living room in an occupied apartment. Ed Haupt, Vigilant Chief Director located an unconscious woman in the apartment and removed her from the building. She was taken to Chambersburg Hospital were she was listed in satisfactory condition suffering from smoke inhalation. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies battled the blaze.

Two-Alarm Fire Destroys Storage Shed

On March 25, 1983 at 12:57 p.m. local firefighters responded to the Orrstown Road, ¼ mile east of Pleasant Hall, Letterkenny Township. A spark from a burn barrel started a fire in a 65 by 24 foot shed used for storage. The building housed a large quantity of lumber and two riding mowers. Firefighters from eight companies battled the two-alarm fire for almost an hour before bringing it under control and remained on the scene nearly four hours. Most of the building and all the contents were lost in the blaze. Damages were estimated at $25,000. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene.

Cumberland County Fire Losses For 1915 To 1919

The Chronicle, Thursday March 24, 1921
COUNTY FIRE LOSSES
The Bureau of Fire Protection has just completed a five-year analysis of fire losses in Cumberland County.

The fire losses in Cumberland County were as follows: 1915, $158,900; 1916, $85,715; 1917, $105,000; 1918, $95,500; 1919, $55,000.

Borough Turns Over Firehouse To Vigilant And C.V. Hose Companies

On March 23, 1993 in a ceremony at the West End Fire and Rescue Company, the three companies signed an agreement with the borough of Shippensburg to turn the two borough owned buildings over to the Vigilant and CV’s. Along with the agreement the borough was to give the companies more in annual appropriations each year starting at $60,000 for the first year to be divided equally between the three companies. The annual contribution was to be increased by 2% each year unless the borough is not financially able to. The agreement was drawn up over a four-month period in meetings between the fire companies and town council. Part of the agreement was to try for regionalization and the other municipalities to step up and pay their share.

Stable And Carriage House Destroyed

On March 22, 1880 at 9:00 p.m. the cry of fire was raised. Firemen soon learned the cause for alarm was in the alley to the rear of King Street, just off Railroad Street. An arson fire destroyed a stable and carriage house along with hay, straw, corn and oats. The horses, wagons and carriages were saved. Firemen were on the scene quickly with a stream on each building. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Fire and Cumberland Valley Fire companies answered the alarm.

Huckleberryland House Burns Down

On March 21, 1940 at 11:00 p.m. firemen were sent to Huckleberryland, Southampton Cumberland for a house fire. A fire of undetermined origin caused almost complete destruction of an occupied two-story frame house and a smokehouse to the rear. The buildings were so far gone by the time firemen arrived that they concentrated their efforts on protecting the exposures. Firemen obtained their water from a cellar excavation that filled with water from melting snow and spring rains. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose Company answered the alarm.

Firefighters’ Battle House Fire Twice

On March 20, 1998 at 10:59 a.m. a company 50 box was sent to 1821 Walnut Bottom Road, Penn Township for a house fire. A fire of undetermined origin gutted a bedroom on the second floor of an occupied 2-½-story frame house. Firefighters from four companies battled the blaze. A damage estimate was not available. The Cumberland Valley Hose Company assisted at the scene. At 1:59 p.m. firefighters were dispatched to the same address for a structure fire. First arriving units found heavy fire from the attic and second floor. The rekindle destroyed the second floor and attic. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at scene of the second fire.

Does anyone out there remember this old Franklin County dispatchers patch? I purchased this a couple of months ago on eBay.

Stable And Contents Destroyed

On March 19, 1893 at 6:00 p.m. a cry of fire was heard over town. Citizens soon learned the blaze was to the rear of the M. E. Church. Children playing with matches started a fire that destroyed a stone stable and its contents. Firemen were on the scene quickly with two streams of water playing on the blaze. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies answered the alarm.

Union Foundry Destroyed

On March 18, 1854 at 8:00 a.m. citizens were heard the cry of fire for the Union Foundry. Strong winds carried sparks from the blast to the roof of the south wing causing a fire that destroyed the building containing the foundry and machine shop. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Fire and Alert Fire Companies answered the alarm.

M. Garfield Barbour Dies

On March 17, 1958 Mr. Vigilant Hose Company; M. Garfield Barbour passed away. At the time of his passing Garfield was serving his 43rd consecutive year as company president. Mr. Barbour was also the company’s first fire chief (the leader of the company was not called chief in the early years).

The photograph in today's post appeared in The News-Chronicle on this day in 1972. The rig in the is a Civil Defense truck assigned to Shippensburg also known as "Calamity Jane". The rescue truck was housed at the Vigilant's during its stay in Shippensburg. In the photo left to right are Charles Myers, Vigilant chief; John Snyder, Cumberland County CD director; Crawford Wiestling, WEFR chief; Bob Jones, borough fire chief and Durward Breakfield director of safety and security at SSC.

Cracked Flue Causes Fire

On March 16, 1998 at 10:50 p.m. a Pleasant Hall box was dispatched for a house fire at 12090 Sandy Mountain Road, Letterkenny Township. A cracked flue caused a fire that did extensive damage to a 2-½-story frame occupied dwelling. Fire destroyed much of the side four wall and the attic before being brought under control by firefighters. One Shippensburg firefighters suffered an eye injury and was treated at the scene. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene.

Shippensburg Fire Company Elects Officers

On March 15, 1834 the Shippensburg Fire Company elected officers. A Chief Captain, Chief Engineer and Secretary was elected for the company along with a Captain, Lieutenant, Engineer and two Directors for each of the three Wards.

This is the only information I have on the Shippensburg Fire Company other than the names of the officers elected at this time. I can only assume that this was the first organized fire company in Shippensburg. I also assume that they had a fire engine in the coffee grinder (“Alert”) used by the Vigilant’s at one time and the Alert Fire companies. In The Spirit of the Times dated Saturday September 15, 1817 an add appeared in the paper raising money to purchase an engine. The grinder was an early engine probably made in the 1700’s.

Newville Theatre Destroyed In Accidental Fire

On March 14, 1952 at 6:50 p.m. firemen were sent to the Newville Theatre on High Street for a structure fire. A 150-watt floodlight that was being used to light the curtain prior to the performance of the “Blue Veil” set the curtain on fire destroying the theatre. Luckily at the time of the fire only eight patrons were in the theatre, all escaped unharmed. It was reported that had the blaze began 30 minutes later the theatre would have been full. The fire extended rapidly in the three story frame building bringing the largest mutual aid response up to that time to the borough. Firemen from six companies manning 10 pieces of apparatus battled the blaze for nearly two hours before bringing it under control. Strong winds blowing embers threatened the wood frame buildings surrounding the theatre. A pine tree two blocks away went up in flames after embers were blown into it. Firemen also extinguished fires on the roofs of numerous buildings. One civilian was injured and a Shippensburg fireman was injured after being struck by a brick when the roof collapsed. Firemen utilized four hydrants to fight the blaze. Damages were estimated at $35,000. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies assisted at the scene. Prior to this fire the record for most companies and apparatus to fight a blaze in Newville was in 1935 at the Cove Alley fire.

Pigpen Destroyed In Southampton Cumberland

On March 13, 1990 in the morning hours, Mud Level Road, Southampton Cumberland. A spark from a cutting torch caused a fire that destroyed pigpen. Firefighters from five companies had the blaze under control in 10 minutes. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies answered the alarm.

Suspicious Fire Damages House

On March 12, 1970 at 8:37 p.m. Shippensburg R. D. 2. A suspicious fire caused extensive damage to an unoccupied 2-½-story house. When firemen arrived the enclosed rear porch and back of the home was heavily involved. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose Company Stations 1 & 2 and the West End Fire and Rescue Company answered the alarm.