South Mountain Home Destroyed By Fire

On July 28, 1941 at 6:45 p.m. firemen were alerted to a house fire between Mainsville and Cleversburg. When firemen from the Vigilant Hose Company arrived the two-story frame house was almost leveled. Firemen were unable to determine the origin of the fire and said it was burning for several hours before they received the alarm.

Walnut Bottom House Burns

On July 26, 1932 at an unknown time a firemen were alerted to a house fire in Walnut Bottom. Firemen from Shippensburg were able to arrive in time to save the house. A cistern along the house filed with water provided the firemen with enough water to extinguish the blaze. Te origin of the fire was unknown and damages were estimated at $500. The Vigilant Hose Company answered the alarm.

In today's photo WEFR members assist the Viggies on a field fire at Shippensburg Mobile Estates on this date in 1991.

Newburg R.D. 1 Barn Burns

On July 25, 1979 a severe thunder storm tore through the are causing a barn fire on Newburg R.D. 1 after lightning struck it at 4:15 p.m. When firefighters from six companies arrived the barn was well involved. The building contained machinery, hay and straw and was completely destroyed along with its contents. Damages were estimated at $150,000. Firefighters remained on the scene for nearly six hours. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies assisted at the scene.

Numerous Out Buildings Destroyed

On July 24, 1943 at 2:30 a.m. a fire was discovered in numerous out buildings on Shippensburg R.R. 1. A small stove in a work shed destroyed the building along with a wagon shed and corn crib. Firemen were on the scene quickly and kept the flames from spreading to the barn and house. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose Company answered the alarm.

Garage And Other Buildings Destroyed On Queen Street

On July 23, 1927 at 3:45 a. m., 204 North Queen Street. A fire of undetermined origin destroyed a building that included a garage, hog pen and wagon shed along with their contents. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies operated at the scene.

Today's Photograph is the Cumberland Valley Hose Company No. 2, Shippensburg, Pa. circa mid to late 1920's.

2 Firemen Killed, 8 Hurt In Fire Truck Crash

On July 22, 1936 Franklin ( Chambersburg) firemen were responding to a fire in a stable about one mile east of Fayetteville when a terrible accident occurred. The engine was only about 60 feet from the fire when the engine veered to the left in the loose stones, the driver Bard Miller, Sr. was unable to regain control of the truck in time to avert a collision with a tree trunk. At the time of the accident 15 men were on board the engine, all but two were either thrown or jumped from the rig when the collision occurred.

David Gabler, 19 was killed instantly and Harold E. Snider, 29 died about 5:00 p.m. at Chambersburg Hospital. Eight other firemen were injured, two seriously. The two firemen that were killed got caught between the rig and the tree crushing them. The fire destroyed the stable causing $600 in damages.

Barn Destroyed During Storm

On July 21, 1932 a severe thunderstorm tore through the valley causing a barn to be destroyed when it was struck by lightning shortly after 6:00 p.m. The farm located near Newburg lost the barn, implement sheds, pump house, garage, hog pen and large chicken house. Firemen were able to save the wagon shed and a smaller shed. Firemen were able to draft water from a small stream nearby to assist in their battle. Damages were estimated at over $10,000. The Vigilant Hose Company answered the alarm.

Important announcement; on Saturday a close fiend and someone I consider a family member, Ivan Bretzman was severely injured in an accident at his home. Most people in the fire service know Ivan, he and many generations of his family has been active in the fire service for probably the last century. Ivan is in Hershey Medical Center and his son tells me he is doing better but there is a long road to recovery. Unfortunately I am on vacation and can’t be there for the family. Please keep Ivan, Judy, Greg, Danny and the rest of the Bretzman family in your thoughts and prayers. The Mt. Holly Springs fire department web site is to be updated regularly on Ivan’s condition http://www.citizensfire36.org/.

North Newton House Burns

On July 20, 2006 at 1:57 a.m. firefighters were dispatched to 107 Long Road, North Newton Township. A barking family dog alerted residents to a fire in a 2-1/2-story brick and wood frame farmhouse. The fire believed to be electrical in nature, started in a rear kitchen and destroyed the house before firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose Companies assisted at the scene.

Kennedy Street House Burns

On July 19, 2001 at 8:24 a.m. a Company 1 box was alerted for a house fire at 168 Kennedy Street, Chambersburg. When firefighters arrived they had heavy fire in 168 and 166. Firefighters from five companies had the blaze under control in 10 minutes and remained on the scene for four hours. 166 and 168 were gutted and 172 sustained broken windows and damage to the siding. A damage estimate was not available. The West End Fire and Rescue Company assisted at the scene.

The photograph is the Vigilant Hose Company No. 1, Shippensburg, Pa. circa 1959.

Two Killed In Interstate 81 Crash

On July 18, 1994 at 12:55 a.m. a rescue local was alerted for Interstate 81 north bound just south of exit 9 Southampton, Franklin. A pickup truck traveling south veered into the northbound lanes striking a tractor-trailer head on. Both occupants of the pickup truck were ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer and his passenger were treated for minor injuries. The West End Fire and Rescue Company answered the alarm.

Firemen Respond To Cross Burning

On July 17, 1925 around 9:00 p.m. a glow was spotted around West Orange Street causing firemen from one company (the article does not say witch company) to respond to the area. Upon arrival firemen found a cross burning. Three other crosses were found to be ablaze at North Seneca Street, South Penn Street extended and Fayette Street. It was not known positively who was responsible but it was believed to be the work of the local branch of the Ku Klux Klan.

Vigilant’s Purchase International Chassis

On July 16, 1973 at the Vigilant Hose Company’s regular monthly meeting the company announced the purchase of a 1973 International chassis from Pierce Equipment Center, Shippensburg. The cost of the chassis was $10,912. The International was to be delivered to Brumbaugh Body Co. in Altoona to have the tank and pump from the old tank truck installed. Thirty two members attended the meeting.

Southeastern Firemen’s Association Meets In Carlisle

On July 15, 1926 the Southeastern Firemen’s Association held a meeting in the Empire Hook and Ladder Company Carlisle. The association was made up of Dauphin, York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Adams and Cumberland Counties. Cumberland being the only county to not be organized as there own association was the topic of discussion. A committee was established to organize the county firemen with Robert H. Gibb of Carlisle being named chairman. Nine county communities were represented including Shippensburg.

Truck Tractors Destroyed, Garage Damaged In Blaze

On July 14, 1971 at 6:30 p.m. firemen were dispatched to South Earl Street extended for a structure fire. When firemen arrived they found smoke pouring from a garage. A truck tractor was being painted when a motor was started causing an explosion in the building. Two truck tractors were destroyed and a third heavily damaged the building was also damaged in the blaze. A garage adjacent to the structure sustained water damage. Firemen had the blaze under control quickly under the supervision of Borough Fire Chief Edward Thrush. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies answered the alarm.

Today's photograph is of the West End Fire and Rescue Company No. 3 in Shippensburg, Pa. , I know it is out of place being at the top but it won't get bigger when you click on it if I put it at the end of the post.

Local Fireman Delivers Baby

On July 13, 1981 at 10:38 a.m. the Vigilant Hose Company special unit (manned by company president Tim Costanza and Lieutenant Bradley Myers) and Pleasant Hall ambulance was dispatched to 337 East Orange Street for an obstetrics patient. Upon arrival it was quickly determined that the baby had no intentions on waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Lt Myers donned rubber gloves (we didn’t use them for anything else back in those days) and laid out the o.b. kit in preparation of the baby’s arrival. By 10:45 a.m. just seven minutes from dispatch a baby girl was delivered in the families living room. Others on the scene and inside helping at the time included, Borough Police officer Terry Kennedy, C.V. Hose Sgt. David Myers, and Vigilant Deputy Chief Danny Byers. Brad and Dave Myers rode with the mother to Chambersburg Hospital in the Pleasant Hall ambulance.

$300,000 Fire Destroys Tire Business In Chambersburg

On July 12, 1948 at 1:35 p.m. Chambersburg firemen were dispatched to an explosion and building fire at Pryor Tire Service, 230 North Second Street. The explosion was caused by gasoline fumes in the basement of the Prior Tire and was followed by two smaller explosions. Buried under the basement of the business were three or four 1000-gallon gasoline tanks that were discovered to be leaking within recent weeks.

When firemen arrived thick black smoke was billowing into the sky and the intense heat kept them from getting close. In the early part of the fire they were hampered by a large crowd of spectators and mechanical troubles causing a shortage in water. The C.V. (Chambersburg) pumper suffered an air lock and the nearest fire hydrant broke. Flames quickly spread eastward igniting the Chambersburg Implement building. Feeding on the paints and varnish in the building the two story structure was soon ablaze and spreading into other parts of the business.

Firemen worked vigorously to control the blaze, additional lines were laid to other hydrants and four engines began drafting from a nearby stream. Apparatus and manpower was soon requested from other communities. At one point while Letterkenny firemen were soaking roofs to stop the fire the stream came into contact with electrical lines causing some of the men to receive a shock.

Firemen from eight companies worked for an hour and a half before bring the fire under control. In all five civilians were injured, one critically and two firemen were injured one being William Jones from Shippensburg. That night flames broke out six more times requiring firemen to return to the scene.

Pryor Tire Service was a complete loss suffering $100,000 in damage and Chambersburg Implement was heavily damaged suffering $200,000 in losses.

All five Chambersburg Fire companies answered the alarm along with three pieces and 26 men from Letterkenny, two engines from Greencastle and Shippensburg (the Chambersburg paper did not state which company from town responded and 1948 is the only year I have not finished researching from Shippensburg).

New Home Destroyed By Fire

On July 11, 1972 at 4:11 a.m. units were alerted to a house fire near Legislative Route 21006 and Southampton Cumberland Route 302 (Cherry Grove area between Cleversburg and Mainsville). When the first arriving chiefs arrived the one story frame house was well involved. Firemen used portable pumps to obtain water from a nearby stream but they were unable to save the structure. Two Vigilant firemen were injured during the incident, Ted Wise was overcome by smoke and Assistant Chief Gerald Holtry suffered first and second degree burns to his neck. A cause was not reported; damages were estimated at $32,000. Units from three companies battled the blaze and remained on the scene until 7:18 a.m. The Vigilant Hose Company stations 1 & 2 and the West End Fire and Rescue Company answered the alarm.

Chambersburg Storage Units Burn

On July 10, 2000 at 11:51 p.m. Franklin County 911 dispatched a Chambersburg box to 540 Carolina Court for storage units on fire. According to Chambersburg Fire Chief Allen Baldwin, heavy fire damaged two of the nine units in the one story structure. Firefighters had the blaze under control in 15 minutes. A damage estimate or cause was not reported. Firefighters remained on the scene until 1:49 a.m. The West End Fire and Rescue Company assisted at the scene.

Fire Traps Three Teens In Carnegie Cave

On July 9, 1967 at 3:42 p.m. firemen were alerted to the Carnegie Cave, near Cleversburg for a rescue. Three teens were exploring a cave, which is entered through a conduit entrance approximately 150 feet long that runs under Interstate 81. While in the cave the area with the conduit which is lined with tar caught fire and burnt an area 25 to 30 feet long. One youth crawled through the burning conduit and was found outside the entrance with his clothes on fire. After extinguishing the fire, boards were laid through the area to protect the rescue workers from the hot tar.

Searching the cave were Tom Jackson, John Nickles, Mike Goodhart and Fred Paulsgrove. The team searched the cave for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes before locating the missing two on a shelf in an upper layer of the cave about 1,800 feet from the cave entrance. At some places the cave floor was knee deep in water. The two were removed from the cave at 6:12 p.m.

All three were taken to Chambersburg Hospital, one in critical condition. That youth, 16 later died from his injured at Temple University Hospital on July 12TH. One fireman Edward Goodhart was treated at Chambersburg Hospital for smoke inhalation.

The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley ambulance and West End Fire and Rescue companies operated at the scene. The rescue squad from the Friendship fire company in Chambersburg was also called to assist.

I don't know who all the people in the photograph are but the ones I remember are, far right with no helmet about the center of the photo is John Snyder, right next to him with no shirt or helmet, Gerald Holtry, to the left of Ged in the white tin helmet, Charlie Myers, I am guessing that the other white helmet is Crawford Wiestling, three men in the CD type helmets are probably from WEFR and way in the back at in the row of people, standing on the right with the white shirt and his hand up to his chin (dark hair) looks like George Bigler. That's the best I can do, this is where I say that some people looking at the site could add much more to it but don't, and I won't, OH I just did.

Greene Township Barn Burns

On July 8, 1987 at 12:39 a.m. firefighters were called to the Sunset Pike, Greene Township across from the Letterkenny Army Depot for a barn fire. When firefighters arrived the barn was well involved and efforts were made to save a horse and protect the exposures. A dollar loss on the structure was not available but loss to the contents amounted to $12,000. A cause was not reported. Firefighters from six companies battled the blaze and remained on the scene until 3:10 a.m. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted t the scene.

WEFR members Jamie White, Larry Hinkle and Tom Flohr on the deluge gun, unknown firefighters behind them and Letterkenny firefighters in the black gear.