Flashover: The Power of Fire
Flashover is the point in which everything in your home catches fire -- no one can survive. See how quickly flashover can occur and how it can be prevented. 
See the video

2 car MVA at split
On March 8 Station 9 and Ambulance 9 were dispatched to assist PSP Tunkhannock with traffic control on a 2 car MVC with no reported injuries on SR's 6 & 11 before the split.  Ambulance 9 and Utility 9 responded immediately.  Once arrived on scene Chief 9 assumed the command, while Utility 9 set up a traffic pattern, and Ambulance 9 started obtaining patient refusals.  While obtaining a refusal on the one patient they stated they were starting to have some pain and requested to be transported to the hospital.  Ambulance 9 transported one patient to the hospital, and Utility 9 remained on scene until the vehicles were removed.

1 car MVA
On February 18 Station 9, Ambulance 9, and Station 17 were dispatched for a 1 car mva in the area of Spencer Hill Rd.  Ambulance 9 was already on a medical call so next due BLS was requested.  Rescue 9 arrived on scene to find 1 car with moderate damage on the passenger side of the vehicle, one patient, and utility wires down.  The patient was transported to the hospital, and units remained on scene to assist the utility company with traffic control.

Record Setting Month
The month of January 2012 proved to be a record setting one.  The Ambulance responded on 60 calls, and was only unable to crew for 1 call.  Never before has the Ambulance had a call total in the 60's in a single month.  Ambulance Captain Kyle Stanton would like to thank everyone who has been coming out to crew the ambulance, and getting it out the door.  Thank You!

Working fire, rollover
1/26/12 - Just after midnight Station 9 (Fire/EMS) were dispatched for a reported structure fire on SR6 near Lithia Valley Rd. Chief 9 marked enroute to the scene and the 911 center updated the dispatch stating multiple calls were coming in confirming the dispatch. 

Chief 9 requested the 2nd alarm be transmitted for the township. Chief 9 arrived, established the RT.6 command, and reported a 4 unit motel fully involved with power lines down along with a burn victim and requested all stand by units, ALS and next due BLS into the scene, 3rd alarm tanker on stand-by and PPL for the electrical hazard.  Engine and Tanker 9 arrived within minutes and placed a 3" step gun and a hand line in service while the Tanker set up to nurse. Engine 17-2 and Engine 7-3 arrived and set up the water supply off of Lithia Valley Rd. with all tankers performing a tanker shuttle. 

Command requested the remainder of the units to stage and have all manpower report to the scene.  Engine 63 was relocated to Keystone College to set up a landing zone for an inbound helicopter requested for the burn victim. Crews spent over 2 hours operating on scene. Thanks to all for your help.

UNITS OPERATING: Engines - 9, 17-2, 7-3, 12-2, 63, Hop Bottom E2      Tankers - 9, 5, 17, 17-2, 7-2, 12, 60, 63, 69-on stand by     along with L-5, R-2, Car 2, EMA, Sta.1 and Sta.12 BLS units

Just after 9pm that night Station 17 along with Station 9 (Rescue / EMS) along with ALS were dispatched for a reported roll over on Brecht Hill with reported entrapment. The Rescue and Ambulance responded within minutes. 17-12 arrived on scene and reported one patient self extricated and requested R-9 to continue for traffic. 9 units arrived and the Rescue staged and assisted with fluid control while EMS units received a sign off.  Units operated on scene for just over an hour.

BUS CRASH ON TUNNEL HILL
1/23/12 - Around 9pm Station 9 (Rescue / EMS) along with ALS were dispatched for a reported bus crash along Tunnel Hill Rd. Chief 9 arrived on scene and reported a t-bone crash involving a passenger vehicle and a school bus with no injuries and minor damage.  Rescue 9 arrived and staged above the scene to set up a traffic pattern and provide lighting while Ambulance 9 evaluated the patients.  Once PSP arrived the students involved were relocated to the school while crews cleared the roadway. Units operated on scene for just over an hour.

CPR Class Planned
The Factoryville Fire Company will be hosting a CPR Class on February 12 from 9am to 2pm ish, and a CPR Refresher on February 13 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm ish.  If you haven't taken CPR before, or you have been expired for a while come on February 12.  If you have recently expired or are about to expire come to the refresher on the 13th.  If your interested in taking CPR please contact myself at 903-0827, or leave a message at the fire house 945-5769.  Lunch will be provided on the 12th, and dinner on the 13th.  Cost is $10 per person.

Big Game Raffle Winner: 
Paulette Mordente of Old Forge! 
She has won a RCA 46" 1080p HDTV, RCA DVD player & Surround Sound, 2 Large Pizzas & 50 Wings from A&J Pizza of Nicholson, $25 Gift Card to Nicholson Beer Distributor & 1 case of Soda.  Congratulations Paulette! 

We would also like to thank all of the people who purchased tickets, and Dan Very of A&J Pizza for donating the Pizza & Wings.  We will see everyone next year.

Exposing an Invisible Killer: 
The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
Each year in America, more than 150 people die from accidental non-fire related CO poisoning associated with consumer products. These products include faulty, improperly-used or incorrectly-vented fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, stoves, water heaters and fireplaces. Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) would like you to know that there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself from deadly carbon monoxide fumes.

Understanding the Risk: What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.

Where does carbon monoxide come from?
CO gas can come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces and motor vehicles.

Who is at risk?
Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Medical experts believe that unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.

Structure Fire in Clinton Twp.
 On 1-10-12 around 10:15 pm Station 9 was dispatched to 208 Savage Rd. in Clinton Township for a possible structure fire.  Chief 9 (B. Gow) arrived to find a mobile home fully involved. 

Chief 9 requested a second alarm.  Engine 9 arrived and layed 5" hose from SR 11 down Savage Rd into the scene.  The Engine crew deployed one 1 3/4" attack line, and the 3" Akron Step Gun.  An aggressive exterior attack was done which knocked down the bulk of the fire. 

There was some stubborn fire still burning up in between the roof, and underneath the debris inside.  Tanker 9 arrived and supplied as a tanker nurse.  Engine 17-2 picked up the lay and went into a nearby pond.  An extensive over haul was done due to the collapsed multiple layer roof, and heavy debris inside.  Ambulance 9 transported one patient to an area hospital.
 

Units On Scene Engines- 9, 17-2 Tankers- 9, 17-2, 5, 63, 12, 7-2 Rescues- 9, 2 Ladder 5 Ambulances- 9, 1-11 Utility 9 Car 2

Units Relocated/On Stand By Engine 12 & Tanker 60 @ Station 9 Hop Bottom Fire @ Station 17 Station 4 & 4-9 @ Their Station

Utility 9 in service
The newest addition to the Factoryville Fire Co. is now in service.  Utility 9 which is a F-450 4x4, four door truck, with a reading body.  The truck was purchased last year at the beginning of spring, and it has taken a total transformation into what it is today.

With the hard work and dedication of Fire Co. members, we are proud to say we built this truck ourselves.  We did send it out to get painted, and have some diamond plate added, but the mounting of the tank, pump, plumbing, tools, etc. was all done by our own members.

B&B Lighting Solutions installed a siren, warning lights on all sides of the tuck, and a split traffic advisor on the rear.  This truck will be first due on brush fires, MVA's in snowy/icy weather, and nuscience calls (wires/trees down, traffic control).  It will also run EMS calls when Ambulance 9 is already on a call or out of service.  Utility 9 can also travel out to water sources off of the roadway, and be used as a supply piece. 

The truck has seating for 5 personnel, 250 gallon fiberglass tank, 500 gpm CET Pump, Amkus/Genesis Hydraulic Rescue Tools, EMS equipment, Brush Fire equipment, 100 ft of preconnected garden hose, 150 ft preconnected 1" attack line, and 100 ft of 1 3/4" attack line.  We also carry additional 1" attack line, and forestry hose in the compartments.

The truck is also set up for pulling the Wyoming County EMA Mass Casualty Trailer that is stationed at our fire house. 
 

2 Alarm fire at Keystone College Times Leader 11-30-11 - At 530 am Station 9 was dispatched for a reported working fire in the art building at Keystone College.

Chief 9 (B.Gow) arrived on scene, established the Keystone Command, and reported visible flames on the A/D side immediately requesting the 2nd alarm bringing Ladder and Tanker 5, Engine 17-2, Rescue 2, Tunkhannock BLS, and EMA.  E-9 arrived and was requested to wrap the plug along College Ave. and lay in.

 Once the supply line was connected the crew from E-9 advanced one 1 3/4" handline to the side A door and make a quick knock of the front fire room. L-5 arrived and split crews advancing a second handline into the main portion of the building and pulling double duty checking for extension while performing vent operations. 

E 17-2 arrived and assigned to split crews to cover both the attack and truck crews while R-2 staged for RIT and took care of the utilities. Minutes into the fire, command requested E-4 into the scene to back up the RIT crew and E 12-2 to stand by. 

A-9, 5-9 and Station 1 BLS performed both accountability and rehab during the operation. Crews were able to hold the fire to the kiln/workshop area of the art building but crews spent over 2 hours performing overhaul. Crews cleared the scene just after 11am. A great coordinated effort by all personnel on scene. Thanks to all mutual aid companies along with the Red Cross for your assistance.

Factoryville, Dalton to try shared fire company coverage
By: Virginia Cody (Staff Writer)

The Factoryville and Dalton fire companies will officially start job sharing Monday - at least on a 90-day trial basis - but Factoryville Fire Company Assistant Chief and trustee Ned Sherman wanted to make one thing perfectly clear.

"It's not a merger," Assistant Chief Sherman said.

The two fire companies plan to start alternating weeks of taking the lead when fire and ambulance calls come in.

It is, as Dalton Fire Company President John Holbert explained, a way to ease both companies' financial burden and still ensure there's adequate ambulance protection for both communities.

Volunteerism is down, Mr. Holbert added, and both companies are finding it hard to staff their daytime shifts, when many people are at work.

Assistant Chief Sherman also noted that the costs of operating the fire companies have risen lately. That's particularly true when paramedic services by Community Life Support are needed.

"If CLS goes on a run, we have to pay an extra $200," he said.

Factoryville spends $8,000 a month just on staffing its Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m shifts. Dalton, which has daytime crews available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, pays out a little bit less. Volunteers cover the rest of the weekday hours and all weekend hours.

"But there's no cost to the residents," Assistant Chief Sherman said, adding that operating costs for the fire companies come out of refunds from insurance claims.

The fire companies will use the 90-day trial to make sure the financial arrangements balance out, he added. If Factoryville has six calls one week and Dalton has two the next week, the financial responsibility and insurance refunds should be split evenly between the two companies. After 90 days of working that way, it is expected the costs will balance.

Assistant Chief Sherman said the two companies have had a long-standing excellent working relationship.

"What we're trying to do is help each other out financially because we were going under," he said. "If we don't try to do 

The article above was published in the Scranton Times, and Wyoming County Press Examiner

To better summarize this for the residents that are served by these two fire companies.  Both Dalton Fire co., and Factoryville Fire Co. were contracted with Community Life Support to supply two EMT's each for EMS coverage Mon-Fri during the daytime.  With rates going up, and Insurance Companies not paying in a timely manner, both companies were feeling a financial burden.  So we teamed together, and we split the bill for two EMT's supplied by Community Life Support to cover EMS calls Mon-Fri during the hours of 6 am-6 pm.  So instead of both Ambulances being staffed in the daytime only one will, and they will answer calls for both fire companies.  We will be alternating which ambulance is on duty.  The week of October 7, Ambulance 9 is the staffed truck, and the week of October 14, Ambulance 5-9 (Dalton) will be the staffed truck, and so on and so forth.  If you have any questions on this subject feel free to call our fire house (570) 945-5769 ask for Tom Schofield or Dalton's fire house (570) 563-1313 ask for John Holbert.

MVA near Blue Bird Diner
Around 7:46 a.m. on September 7, Station 9 and Ambulance 9 were dispatched for a 2 car MVA on SR's 6&11 in the area of the Blue Bird Diner, with possibly one vehicle over the embankment. 
Chief 9 (B.Gow) arrived on scene and found one vehicle in the median with moderate/heavy front end damage, and the other vehicle over the embankment. 

The patient in the car over the embankment was confined to the vehicle due to a T-Bone impact.  Rescue 9 arrived and deployed the hydraulic spreaders & cutters, and removed the drivers door.  The patient was then removed and went into the hands of ems, and the rest of the hazards were controlled.  Ambulance 5-9 and an extra ALS out of lackawanna county were called into the scene to assist with patient transport.

Three patients total were transported to the hospital.  Units operated on scene for an hour.

Units on Scene
Rescue 9, Ambulance 9, Ambulance 5-9, CLS, Lackawanna Ambulance, PSP Tunkhannock 

Fire Co. Awarded AFG Grant
The Factoryville Fire Co. received word from Senator Bob Casey's office on Thursday June 30, that we have been awarded a grant.  With the grant the fire co. will be able to purchase a brand new hydraulic rescue system.  Items that will be purchased will be a new power unit, cutter, spreader, two rams, combi tool, and two pre connect reels to be mounted into Rescue 9.  This grant was awarded by the Assistance to Firefighters Grants through FEMA.  The Fire Co. would like to thank everyone involved with this process, and thank you to AFG for awarding the Factoryville Fire Co. with this grant.  The communities we serve will be better protected with this new rescue system.
 

Working Fire in the Twp. At 19:35 on Tuesday March 29, Station 9 was dispatched for a unknown type fire in a residence off of SR 6 west in Clinton Twp.  Chief 9 (B. Gow) arrived to find a one story Ranch style home with a moderate smoke condition outside of the structure coming from Side C.  Chief 9 walked around to Side C of the structure to find smoke venting from the bilco doors, and the home owner coming out after attacking the fire with a dry chem extinguisher.

Engine 9 pulled in right behind the chief and the crew got off and entered through the bilco doors and extinguished the rest of the fire and removed the charred items from the basement.  The fire was held to the utility room in the basement with some moderate damage to the floor joists of the first floor. It was a good stop by all involved.  Ambulance 9 checked out one patient on the scene.
 Units on scene: Engine 9, Tanker 9, Ambulance 9

Working Fire in Laplume Twp. 

Around 4:00 p.m. on Sunday March 20 Station 9 and Station 5 out of Lackawanna County were dispatched for a reported barn fire on Maple St. in Station 5's first due part of Laplume Twp.  Engine and Tanker 9 responded within 5 minutes of dispatch and arrived right behind Engine 5.  Upon arrival there was smoke pushing out the eves.  Engine 5's crew stretched two attack lines, with Engine 9's crew backing them up, and Tanker 9 securing the initial water supply.  An aggressive knock was put onto the fire and it was held in check causing minimal damage to the structure.   A job well done to all involved.

Units on Scene: Engines- 9,5  Tankers- 9,5,63

Parachuter in the trees

At approx. 10:00 a.m. on February 13 Station 9, Ambulance 9 and Station 17 were dispatched for a parachuter stuck in a tree below the Nicholson Bridge off of SR 11.  Engine 17 arrived and Chief 17A (R. McClain) assumed command requesting Rescue 18 (Clifford) into the scene to assist with a rope rescue effort.  Access had to be made with 4 wheel drive trucks through a farmers field to get to the victim.  Rescue 9 arrived and sent rescue rope and a harness into the scene.  An expert tree climber ascended up the tree approx. 50 ft, and secured the victim with the rescue rope.  The victim was then lowered down, and went into the hands of EMS for patient evaluation.  With no injuries the patient signed off.  All units were returned. Units on Scene Engine 17, Rescue 9, Ambulance 9, Rescue 18, CLS, PSP

VEHICLE FIRE IN THE TWP.

11-15-10 - Just before 20:00hrs Station 9 was dispatched for a reported working vehicle fire near a structure on Lindley Ave. in Clinton Twp. The Engine, Tanker, and Ambulance arrived within minutes and once on scene Chief 9-B (B.Gow) reported a working vehicle fire within 2 feet of a structure.

The engine crew stretched a hand line and made an aggressive attack on the vehicle while the tanker set up a nurse operation and the rescue stood by at the hydrant. Crews were able to keep the fire contained to the engine compartment and prevented extension and damage to the structure. Station 9 cleared the scene within 45 mins.
 

RESCUE 9 HEADS WEST On Thursday October 7 the Old Rescue 9 started its voyage to Huron, South Dakota.  The Rescue had been sold to the Riverside Hutterian Brethren Community to be used as a frontline fire apparattus.  After the truck was loaded with extra hose, and equipment it made its last trip down College Avenue on its way to its new home.  The unique sound from this truck will surely be missed here in NEPA.  The Factoryville Fire Co. would like to wish good luck to the community, and hope that the truck runs just as good for them as it did for us.

Rollover Draws Response

At 19:30 on Wednesday August 12 Station 9, Ambulance 9, Station 17, and Hop Bottom Rescue 4 were dispatched for a one car mva on Glenwood Rd. in Lenox Twp.  Chief 17 (T. Roberts) arrived on scene advising one patient with injuries still in the vehicle.  Upon the arrival of Rescue 9 the patient had been removed by crews from Engine 17-2 and Hop Bottom Rescue 4.

Rescue 9 ran blocker for the scene and crews assisted with traffic.  Ambulance 9 transported one patient to an area hospital.  All units were returned around 20:30.

Units on Scene
Rescue 9, Ambulance 9, Engine 17-2, HB Rescue 4, Tyler 601, PSP Gibson

Factoryville, Fleetville Fire Companies train in vehicle rescue 

Members from both Factoryville and Fleetville Fire Companies joined together on Monday July 27 at Cucurra’s Junk yard in Benton Township to practice vehicle rescue evolutions. Check out the photo link

The evolutions primarily focused on stabilization utilizing Factoryville’s recently acquired Junkyard dog rescue struts and auto crib system, and basic vehicle rescue techniques using hand tools. It was a very productive and educational night.  We actually got to see some “Real Junk yard Dogs” but they were unwilling to stabilize the vehicles, they just ran around chasing each other. Photos: courtesy www.fleetvillefire.com