SUV into structures
An SUV that apparently lost its brakes coming down Marion Street (Route 247) in Browndale did extensive damage to two structures just after 10:30 hours on Saturday, October 31.

The female driver escaped unharmed despite the extensive damage to the SUV and both structure.  The damaged structures are no strangers to similar crashes as over the years other vehicles have met their fate there as well.  The driver of SUV self extricated despite double air bag deployment.

Chief 43 had the command with the Sgt. Short on the engine handling Division 1 inside the structure, Captain Zasik (41 Rescue) took charge of the stabilization group.  Once the extent of structural damage was determined the vehicle was removed from the structures without incident.  The incident was wrapped up in 30 minutes.  Photos

On the assignment: Chief 43, Car 43, Engine 43, Rescue 41, Forest City EMS and PSP.

SUV vs. dirt bike on Route 247
The driver of a dirt biker suffers significant injuries in a crash with an SUV

The wreck occured Sunday afternoon, October 11, around 15:30 hours on Route 247 near the between Commerce Drive and Front Street in Clinton Township. After the collison between the SUV and the bike, the SUV hit the guardrail stopping in a wooded area.

The driver of the SUV reportedly was uninjured. Forest City EMS and Mobile 9 handled patient care.  On the assignment: Engine 43, Car 43, Chief 43, Rescue 41, Forest City EMS, Mobile 9 and PSP

Fatal crash in Vandling 
A deadly crash on Route 171 in the 300 block of Main Street drew a response for the Engine crew on Friday evening, September 4th. A motorcyclist died in the crash after losing control on a corner ending up under a SUV.  The deadly crash is under investigation by the PA State Police. 

Engine 43 was detailed to the Vandling Recreation Field to establish a  landing zone for Lifeflight, but was eventually canceled by EMS. Crews remained on the scene for over 90 minutes with Route 171 remaining closed.  On  the assignment: Engine 42, Rescues 41 and 51, Forest City EMS, Cottage ALS (Mobile 9). Scranton Times
 
 

Open House a hit Station 43 opened it's door to the public Thursday evening. The event featured fire station tours, public fire safety education demonstrations, and a presentation provide an overview of  fire company operations. Special thanks to all three Clinton Township Supervisors for taking the time to visit the fire station and sit through our presentation.  WNEP TV made time to come up the the firehouse to cover the event. We're proud of our station and apparatus, but  most importantly, we are proud to have a great cadre of members who are committed to the firehouse!

Violent crash on Route 296

A violent crash on Route 296 between Stanton Drive and Elk Lake Drive resulted in serious injuries for two people Saturday morning bust before 06:00 hours on Saturday, August 1.  Wayne County Communications dispatched the rescue assignment at 05:58 hours bringing Rescue 75, Engine 43, Car 43, Waymart EMS and ALS from Cottage EMS.

Upon dispatch communications advised that due to weather conditions no medical helicopters were available  to fly due to weather conditions. The female passenger was self extricated with the male driver heavily entrapped.  Both patients were taken to the trauma center via ground transportation.

Rescue 75 handled  the extrication and removed the entrapped patient at 06:19 hours. Engine 43 handled the hazards and provided a hand line for patient and crew protection.  Deputy Chief 75 (Lombardi) handled the extrication while  Captain 43 (Ellsworth) oversaw the hazard control.

Chief 43 (Richards) had the Route 296 command. Crews cleared the scene just before 07:00 hours. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police. Photos....

Plane crash, 1 hurt 

The pilot of a lightweight plane was injured in a crash landing at a private air strip  near Stone Bridge Lane and Route 170 in Clinton Township Sunday afternoon at 17:47 hours.  Apparently the plane lost power on approach to the landing strip, slamming to the slide of a ravine, coming to rest on some downed trees. The pilot was still in the plane when emergency services arrived.  The plane was immediately secured preventing it from sliding down the hill side into the stream below. Once extricated by Rescue 75, the pilot was treated by Waymart EMS and Mobile 9 then transported to the hospital. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Photos

On the response: Car 43, Engines 43 and 94, Rescue 75, Tanker 94, Waymart EMS and Mobile 9. 

First night of training with Co. 94
Tuesday evening may respresent the first of many multi-company training exercises with Company 94 and other mutual companies over the summer. 43 worked with 94  (Prompton) at  White Oak Pond in Clinton Township, give both companies a chance to get familiar with each others apparatus and equipment. Several water movement drills were conducted  involving both engines and the tower ladder. We'd like to thank Chief Collins and his crew for their efforts in making for a great training exercise. Both companies plan to train together in the very near future. Photos

Busy weekend: HOGFEST Saturday, Training Sunday
For the third month in a row, Station 43 personnel racked up nearly 400 man-hours of training.  On Sunday, the day was spent doing various drills in conjunction with the fourth module of the Delmar FF1 program. Photos
Earlier photos

HOGFEST is history
Blessed with beautiful weather, the event drew hundreds of locals who where out for a good time.  Special thanks to Chief Fanning and the crew from Station 22 who filled-in for us while we were committed to HOGFEST. The photos!

Working with the 400' line
A good portion of a Saturday was spent practicing with the 400' 2" preconnect line.  The line was added to the attack arsenal when the new engine went in service. With many setbacks and building that are "deep", the 400' footer can be deployed with good fire attack capabilities. The photos.

8 complete FF1 program
The Delmar FF1 program that started a few days after the New Year came to an end Monday evening with the written exam.  The 180 hour program consisted of four modules.  In addition to the basic FF program, all members obtained a National Haz Mat Certification. Station 43 would like to thank all the instructors who made this program a success.  We look forward to having you back for future training endeavors! Congratulations to the following  firefighters from Station 43 who successfully completed the program: Shawn Burns, D.J. Yestrepsky, Don "Pappa D" Yestrepsky, James Tasso, Julie Doyle, Pat Davis, Mike Skasko, and Sgt. Kristian Short.
 

Heavy fire on arrival in Vandling
Firefighters had heavy fire showing on arrival on Thursday, March 12, just before 20:00 hours in the 400 block on Main Street in Vandling, Box 4201. Fire was blowing out into the street from a 2.5 story wood frame structure at 440 with exposures on the Bravo (444) and Delta Sides (438). With heavy fire involvement and exposure problems, Command immediately requested a second alarm on the box.

First arriving engine, E-41, mounted a high volume exterior attack with Ladder 43 on the Alpha side. Following the high volume attack, crews determined that the fire was contained to the 440 Main Street structure. Command backed down the assignment to the second alarm, special calling Rescue Co. 51 from the second.

Companies worked for nearly four hours handling extensive overhaul operations. A PSP Fire Marsha;l determined the fire  was arson.  On the box: Engines 42, 41, 43, 614 and  52, Ladders 43 and 58, Rescues 59,51  and 41,  Squad 59 and Forest City EMS.  Photos

Engine, Car on two alarm fire in Bethany 
A massive log cabin style home was hit by flames Friday morning in Dyberry Township, near Bethany on Route 670 in Wayne County just after 08:00 hours. 

Initial companies on scene had heavy fire on the Charlie side of the structure with extension into the Division 2 and the roof area prompting a quick request for a second alarm. The fire was contained to three rooms of the structure, but required extensive overhaul.
With the fire contained, efforts were focused on overhaul and salvage. The structure was located approximately one mile off Route 670 limiting apparatus access. Engine 43's crew was assigned to Division 2.  Crews worked for about two hours before returning to service. No injuries were reported. A State Police Fire Marshal will investigate the fire's cause.  More Pictures

Firefighter attains FF1, Hazmat Ops Certifications
Cheryl Hunsburger recently was certified as a Firefighter 1 and received her Hazardous Materials Operations certification.  Cheryl  traveled to  Great Bend and Susquehanna Fire Departments from August 2008 to January 2009 for over 200 hours of classroom time, practical skills, and practice time. Included in this class, was a structural burn class that was needed for the certification that was held in Vestal, New York. Testing for this certification, which also took place in Vestal New York, was very rigorous. There were four different written examinations and two different practical examinations that had to be completed.  Early in 2008, she also completion her Emergency Medical Technician certification.

Station 43 to become Red Cross Shelter
43 thanked for "stepping up"
Browndale Fire Company  approved unanimously to proceed with an application to be an American Red Cross Shelter last week. 

Browndale Fire Company was visited by the American Red Cross of Lackawanna County on Monday, October 20th for a walk through of the fire station in consideration of being a Red Cross Shelter and to be utilized when disaster strikes in the area. 

The Red Cross was very pleased with the fire station's facility and thanked us for "stepping up" to the plate.  While Browndale may seem like an unlikely place, you never know when disaster may strike.   The American Red Cross of Lackawanna County was pleased to have our fire company added to their list of shelters.   The official letter will be arriving in the mail soon.

We understand that in a time of emergency/disaster, the fire company members will be out helping others in the community as we did two years ago for the June floods. However, our station, once activated as a shelter, could be manned by the Red Cross and its trained volunteers to help others in our community, or those "down the valley" from us or even "over the mountain" from us. The Red Cross will be looking to provide shelter and emergency training to volunteers in the community. 

The Browndale Fire Company is proud and eager to be assisting those in need in case of disaster.   Just another example of the commitment of the members of the Browndale Fire Company to the community that we serve.

Transition to new frequencies complete
The transition to the new frequency lineup that is part of a communications upgrade effort at Wayne County Communications Center was completed on Saturday.  The new freqeuencies are as follows: Both County 1 and 2 have a PL of 167.9 transmit and receive, County 1 ~ 151.415 and  County 2  155.6775.  Fire 1 is 155.9175 and  Fire 2  is  156.0375.  A third county frequency and a third fire frequency is planned for the future. At this point, all four frequencies will be activated. Sgt. Ellsworth coordinated the project.

More new Trix....
Captains  Tricarico and Barnas do "REAL" Truck Company Ops
Captain Tony Tricarico, Squad 252, FDNY,  and Capatin Greg Barnas, from Ladder 6 in Jersey City, NJ, gave an intense  training program presented by Task Force 1, Inc., on Saturday and Sunday. The new program, REAL Truck Company Operations, focused on how a "Real" Truck Company should operate. The intense training left firefighters breathless by the end of Sunday.  The class was made up of firefighters from host Browndale Fire Company,  Duryea Fire Department in Luzerne County, Blakely Hose Company, Clarks Summit and Elmhurst Fire Companies from Lackawanna County. Firefighters from Lower Swatara Fire Department near Harrisburg and Wallington, New Jersey rounded out the roster of nearly thirty firefighters at the training event. First Day Photos  Day two photos

First due fire wrecks dwelling
A box assignment was sent to the Elk Lake area of Clinton Township Sunday evening before 20:00 hours for the working house fire. The structure was fully involved on arrival. An exposure on side D was damaged by radiant heat but was spared. The occupants of the dwelling were home but were not in the structure at the time of the fire. A PSP Fire Marshal will investigate the cause of the fire. Scranton Times

On the assignment: E 43, 42, 41 and 12, Rescues 75 and 59, Ladders 43 and 43, Mini Pumper 94, Tankers 94, 12, 13 and 75, Car 43 and Waymart EMS. Chief 43A had the command.  Photos

Ladder gets work on 28 box
A working fire in a commercial building on Route 371, literally in the shadow of Station 28, drew a response for Ladder 43 just before 02:00 hours on Tuesday .Ladder 43, first arriving ladder, initially took aposition on Side D of  the large "T" shaped structure. 

The truck crew checked the basement reporting a fire in the A/B area. With the fire growing rapidly, Ladder 18 and Ladder 43 were assigned to trench cut the roof in hopes of holding the fire in the main portion of the structure. 

The strategy worked allowing engine crews to hold the fire in  main structure. The ladder was eventually repositioned on B of the structure.Crews worked for about five hours on the stubborn blaze. Ladder 43  was recalled to the scene the blaze around 10:30 hours to assist the  PSP Fire Marshal  with aerial photos of the scene. 
The cause  Wayne Independent    Photos

Ladder at Ops in Large/Complex Structures program
Captain Tony Tricarico, Squad 252 in Brooklyn returned for another weekend of training as Task Force 1, Inc., delivered yet another intense  training program. A Truck crew attended the two day program entitled "Operations in Large /Complex Structures in Old Forge, Lackawanna County.  Captain "Trix" was joined by Battalion Chief Jim Dugan from the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department. The training was intense as would be expected with Captain "Trix".  Go the the Old Forge Website
Photos here!

Arson fire hits Station 42

A devastating fire tore through a 150' x 30' picnic pavilion, kitchen and storage shed at Vandling Hose Company in the 500 Block of Clinton Street in Vanding. 

The blaze, which hit just after 02:00 hours on Tuesday, presented tense moments  for firefighters when they were greeted by a 500 pound propane tank venting a vertical flame in the midst of the inferno with a second tank being impinged by flames. 

Initial reports from the scene suggest some sort of an "explosion" but that was not confirmed.
Chief Hollis and his crew focused on removing his apparatus for the station, a mere twenty five feet from the structure. The fire station suffered minor damage on Side C from radiant heat. Crews operated  for about 90 minutes before returning to service.  One firefighter was injured but refused medical treatment. A PSP Fire Marshal  determined the fire was  arson.  On the Box:  E 42, 41, 43, 61, 60,  52, R 41, 59, L 43, 58, Car 43, FC and Cottage EMS. Chief Hollis had the Clinton Street Command.  WNEP TV

43 responds to Clifford 
A two alarm plus fire tore through a one hundred year old home on Main Street in Clifford. The four occupants of the dwelling safely escaped the blaze as firefighters were greeted by a  wall of fire on side C of the structure. 
Crews operated for nearly 4 hours clearing the scene just before 06:00 hours.  Chief 43A with Car 43 was on the second alarm working with Chief 18 (T.Turner) in command. Photos here!

Truck crew spends  2 days training
Neither cold or snow stopped two days of training. On Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and 2,  a crew and the ladder participated in the "Coordinated Attack" program presented by Task Force 1, Inc. at Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Company (29).  Check out the photos