10/14/10  Fire Chief Manmiller writes:

During a business trip this week, I had a few hours to kill before getting on a plane back home. What's a better way to get rid of the time? Find a fire station. The hotel Adolphus pointed me in the right direction.

I spent a couple of hours with the men and women of Platoon A at station 18. Downtown Dallas. The busiest station in the city. Seven firefighters and one LT. man one engine and two rescues(EMS). They also house two air trucks and are responsible for refilling air and O2 for the entire city. All the firefighters were very cordial. After they learned I was a chief from PA, they couldn't answer any of my questions without a yes sir or no sir. It was nice to hear.

(Click on picture above for a few photos of John’s visit to Dallas)

Lt. John Green was more than hospitable, in fact I was there no more than 10 minutes and found myself filling out ride along waivers and learning where my seat was in the back of the truck (A 9 year old Quality w/ 90,000 very hard miles on it).

I got a tour of the station, received my official DFD shirt, and sat down for 5 minutes until (2 bells) it was time to go. In 30 seconds we were moving. (They did say get in and hold on.) Nothing spectacular (male feeling sick in a car), but it was a ride none the less.

Back to station a short time later and of course it was time for lunch. It was nice to talk shop with everyone for awhile. Later I expressed my gratitude for everything and was going to start my walk back to the hotel when the LT. Summoned a Firefighter to give me another ride. This time back the the hotel.

What a great experience in a great city. Thanks to the platoon, the brotherhood is alive and well in Dallas Tx.

12/23/10: Please join me in congratulating two members who have achieved a new level in their training.

Josh Young and Ricky Kershner have been notified by the Department of Health that they are Fleetwood's newest First Responders.

Fleetwood continues to gain medically trained personnel. Over 75% of our members are now Paramedics, EMT's or First Responders. Our 3 MICU's and two QRS licensed support trucks provided EMS services over 1800 times this year.

Residents of Fleetwood, Richmond, and Ruscombmanor can be assured of receiving this first class treatment every time you need us.

John Manmiller, Chief.

3/15/11 - Happenings around the Station     

Remodeling in progress:

       The inside of the station is getting a new coat of paint. After 30 years our white walls aren’t so white anymore.   The members have been working on painting the walls in the engine room recently. The EMS bays were completed last year. We also recently installed new chrome gear racks as the wooden ones were falling apart.

Training:

Our calendar is pretty full right now. Six members are currently in Essentials class and seven others are in BVRT.  That, along with an acquired structure which we will be using for the next several months for a RIT class and a Ventilation class, will keep us tied up till June.

Recertified:

       Thanks to the team who keeps the trucks stocked with supplies.  We recently were inspected by the DOH and re-licensed three MICU's, one supervisor vehicle and two QRS units. We are now ready to go into 2014. Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of Fleetwood EMS. We have also been providing QRS services for the last 10 years.

Banquet:

Thanks to all who helped make this year’s banquet another success, including the area FD’s who came out, the businesses and local elected officials who support us so well, and to the members who are truly appreciated.  Congrats to the following 2010 award recipients:

Utility People of the Year: Elaine Bleiler and Irene Moyer

EMS Person of the Year: Phillip Bleiler

Jr of the Year: Megan Young

Firefighter of the Year: Brian Young

Officer of the Year: Chad Moyer

Lifetime Achievement: Legger, Ricky, and Chad Moyer for combined family service

And a huge thank you to our special keynote speaker Mr.Dana Zarfos and his family (shown below), for making this event unforgettable.

Training: Fleetwood newest volunteers are undertaking two important  state certified courses: PA DOH Vehicle Rescue and also firefighting essentials, all mods. This is a significant time commitment,  but the volunteers have taken the challenge and are doing great in these courses.  

The vehicle rescue course, held at Topton fire company, has just completed with the practical session (pic shown to the left) last Sunday at Shadlers towing salvage yard in Lyons.  Volunteers from Lyons, Topton, Fleetwood, Virginville, and others from the area were in a class to learn the fundamentals of vehicle rescue.  Dept. Chief Chris Skipper, from Virginville, (shown in several pics in denim coat) was assigned to the Fleetwood group to show them the ropes.  

The firefighting essentials classes, also held at Topton fire company, is also well attended by Fleetwood volunteers and is starting Mod 3 (out of 4 modules) and focuses on exterior operations. The final module is the interior firefighting course, which will be covered on this website later.

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Easter Egg Day! The Fleetwood Fire Company EMS crews has a family  “Easter Egg coloring day” at the station.  EMS crews and families took some time to color eggs and enjoy the social time together. Pictures by J. Zerbe

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Congrats to FVFC members Jeremy and Sharon Hertzog on their new addition!  

Jeremy Scott Hertzog Jr., born 4/9/11 at 3:54 am

8 pounds  1.9 ounces   

20 1/2 inches long

Grandparents  Belinda & Bryan Stoudt and Jeff Hertzog, and great grandparents Ardell & (VP of FVFC) Charlie Bergstresser

Fleetwood volunteers train regularly in many aspects of firefighting and rescue. This training includes classes from state certified instructors (as shown below during the PADOH vehicle rescue) as well as in-house training on Tuesday nights and some Sunday mornings.  On Sunday May 15th, volunteers from Fleetwood went to the borough reservoir to do some pump training and hand line evolutions. Walnuttown Fire Company joined Fleetwood this past Sunday and together  went through many different pump scenarios and hand line firefighting tactics.

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Attention members: The training which was to be completed in the donated house but was postponed due to instructor injury has now been re-scheduled for Monday June 20, Thursday June 23, and Monday June 27.  Be at station by 1830 hrs. Topics will be:

Ventilation , forcible entry, and SCBA Refresher.  Exact sequence TBD.  Sorry for short notice, but we have to schedule prior to the house demolition.  Please see Asst 45 with any questions.

Other coming training: 7/5 and 7/12= pre-plan tours of significant local businesses, August 30th = burn session at training site.

Congratulations on the 2nd place award for Tower 45 at the recent Amity township parade

UPCOMING EVENTS - Mark your Calendars

August 23rd - Business meeting 1830 & Relief Mtg

August 30th - Burn session - leaving station at 1800

September 17,18 - EVOC class 0800

September 21st - Sandwich sale at the Community Center

September 25th Bingo at the Hall

September 27th Business meeting 1830

September 30th - Homecoming Parade / time TBA

October 1st - Fire company outing at the Evergreen Club 1500hrs

October 11th - Fire prevention Open house 1800

October 12th -  Tentative school visits

October 22nd - Safety day in the Park

October 25th - Business meeting 1830 / nominations of officers

November 6th - 20$ ticket drawing at the Hall 1100hrs

November 12th - Elvis night at the Hall

November 16th - Sandwich sale at the Community Center

November 22nd - Business meeting 1830 / Election of officers

Fleetwood finished up their training on our acquired structure on Monday night. More than a dozen sessions were held over the past few months. Hose line evolutions, mechanical ventilation, forcible entry, scba and Rit practice. We finished with a vent class that made swiss cheese of the entire rear of the structure. Again we want to thank Weavers Hardware for the generous opportunity given to us.

Congratulations are in order.

We recently received two awards from Hurst and their Green cross award for two entrapment calls where critical patients were saved using the Jaws of Life and other Hurst equipment. Thanks to all members involved.

Matt Delong for completing the Special Vehicle Rescue Class.

Josh Young for heading off to college. Good Luck. We'll see you in August.

John R. Manmiller

 Our condolences to Blandon Fire Company on the loss of their long time member Donald Keim.  Fleetwood’s T45 was asked to assist Blandon’s aerial at the cemetery. Donald’s brother Dennis is a long standing engineer with Fleetwood fire company.

Our thoughts and prayers with the Keim family and Blandon Fire Company.

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Hurricane Irene has come and gone in Berks County. The borough crews were out on Friday making sure all storm sewer grates were unblocked while fire crews spent the day tuning up and preparing pumps, saws, and generators in the event they would be needed.

Although townships roadways seem hardest hit with downed trees and power lines, Fleetwood Borough faired much better. The fire side responded to only 3 calls, while the Fire police responded to numerous calls to assist the Police with traffic control while township fire companies handled numerous trees and wires calls. There were only 3 homes without power and 2 without cable service in the borough during the night time hours.

Fleetwood rescuers cut a male out of a pair of handcuffs after walking into the police department last Tuesday night.

The male, who put the handcuffs on with the key-ways on the inside next to each other, gave police no other option but to have them cut off with bolt cutters. Rescuers gladly assisted and the male was glad to have them off.  

Tower 45 is Out of Service for three weeks starting October 17th. While our first due truck is out we will be running Engine 45 as the first due and Ladder 45 as the second out piece. It will run first due mutual aid calls for Truck work.

The unit we are using is on loan from American LaFrance and is a 100' stick. No pump, no water. We have packed as much equipment on as possible and have spent two days becoming comfortable with the operations. Its been eight years since we operated a stick but we were able to regain the feel quickly after having a 75' stick from 1989 to 2003.

Wednesday Oct. 19th 1312 hrs. - 12 Members of the FVFC reported the area near the Rail Road tracks on Beech Street with a cross street of Linden to assist the PD with fluids down after an MVA involving a train.

Three apparatus responded, mitigated a small amount of Hydraulic fluid from a ruptured cylinder on the truck and provide traffic control in the vicinity.

The locomotive, which came to rest behind the homes of the Cardinal Ridge development, was checked for damage as well as the contents of the train cargo itself. V&M towing assisted with the removal of the truck body and the crews were made available by 1350hrs.

10/20/11: Today the community welcomed home 22 year old PFC Ed Guldin of Locust St in Fleetwood.  Friends had contacted Police Chief Steve Stinsky requesting assistance to welcome their hero home. Chief Stinsky immediately went to work contacting the local press and requested assistance from the Fleetwood Fire Company.  As our hero came into town, the Fleetwood Police Department and the Fleetwood Fire Company provided a hero's escort for PFC Guldin through the Borough to his residence where he was welcomed home by Fleetwood Mayor Gary Ebeling, also present were councilman Pete Merkel, family, friends, neighbors and various members of the media.

PFC Guldin, an infantryman, was serving in Afghanistan with his unit the 2nd of the 87th Infantry, Ft Drum, NY when he was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED).  PFC Guldin's injuries resulted in the loss of his legs.

NOTE:  On Saturday October 22nd there is a fund raising event planned to support PFC Guldin's rehabilitation at Ozzy's Family Fun Center, Leesport, PA.  All day fun passes will be on sale for $20 and PFC Guldin is scheduled to make an appearance at 2 pm.

More on this story at Kutztown Patriot online here or click picture above.

Maiden voyage for Ladder 45 - Saturday Oct 22nd 1543 hrs. The replacement for Tower 45 while its in the shop responded to Maidencreek twp. for a structure fire, smoke in the building.

12 firefighters along with 3 trucks and fire police went to Hearthstone Assisted Living at the  west end of the township. Upon Ladder 45's arrival, Chief 12 recalled the assignment noting a malfunctioning heater unit. Fleetwood units were available at 1608hrs.

11/17/11 - Soon after 1300 hrs, 10 members responded to a report of an MVA with entrapment / car on its side into a pole on SR 662 near Schiery rd, Richmond twp. R-45, R32 and E12 responded. Prior to the arrival of EMS and C-45 the male driver self extricated himself and was checked out by Fleetwood EMS. R-45 and R-32 stayed on the scene for a short period of time until the vehicle was removed. Fleetwood fire police controlled traffic during the incident.

11/04/11 - at 1043 10 members responded to the intersection of Main and Richmond for a vehicle into a building, unknown injuries. Members were standing by at station for a fire call at East Penn Manufacturing this call was transmitted. Both R-45 and E-45 responded immediately along with Fleetwood EMS and Fire police and found a female having a medical incident still in the vehicle. The patient was removed to the EMS unit and the car was removed from the building. Only cosmetic damage was noticed on the building. All was clear by 1115hrs.

27 Members recently completed a 16 course - The class, Highway incident scene safety, was held over the last two tuesdays and this past Saturday. Members including fire, EMS and Fire police honed their skills on the proper ways to be safe while operating on the roadways and setting up proper pathways for the traveling motorists. This training is part of the FVFC's commitment to the State's Voluntary Rescue Service Recognition program.