During last night's weekly training session, crews went to Rose Tree Elementary School to practice using ground ladders. Chief Brown instructed the group on carrying techniques and proper placement. Teams then took turns removing the ground ladders from the apparatus, transporting and raising them.

The Ladies Auxiliary is sponsoring a St. Patty's Day party at the firehouse. Come join the party! Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 7:00pm. There will be appetizers, dinner and desserts. BYOB. Dance the evening away with DJ John Forte. Tickets are $20 per person. All proceeds benefit the fire company. Tables of 10 can be reserved. To get tickets CALL Bea (484) 352-5006 or Belle (610) 891-7217, or MAIL payment to Belle Miller, 511 S. Orange St. Media PA 19063. Firehouse is located at 1275 N. Providence Road, Media PA

At approximately 10:30am Company 73 (Rose Tree) was dispatched to a  building fire in the 100 block of Carlton Place. Also on the first alarm assignment were Co. 23 (Media), Tower 44 (Springfield), RIT 53 (Broomall) and Medic 23 (Riddle Hospital).

Chief 73-9 (Brown) was the first fire department unit on scene and reported a single family split level with an attached garage that was well involved.

Quint 73 laid a 5" supply line and led off with a 2 1/2" handline to knock down the fire from the exterior. Squrt 23 pumped the hydrant. Their crew pulled an 1 3/4" handline off Quint 73. Tower 44 provided ventilation and truck support including putting the bucket to the roof and venting the roof. RIT 53 was set up on the front yard (Sector A). A second RIT team was requested from Co. 14 (Swarthmore). They were set up at the rear of the building (Sector C).

A second alarm was requested. This brought Engine 51 (South Media), Rescue 52 (Brookhaven) for the airbank and manpower, Quint 53 (Broomall) and Ladder 41 (Newtown Square). Ladder 41 was out of service so Engine 41 responded. Their ladder was replaced by the next due truck on the third alarm, Truck 69 (Lima). Medic 104-7 (Riddle Hospital) was also requested to assist with fireground rehab. Chiefs 104-9 (Laws) and 104-9A (Smith) also responded.

The next engine on the third alarm, Engine 50 (Middletown) was requested for additional manpower.

Crews encountered heavy fire conditions on the interior. The structure appeared to be a three story split level from the front, but the building actually had 5 floor levels including two attics. Crews worked well to coordinate four interior handlines and open up void spaces to extinguish all of the fire.

There were no firefighter injuries. A construction worker who was working across the street at the time of the fire received a laceration to his hand while assisting the homeowner from the building. He was treated at the hospital and released.

Truck 63 (Green Ridge) covered our township and Canteen 47 (Chester Twp.) provided drinks and light snack foods.

The fire was investigated by the Upper ProvidenceTwp.  Fire Marshal, Pennsylvania State Police and Delaware County CID.

Looking for a New Year's resolution that can benefit you and your family? Rose Tree Fire Company encourages all residents to include a few fire safety resolutions that might save you and your family’s life.

Consider adding the following to your New Year resolution list:

• Regularly check your home for fire hazards;
• Practice safe cooking behaviors;
• Install, TEST and maintain smoke alarms on every floor of your home;
• Develop an emergency plan for your home, including escape routes and meeting place;
• Learn how to operate portable fire extinguishers and keep at least one in your home;
• Drive safely – stay alert, undistracted by cell phones, texting and other electronic devices.

If you have any questions about fire prevention, safe cooking, smoke detectors, escape plans or other fire safety concerns, call us at (610) 566-5891, email us at rosetreefirecompany@yahoo.com, or enter a message on our Guestbook at www.rosetreefire.com. If you have an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.
 

Company 73 (Rose Tree) was dispatched at 18:32 to assist Company 44 (Springfield) on a second alarm assignment for a building fire in the unit block of Woodland Ave.

Quint 73, Engine 73 and Rescue 73 responded. The Quint crew opened the roof while the Engine crew assisted with interior operations.

During the incident, a Mayday was called when a firefighter from Co. 44 fell through the floor and into the basement. The RIT was activated and assisted the firefighter to safety.

For more information, including photo's and live audio, please see Springfield Fire Company's web site: www.springfieldfd.com

Also visit http://www.phillyfirenews.com/content/firewire/detail/6314/

On Tuesday night, firefighters from Rose Tree (Sta.73) and Media (Sta.23) met up for a training session using the Delaware County Regional Fire Training Trailer currently located in the parking lot of Station 73. The crews battled realistic fire conditions and practiced fire attack techniques, hose handling, ladder operations and roof ventilation. Since the trailer flames are fed by gas, the fire can be easily controlled and allows for multiple training evolutions. Although the weather was wet outside, the crews learned a lot and were happy to take advantage of this valuable training tool.

The Delaware County Regional Fire Training Coalition (DCRFTC) consists of the following member fire companies: Rose Tree Fire Company; Media Fire and Hook and Ladder Company; Swarthmore Fire and Protective Association; The Broomall Fire Company; Springfield Fire Company; Newtown Square Fire Company; and Radnor Fire Company.

From the U.S. Fire Administration

Cooking fires continue to be the most common type of fires experienced by U.S. households. This is even more apparent during the holidays. There is an increased incidence of cooking fires on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, and Christmas Day. These fires are preventable by simply being more attentive to the use of cooking materials and equipment.

Safe Cooking Tips
The kitchen can be one of the most hazardous rooms in the home if you don’t practice safe cooking behaviors. Here are some safety tips to help:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you're cooking.
• Stay alert! To prevent cooking fires, you have to be alert. You won't be if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol, or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy.
• Keep anything that can catch fire - potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels, or curtains - away from your stovetop.
• Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean.
• Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes into contact with a gas flame or electric burner.
• Plug microwave ovens and other cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance, as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.

If You Have a Cooking Fire

• When in doubt, just get out. When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.
• If you do try to fight the fire, be sure others are already getting out and you have a clear path to the exit.
• Always keep an oven mitt and a lid nearby when you are cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan (make sure you are wearing the oven mitt). Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool.
• In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you or your clothing.
• If you have a fire in your microwave oven, turn it off immediately and keep the door closed. Never open the door until the fire is completely out. Unplug the appliance if you can safely reach the outlet.
• After a fire, both ovens and microwaves should be checked and/or serviced before being used again.

Nuisance Smoke Alarms

• If a smoke alarm sounds during normal cooking, you may need to move it farther away from the kitchen (according to manufacturer’s instructions) and/or install a smoke alarm with a pause button.
• If your alarm already has a pause button, push the pause button, open the door or window, and fan the area around the alarm with a towel to get the air moving.
• Do not disable the smoke alarm or take the batteries out!
• Treat every smoke alarm activation as a likely fire and react quickly and safely to the alarm.

Turkey Fryer Safety Tips
For a video of why using a deep-fryer can be dangerous, click here »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kspx1oOP_fE&feature=player_embedded

• Use turkey fryers outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other combustible materials.
• Never use turkey fryers in a garage or on a wooden deck.
• Make sure fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
• Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
• Never let children or pets near the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use.
• To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
• Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix; water causes oil to spill over causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.
• The National Turkey Federation recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds in weight.
• Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call the fire department for help.

Burns and Scalds
Most burns associated with cooking equipment, cookware, and tableware are not caused by fire or flame. In 2009, ranges or ovens were involved in an estimated 17,300 thermal burn injuries seen in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. (Source: NFPA) Microwaves are a leading cause of scald burns. Be extra careful when opening a heated food container. Heat food in containers that are marked ‘microwave safe.’ Since foods heat unevenly in the microwave, make sure you stir and test the food before eating.

Protecting Children from Scalds and Burns
Children under five face a higher risk of non-fire burns associated with cooking than of being burned in a cooking fire. (Source: NFPA)

You can help prevent these injuries by following a few basic tips:

• Keep children at least 3 feet away from where food and drink are being prepared or carried.
• Keep hot foods and liquids away from the table or counter edges.
• Use the stove’s back burners if you have young children in the home.
• Never hold a child while cooking, drinking, or carrying hot foods or liquids.
• Also, teach children that hot things burn!

About the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) - As an entity of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, the mission of the USFA is to provide national leadership to foster a solid foundation for our fire and emergency services stakeholders in prevention, preparedness, and response.

Thank you to everyone who attended the annual fire prevention Open House! 

Each year, Rose Tree Fire Company holds an Open House to educate children and adults about the importance fire safety. It is also an excellent opportunity for Upper Providence residents to tour their local firehouse and meet the firefighters who volunteer for the community.

October serves as National Fire Prevention Month to remind everyone about the importance of fire safety and prevention. Fires in the home can start in an instant and spread in SECONDS! Knowing how to prevent fires can save your property, and knowing what to do if a fire occurs, can save your life.

Working smoke detectors can increase your chance of surviving a house fire by 50%! Check out NFPA and USFA for more fire statistics. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), www.nfpa.org and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), www.usfa.dhs.gov

Install smoke detectors on every level of your home, and outside of each sleeping area. Test the alarms monthly to ensure they are working. Most detectors have a “test” button for this purpose. The batteries should be replaced once a year, lithium batteries will last longer. It is a good practice to replace the entire detector unit every 10 years.

Upper Providence residents are reminded to create and practice a home fire escape plan. Escape plans are especially vital for young children and older adults because they are at higher risk of dying in a house fire and often need assistance to escape.

Please join us our annual Fire Prevention Open House on Friday, October 28th from 7-9pm. We are located at 1275 N. Providence Road (across from Campbell's Boathouse Restaurant).

During tonight’s weekly training session, the crews went to Springton Lake Middle School to review the set up and operations of the ladder truck (Quint 73). The training covered proper apparatus positioning, jack stabilization placement, and procedures for operating the aerial ladder.

At 19:00 on Wednesday, Asst. Chief Brown brought his son to the Media Little League batting cages in the 1900 block of N. Providence Rd.

When they arrived, they found a large bird trapped within one of the batting cages. The bird was flying around erratically within the batting cage. They tried raising the netting to free the bird, but could not raise it high enough for the bird to fly out. The bird seemed to be stressed.

Asst. Chief Brown called fire company bird enthusiast, FF Trevelino. They met at the station to get a crew to bring Engine 73 to the scene to try to free the bird. When they arrived, the light tower on Engine 73 was raised to light up the scene.

The bird was found to be a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.

Firefighters loosened the netting on one end of the batting cage as the hawk was perched atop an "L" screen within the cage. Long pike poles were used to raise the netting on one end of the batting cage as the hawk watched, with attention to every detail. Firefighters then tried to get the hawk to fly towards the opening. After about 5 minutes, they were successful. The hawk found the opening to freedom. The hawk flew to a nearby fence, above a set of bleachers, where it perched and got ready for another evening hunt.

The sharp-shinned hawk is the smallest, most abundant and most migratory of North America's three accipiter species. The sharp-shin gets its common name from the raised ridge that runs along the inside front of its long, pencil-thin legs. While the sharpie is a true accipiter in its preference for woodland habitat, this little hawk avoids dense, mature forest (woods made up of large, full-sized trees). It takes up residence instead in lightly wooded areas broken up by meadows or abandoned pastures. The forest edges of this type of habitat teem with the small birds - doves, warblers and sparrows among them - that make up about 90 percent of the sharp-shin's diet. While this little hawk does occasionally take small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and even insects, small songbirds are definitely preferred. Its food preference explains why the sharp-shin is highly migratory - the hawk follows its migrating passerine (songbird) prey.

As firefighters restored the batting cage netting, they noticed a pile of smaller feathers on the home plate of the batting cage. It was thought that the hawk chased a smaller bird of prey into the netted batting cage, trapping itself.

Just another day at 73. You just cannot make this stuff up........

Quint 73 was positioned near the station today with a flag in remembrance of the innocent lives that were lost and in tribute of the first responders who continue to protect the citizens of our great country - the Military, the Law Enforcement, the EMS, and the Fire / Rescue personnel. At 11:00am there was a memorial ceremony held at Rose Tree Park. Members of the public joined Delaware County elected officials, clergy, firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical providers and military service personnel to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks and lay wreaths at the public safety memorials. At 3:00pm the First United Methodist Church of Media held a tribute service honoring the heroes and victims of September 11th inviting those who serve our local community and country.

If you missed the ceremony at Rose Tree Park, you can watch a reply of it by clicking this link:

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/09/11/news/doc4e68f52cf279a453529846.txt

September 11th is a significant date in our nation’s history, as it marks the anniversary of the devastating terrorists attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

In remembrance of this day, Rose Tree Fire Company will be raising our Nation's flag on the ladder truck to be seen by all who pass the station. God bless to all those who lost their lives and the brave heroes that responded to the emergency. We will never forget.
 

At 22:17 hours, Co. 73 (Rose Tree) was dispatched to the area of S. Orange St. and Shadeland Ave. for a smoke investigation.

Chief 73-9 (MacCain) arrived and reported smoke in the area. Quint 73, Engine 73, and Rescue 73 were staged in the area. The Quint was directed to drive down the road with flood lights to see if they could find anything.

Quint 73 found smoke coming from a Single Family Dwelling in the 500 block of S. Orange St.

Chief 73-9 requested the building assignment for a working fire.

The building was an older brick 3 story SFD (single family dwelling) that was unoccupied.  

The quint pulled up in front of the building and led off with a 1 3/4" line. The crew forced the front door and found smoke banked down to the floor. As they advanced straight ahead, staying on the left wall, the crew said the floor was pretty hot. The TIC (thermal imaging camera) also showed this. The Quint's OVM (outside vent man) took out a window on the D side and the smoke lifted to a point where the attack crew saw fire coming up through the floor in front of them. With the floor compromised and an obvious basement fire under them, they backed out. While the crew was bringing their line around the B side of the building trying to find a basmement window or door, the OVM found a walkout basement / garage door on the D side at the rear. The Quint's attack crew brought the line in that way and were able to knock down the fire.
 
With the older construction and some fire in the walls, it was a labor intensive job doing the overhaul. PECO (Philadelphia Electric Co.) was called to secure electric power to the building.
 
Crews working included: Co. 23 (Media); Truck 69 (Lima); Co. 51 (South Media); RIT 44 (Springfield); Medic 23 (Riddle Memorial Hospital). Co. 50 was special called later for additional manpower.

On Tuesday evening, members of Rose Tree Fire Company trained with the Media Fire Department at Broomall's Lake Swim Club in Backyard Water Rescue. We worked with the Media Firefighters who have water rescue training and experience. The training was valuable for our members to provide an awareness for the problems associated with pool rescue.

Thanks to the members and officers of Company 23 (Media) for the training.