Tonight for our weekly drill, members went to the Media Inn (which is scheduled to be demolished in a few weeks) for firefighter survival training. The topic for the night was the Ladder Bail Out.

In the event that firefighters encounter deteriorating fire conditions and need to escape an upper floor window quickly, this drill showed our members how to come out an upper floor window and onto a ground ladder head first. Members were shown different methods of coming out the window and decending the ladder safely. Members did the ladder bail out first, without SCBA. Once they were familiar with the bail out, the drill was done while members were wearing SCBA.

This method of exiting a building is a "last resort" method. Due to the hazards of coming out a window head first, a belay line (safety line) was rigged and all members were tied off in case of a fall during the excercise. In addition, since the building we were training in was an old hotel, there was no shortage of matresses to lay on the ground for additonal protection.

Media Fire Company invited Rose Tree Fire Company and several other local companies to use the old Media Inn (on Baltimore Pike in Media, PA) as a training ground Tuesday night to sharpen their skills.  The crew from Rose Tree brought Quint 73 and positioned the aerial ladder to access the roof. They used powered saws and basic hand tools (axe, pry bar) to cut ventilation holes. It was a hot evening and we thank all of those who worked hard and participated in this unique training opportunity.

Tonight, Rose Tree Fire Company had the opportunity to train at an old church building on State Road in Upper Providence Township.  The building is scheduled to be demolished and crews were able to utilize the roof for tactical training, such as ladder truck operations, ventilation techniques, and a review of building structural components. The driver of Quint 73 positioned the aerial ladder to access the roof. The crews were divided into teams and given orders to set up ground ladders and use powered saws to cut ventilation holes. Chief MacCain finished up the night with a brief critique of the evolutions.

On Monday, July 5th, Rose Tree Fire Company participated in the annual Marple-Newtown Parade along Route 3. It was a beautiful, HOT day and a good time was had by all. Thank you to our neighboring fire companies Newtown Square and Broomall for extending the invitation to join the parade. Most importantly, please remember to support the brave servicemen and women who continue to serve, protect and sacrifice for our country.

Rose Tree Fire Company has identified a problem that occurred with our most recent fund drive mailing. Residents who have already contributed to our 2010 fund drive were notified that we did not receive their contribution. This appears to be a problem with our vendor who coordinates the mailing of the requests. This has not affected funds that have been contributed to Rose Tree Fire Company - it appears to be a problem with the mailing list.

If you have already donated to our 2010 fund drive we would like to sincerely thank you for your support and ask that you disregard the most recent request.

If you have any questions please email us at rosetreefirecompany@yahoo.com

On Tuesday evening, the firefighters from Rose Tree participated in a training evolution at Rose Tree Park. The Quint and Engine were used to simulate exterior fire attack operations.

Quint 73 was used as the first-in truck and given orders to operate two hoselines. The driver, officer and crew worked together to set up the 1 ¾ inch front bumper hoseline and the 2 ½ inch “Blitz Fire” attack hoseline. Engine 73 was called in to provide the water supply from the hydrant. Multiple drivers had a chance to operate the pumps and the crews were rotated throughout the scenarios.

Note: The “Blitz Fire” is a portable oscillating nozzle/monitor that can flow up to 500 gallon per minute. It is critical to have adequate water supply during fire attack operations as it directly affects the fire control outcomes.

It was a good review for all. Thanks to all who participated.

FF S. Jorgenson has completed his Emergency Vehicle Operators Class at the Delaware County Emergency Services Training Center. FF Jorgenson is qualified to drive Utility 73. He will soon begin driver / operator training on Rescue 73.

Congratulations !!!

Nine students from Rose Tree Elementary School recently won a contest that gave them a ride to school on a fire truck.

During the recent Strawberry Festival at the school, members of Rose Tree Fire Company handed out a checklist for willing participants. After the checklists were completed, a random drawing was held, and nine lucky winners received a ride to school on Quint 73 and Engine 73.

Pulling into the parking lot with lights and sirens, these children arrived in style.

A crew from Rose Tree Fire Company recently attended the annual Strawberry Festival at Rose Tree Elementary School. The festival is an annual fund raising event sponsored by the school Parent - Teachers Group. There were plenty of fun games, food and prizes for the kids.

Quint 73 was on display and the crew proudly displayed the apparatus, our equipment, allowed kids to sit on the truck and also set up a fire hose for the kids to operate. This was also a good opportunity for parents to receive fire safety information and to learn more about THEIR all volunteer fire company.

A contest was held for the kids. There was a checklist that was completed. After the checklist was finished, a random drawing was held for a number of lucky students to get a ride to school on a fire truck.

For the weekly drill, crews reviewed the pinning procedures for the aerial waterway on Quint 73. The Quint is a 2002 American LaFrance 75' aerial ladder with a pump, hose, water tank, and ground ladders.

We maintain Quint 73 with the aerial waterway pinned in the rescue mode (attached to the mid- section of the ladder). If we intend to use the aerial waterway, a firefighter must manually reset the pin to attach the aerial waterway to the fly section (end) of the ladder. We also discussed the various operations of the aerial including jack placement, aerial ladder operations, and apparatus positioning.

Shortly after 09:00 Company 73 (Rose Tree) was dispatched to assist Company 59 (Concordville) on a working building fire. The location was 1507 Wilmington West Chester Pike, Jimmy Johns Restaurant,  in Chadsford Twp.

Engine 73 made the response and assisted crews on scene.

For pictures, visit: http://davidstanleymedia.com/JimmyJohns/

At approximately 22:30 hours, Company 73 (Rose Tree) was dispatched to assist Company 53 (Broomall) for a dwelling fire in the 800 block of Lorraine Dr., Marple Twp. Company 14 (Swarthmore) was the RIT Company.

53-9A (Asst. Chief Murray) arrived and reported a single family dwelling with a working fire. A second alarm was requested.

Engine 53-2 stopped at a hydrant 1800 feet from the fire building and began laying a 5" supply line. Quint 73 was able to back into the driveway while Engine 53-2 and Engine 53-3 completed the initial lay.

The engine crews put handlines in service while the crew of Quint 73 laddered the building with ground ladders and the aerial. A 1 3/4" handline was also deployed from the Quint. A vent hole was cut in the roof by the crew of Quint 73 as the engine crews attempted an interior attack.

Eventually a supply line was hand-jacked to Quint 73 and the ladder pipe  was placed in service. A 2 1/2" leader line from Quint 73 was brought to the rear of the building. This was originally wyed to a smaller handline, then the Blitzfire Nozzle was attached to the 2 1/2" line and placed in service. Class A foam was used during the night from Quint 73 as well as Engine 73. Rescue 73 and Utilty 73 also made the response.

The company returned to the station at 04:00 the next morning.

It is our privilege to announce that Firefighter Jack Bramhall and his wife Laurie are the proud parents of two beautiful children.

Laurie and Jack had twins on Thursday, April 15, 2010. Olivia Marie Bramhall arrived first at 6 lb. 10 oz. and was shortly followed by John William Bramhall IV at 6 lb. 14 oz. Everyone is fine - they came home from the hospital on Monday. Flowers were sent by the fire company.

Jack, remember to turn your pager volume down low at night.

This evening we had a visit from the young men of Cub Scout Pack 699. The seven 8 year olds learned about fire safety and took a tour of the apparatus. Then they went outside and operated a hose line off of Engine 73 to knock over traffic cones.

These Cub Scouts were fine hosemen. We look forward to some additional firefighters joining our ranks in a few years when they become 16 years old.

At 13:10 hours, Rose Tree Fire Company was dispatched along with Ambulance 23 (Media Fire Company), Medic 23 and Medic 104-7D (Riddle Memorial Hospital) for an accident on the Route 1 Media By-Pass involving a vehicle down the embankment with two subjects ejected.

While enroute to the call, 73-9A (Asst. Chief Brown) had a helicopter put on stand-by. 104-9 (Riddle Hospital Paramedic Chief Laws) went on location and confirmed a vehicle off the highway and down an embankment. Two subjects were out of the vehicle. Medics used a rope to assist them down to assess the patients. Medics determined that the injuries did not require helicopter transport and the helicopter stand-by was cancelled

Rescue 73 arrived and used ground ladders to assist medics to get the patients back up to the highway. Rescue 73 and Engine 73 remained on location while a tow service secured the vehicle and a tree company stump grinding trailer back to the highway.