At 0646 hours, Companies 10, 11, 13, & 85 for R.I.T. were dispatched to 1738 Ramich Road for a chimney fire. Chief 10 responded and were advised there were multiple calls reporting the fire. Chief 10 arrived and confirmed a working fire and assumed command. Companies 55, 37, 12 were placed on stand by and 560 was dispatched to the scene. Company 85 was committed on their own call in Spring Twp. Crews arrived and went to work. Teams split on all floors. The wood burner was located in the basement of the home. Crews disassembled the unit, and the roof crew dropped three dry chemical bombs. Chains were then worked throughout the chimney and all debris was pulled out. Crews opened the exterior wall on the “D” side of the building to check for extension. The fire was placed under control, and the company was back at station @ 0844 hours.

As over 20 inches of snow belted Berks County, crews from the 11 house came together to keep the station clean if we needed to get out. We only assisted on 3 EMS calls.

Companies 10, 11, 13, and 85 for RIT were dispatched to the Burger King at 430 East Bellevue Ave in Muhlenberg Twp. Crews arrived and found a small fire in the mulch and on the outside portion of the wall. There was a minor smoke odor inside the store but no fire got inside. After crews from 13 wet the area down and the crew from Engine 11-1 checked for extension, the assignment was released by Chief 10

Companies 10, 11, & 13 were sent to the parking lot of the Reading Expo Center for a vehicle fire. Chief 560-2 arrived on the scene and confirmed to Chief 10 that it was fully involved. Engine 11-1 arrived and the crew went into service with a 1 ¾ inch hand line and controlled the fire in a few minutes. After the overhaul, company 11 was released.

The Company was dispatched to Rt 61 in the area of V&M Towing for a MVA with CPR in progress assisting Company 37 and 670. Rescue 11 and Deputy 11 arrived to find EMS performing CPR to a passenger. We assisted EMS with the cardiac arrest and also to help remove the driver onto a long board. All pt’s were transported to area hospitals. Co. 11 was later released by Chief 37.

On the first day of the month, the company handled 4 calls total and 3 were in our district of Muhlenberg. The 1st was a possible structure fire on Leesport Ave in an apartment. This assignment consisted of companies 11, 10, 13, & 85. It was a malfunctioning light fixture in the bathroom. There was no fire and the companies were released by Deputy 11-1.
 
Next we handled an AFA in Ontelaunee Twp assisting Company 37 @ the St. Joseph’s Imaging Center on Rt 61. This was a false manual pull by a pt who thought it was a button for the door. Captain 37 released this assignment.
 
Then we responded with companies 10, 13, & 85 to the 400 Block of South Temple Blvd for a possible chimney fire, reports of heavy smoke in the area. Deputy 11 arrived and determined it was a normal condition from the fire place after speaking with the home owner. This assignment was released.
 
After leaving the last job, they went right to the former Good Shepard Church @ 100 Tuckerton Rd for an AFA. The crew from Engine 11-1 arrived and confirmed some minor smoke from contractors cutting wood inside. The smoke vented naturally and Chief 11 released this assignment.

Companies 11, 10, and 13 were dispatched to the ramp from Rt 222 North to Rt 61 North for a reported fully involved tractor trailer fire. Crews responded and were advised that the truck was carrying a full load of gasoline. Deputy 11 arrived and confirmed a working fire in the cab portion of the tractor and threatening the trailer. Engine 11-1 arrived and went into service. The taker task force was called in and Foam from Co 45. Crews blanketed the area with foam and got control of the fire after some time. The quick actions also kept the trailer from lighting off.
 
Great Job To All Involved!!!!!
 
 
Thanks to Muhlenberg Police Officer Chris Schearer for the live fire pics.
 
 
 
 
 

Companies 10, 11, and 560 were sent to the 400 block of Raymond Street for a 2 car MVA with possible entrapment. Rescue 10 arrived and confirmed one person entrapped in a car that was on its side. Rescue 11 arrived and assisted with stabilization as the crews from Rescue 10 helped to get the pt out safely.
 
EMS took over pt care, crews were released.

While we were touring the Yuasa facility, the crew from Engine 11-1 responded to the 4400 block of 10th Ave to investigate wires down. The crew arrived and immediatly found that a large tree fell and landed on wires and snapped the top of a utility pole. This caused the transformer to fall and suspend in the air just above the ground. The crew used their HOT stick to determine that the wirse were still live. Met-Ed arrived a short time later and took over the scene and released the fire department.

On Thursday January 28th, Yuasa  invited the members of the Eleven House to tour their facility and give us lots of information that will be needed to assist Central of Laureldale (13) at any incident that may occur there. Thanks to Mark “Truckie” Richards for setting this up and taking the time to share this info with us.

At 1528 hours, companies 11 & 10 were dispatched to assist EMS who was already on the scene with an MVA w/ entrapment and multiple injuries on North 5th Street Hwy by the Muhlenberg Senior High School. Rescue 11 arrived, with two cars head on with heavy front end damage. Rescue 11 was immediately placed in service with multiple tools being utilized. Rescue 10 arrived, and also place some tools in service to assist with doors and roof removals. All pt’s were extricated and transported by EMS to the local Trauma Center.
 
Company 11 was back in station @ 1615 hours.

@ 2022, crews were alerted for a fire @ Brenntag NorthEast. This assignment was sent to companies 37, 38, 12, 45, 32. Some of these were covering for Ladder 10 and our company while we operated on the 4th Ave job. The caller was reporting a fire in the wall. Chief 11 quickly made available some pieces of equipment sending Engine 11-2, Rescue11, & Ladder 10 to the scene. Engine 11-2 arrived and went into service with 2 attack lines. Deputy 37 was command. The fire was quickly contained and several searches for any extension showed up negative. No Hazardous Materials were jeopardized in this operation.
 
Company 11 was back in station @ 2159 hours.
 
 

@ 1949 hours, the structure assignment consisting of companies 11, 10, 13, and 85 for the RIT were sent to 4202 4th Ave for Smoke in the basement. Crews arrived and confirmed a slight odor of smoke in the basement. Crews searched throughout the basement with no clues. They checked all the appliances and electrical components. A TIC was also used with no source found. The odor dissipated and the cause was never found. After 2 ½ hours of searching, crews were released from the scene completely baffled.
 
The next day, the home owners alarm went off again, and again he smelled the slight odor of smoke. He decided not to call 911, and looked for himself. After again a long extensive search, the owner took apart the water heater vents. Here, he found a squirrel that became stuck in the vents and was cooked everytime the water heater kicked on. This is what caused the slight burning odor. The owner contacted us with the info.
 

@ 1254 hours, Rescue 11 was requested by the Muhlenberg Police to assist with stabilization from a car into the house at 513 El Hatco Dr in the Cherokee Ranch section of our Township. Rescue 11 arrived and found a large SUV that drove through the rear wall right at the B & C corner. It entered a bedroom. Luckily NO ONE was injured in the accident. The house was severely damaged. We quickly worked to make sure all utilities were controlled. We cleared out some of the debris in the bedroom and placed a ParaTech shoring device in service. Weavers was able to start the car and drive it back out of the house causing no further damage. There was no further fire services needed. We left our shoring equipment on the scene until Berks Fire & Water arrived and took over the scene.
 
Company 11 was back in station @ 1401 hours.

@ 0053, Muhlenberg EMS Medic 560-1 requested a Rescue assignment as well as a MICU from WBAA station #1 to assist at a MVA at 2412 Hampden Blvd. Rescue 11 arrived @ 0105 and found one car broadside into a tree and half way down a small embankment with two occupants still inside. EMS asked for some more room. Rescue 11 went in service with the crews from both companies stabilizing the car, and removing the roof , the “B” post and rear door on the driver side. Both pt’s were extricated and transported to area an area hospital.