Sunday April 17th got off to an early start just before 7:30a.m. with the engine being dispatched to Berkshire Commons at 5485 Perkiomen Ave. in Exeter for a structure fire. It had originally been dispatched as an AFA but Exeter crews found no visibility in the basement due to smoke and the call was upgraded bringing assistance from several companies. The source turned out to be a dryer fire which was quickly contained. The E1 crew assisted with ventilation and returned by 8:30.
Just before 5:30p.m. the rescue was sent to 3560 Morgantown Rd. in Robeson Twp. to assist on a subject trapped inside the cab of an excavator that slid down a hill and then rolled over onto the cab area. The responding crews used numerous chains and come-alongs as well as rescue struts to stabilize the 30 ton machine while other personnel worked to free him by removing excess soil and debris from inside the cab. 2 cuts were them made to the cab with the Amkus tool which gave enough space for him to be removed to the EMS crews and transported to the hospital.
As the rescue was cleaning up and getting turned around in Robeson Twp. the company was dispatched at 6:45p.m. along with Lower Alsace (Co 4) and Reading City Rescue 1 to the Mt. Penn Manor Apartments at 601 S. 19th St. for a reported odor of natural gas. Assistant 1 (Eisenhard) and the rescue crew found a very faint odor of natural gas upon entering the lower hallway. Further investigation and metering of all 3 floors by the responding crews produced no additional odors or readings on the metering equipment. The building was turned over to maintenance and UGI for further follow up on their arrival.
