Tuesday was a busy day for Mt. Penn crews and we got to see the weather change from icy roads to pouring rain and wind to some sun and all the temperature changes in between.
The day was started shortly before 2a.m. with a call for the ladder and engine to assist Co 25 (Exeter) on a possible structure fire at the Home Depot on Perkiomen Ave. There was an odor of something burning and a haze in the employee break room. After an extensive search the problem was finally isolated as a burned up motor & belt on a rooftop air handler. Earlier snow and ice made conditions on the roads and in the parking lot very tricky for those responding but everybody was able to clear the scene by 3.a.m.
L1 in service Exeter Home Depot Feb 16, 2016
E25 & E1 stage at Home Depot Feb 16, 2016
Just before 9a.m. Mt. Penn was dispatched, along with Co 4 (Lower Alsace) to N. 23rd St. & Howard Blvd. in the boro for a vehicle accident with entrapment. When Asst. 1 (Eisenhard) arrived he was able to confirm one vehicle on its side and upon further checking found the male driver still inside but not trapped or injured. Once R1 and E4 arrived they were able to quickly stabilize the vehicle with cribbing and then use a little giant ladder to assist the male in getting out of the vehicle through the passenger door. Crews then stood by until the tow company removed both involved vehicles and were able to clear just before 10a.m. Fortunately the rain squalls moved through quickly!
N 23rd St & Howard Blvd
N 23rd St & Howard Blvd
Just after 1015a.m. L1 was sent to the Oley High School at 17 Jefferson St. in Oley Twp. to assist Co 5 (Oley) with a possible structure fire. This was similar to the earlier Home Depot call in that there was a haze and odor of something burning in a room. After extensive checking there was nothing specific found but the power was secured as a precaution. The ladder returned shortly after 11a.m.
We did our best to be on time to join in RIT/Calling the Mayday training with Co 4, 25 and 55 (Greenfields) at Station 4 but just before 7p.m. the ladder was dispatched to assist Co 13 (Laureldale) on a manual pull fire alarm. Fortunately the alarm turned out to be false and they were soon recalled and returned to the training session.
