The Quarryville Fire Company Number One and the Willow Street Fire Company announce their first annual joint Golf Tournament on Saturday, August 23, 2008. Our two fire companies have combined efforts for this years outing. This years tournament will once again be held at the Tanglewood Manor Golf Club located at 653 Scotland Road in Quarryville. The tournament will have a shotgun start beginning at 1 pm. The cost of this years outing is $320.00 per foursome ($80.00 per player) or $280.00 per foursome for firefighters with a valid membership card ($70.00 per player). See the attached flyer and registration sheet. It will be a day of golf, fun and food. We hope to see you there.

Congratulations to Firefighter Jeremy Roop and wife Jen on the birth of their first child, a son, Owen Tilley Roop.  Owen was born on Friday, August 1st.  Mother and baby are home and doing fine.   Congratulations !!!

On Monday morning, Firefighter Jake "hey guys, I'm in the hospital" Bachman underwent some fairly serious surgery.  Jake came through the operation just fine (as we knew he would), and is recuperating.  Get well soon Jake, we need someone to run the Zamboni.

On Friday morning at 9:56 am, QFD Volunteers along with Providence Township EMS and Susquehanna Valley EMS were dispatched to the 2400 block of Beaver Valley Pike at the infamous "underpass" for a vehicle accident.  Originally dispatched as a Class 1 accident, the call was upgraded to a accident involving a tractor trailer with a possible person struck.  

Truck 5-7 responded from a public service detail at the Solanco High School, with Rescue 5-7 responding shortly after.  Units arrived with a large box truck that struck a tractor trailer, throwing the tractor trailer driver from the cab of the truck onto the roadway.  

QFD units assisted the EMS with patient packaging and fluid and debris removal from the roadway.  The fire units cleared in about 30 minutes, with fire police remaining until the vehicles could be removed.

The Members of the Quarryville Fire Company #1 would like to thank Ferguson and Hassler Supermarket for their generous donation to the Fire Company.  This year, as in many years past, Ferguson and Hassler has held a chicken bbq with the proceeds benefiting the Fire Company.  QFD members help Charlie Murphy of Charlies Chicken BBQ cook the chicken.  It is two long days of racking chicken, carrying raks to one of the four pits, and un-racking cooked chicken.  This year was one of the best, even though the weather was in the 90's, we had plenty of help, and were done both days by 2:30 pm.  As usual, both days were a sell-out, with 4800 chicken dinners being sold.  

Again, Thank You to Ferguson and Hassler for always being there for us.   

At 10:25 am, Rawlinsville (5-8), Quarryville, Willow Street (5-12) and Refton (5-9) Volunteers were dispatched to the area of Rt. 272 and Truce Rd. in Providence Twp. for a reported building fire.  A passing motorist observed smoke from the building and called 911.  Rawlinsville Deputy Fire Chief Rich Fuhrman arrived with a 2 story apartment building with smoke from the chimney and no one home in any of the apartments.  Engine 5-8-1 arrived and forced entry, stretching a line to the basement after finding smoke on the inside.  Engine 5-7-4 and crew arrived leaving room for Truck 5-7 on side "A".  Engine 4's crew checked the apartments for occupants and fire, finding neither.  The source of smoke was traced to a clogged furnace flue, resulting in smoke being discharged by the furnace into the building.  The electric PPV fan from Truck 5-7 was used to remove the smoke, with all units available by 11:00 am on this 90 degree humid day.  Thanks to Tom Amico for the pictures.

At 4:45 pm, QFD, Robert Fulton FC (5-13) and Susquehanna Valley EMS (Medic 7-7-9) were dispatched to 722 Conowingo Road in East Drumore Township for a house fire.  When unigts responded, LCWC advised of a possible kitchen fire with all occupants evacuated.  Chief 5-7-2 (T. Ryan) arrived with a one story house with smoke showing.  Chief Ryan was advised that the fire may be extinguished by a former QFD Volunteer that lived next door.  Upon investigation, fire was found running up the walls and in the attic area above the kitchen.  Engine 5-7-4 arrived with its crew stretching one handline through the garage entrance into the kitchen area.  Once the ceiling was pulled, fire was found above the kitchen stove and in the walls and ceiling of two bathrooms behind the kitchen.  An additional handline was stretched by Engine 5-13-1's crew to the rear.  Truck 5-7's crew along with additional 5-13 members made their way to the attic crawl space to check for extension and to help overhaul.  The fire was under control quickly, minimizing damage to the area of origin and surrounding area.  Companies were available at 6:30 pm.

Thanks to Jason Topper, Deputy Chief og the West Willow Fire Company for some of the pictures.

This past weekend was a fairly steady on for QFD members, handling 6 emergency calls and doing a fundraising event and a fireworks stand by.

Friday - The Company handled 2 calls for service, a lift assist to the EMS and a reported cardiac arrest in Quarryville Borough.

Saturday - 3 calls were received on Saturday, the first being an assist to Robert Fulton on a Building Fire on Rigby Road which we were recalled before response.  The 2nd call was for an Environmental Rescue assiting Rawlinsville Fire Company at the Norman Wood Bridge over the Susquehanna River.  A kayacker in the river said there were subject stuck on a rope under thr bridge.  Luckily, they were workers doing repair on the bridge with no services required.  The 3rd call was for Truck 5-7 to assist the Willow Street Fire Company on a Building Fire at 2600 Willow Street Pike at the Kendig Movie Theater.  A popcorn machine caught fire, filling the theater with smoke.  The Truck crew assisted in ventilation.  While the 3rd call was going on, QFD members manned the stand selling house number signs at the SECA Fest and also had 6 pieces of apparatus manned at the Legion Pond where the fireworks were being launched.

Sunday - At 1:02 am, Rescue 5-7 was special requested by the Union Fire Company, Chester County Station 21 for a vehicle accident with heavy entrapment on Rt. 472 just North of Street Rd. in Lower Oxford Twp.  Rescue 5-7 and crew arrived and helped in the final stage of extrication of the patient.

At 1:44 pm, Robert Fulton, Quarryville and Rising Sun (MD) volunteers were alerted for a barn fire at 55 Clendenin Road in Little Britain Twp.  On response of the Robert Fulton Chiefs, LCWC advised of multiple calls received reporting a working fire, which was quickly upgraded to a second alarm.  Truck 5-7 arrived 4th behind Engine 5-13-2 and was ordered to set up for master stream operations.  Tanker 5-7 established the primary water supply for the Truck, but was put into the tanker relay when Union Fire Company Tanker 21 arrived.  Engine 5-7-4 pulled in the driveway and supplied the Truck and three handlines.  The barn structure, several implements and several tons of hay and corn fodder were lost in this accidental fire.  Luckily, no people or animals were injured at the fire scene.  One firefighter from Bart Twp. FC (5-1) was injured at the tanker fill site after being struck by a hose adapter. Good, hard work by the crews on this hot day kept the fire from spreading to any other structures.  The barn flooor and foundation walls were also saved.  The owners and neighbors were already beginning the construction of a new barn while units were wrapping up the hoselines and returning.

On June 15th, QFD Member Deb Harnish, working with the Susquehanna Valley Red Cross traveled to Davenport Iowa to help families displaced by the Mississippi River Floods. Here is a brief report of her work. My assignment was in Davenport, Iowa. For two weeks my day started at 08:00 AM and ended around 7:00 PM. I did a variety of different jobs. Every day I helped with loading the Red Cross trucks with hot meals, snacks and lots of water. We would go into the neighborhoods where people were starting to return home to their flooded houses. I would walk around the street and just listen to the stories of what life has been like for the last week. The families had big tasks ahead of them with cleaning mud and water out of there homes. (Along with ruined personal belongings, furniture, appliances and etc.) We were there twice a day with hot meals and water to feed the people while they worked together on their homes. I also helped with the setting up of a feeding site at a church. We delivered food twice a day and the members at that church would serve the families. We also made arrangements for these families to use the church's showers. These families were staying in the second floor of their homes with no electric, water or food waiting for the water to recede. Twice a day for several days I drove a three hour round trip to Keithsburg, IL (to a firehouse) and Letts, Iowa (at a school) to drop off food. Our duties would change every couple days. The people who were and are effected by the Mississippi River floods, are grateful for what the Red Cross Volunteers are doing for them. In many areas it will be a long time before their lives return to normal, if ever. The sun was hot - the days were long - the smell was bad and the bugs were hungry, but I was glad to have helped these families get through some rough days. We would like to commend Debbie anf the Red Cross on their dedication to helping the people of the flooded Mid-West.

At 11:13 am, QFD Volunteers were summoned to the 400 block of West Fourth Street near the entrance of Towns Edge Shopping Center for spill control. Apparently, a horse and wagon spooked from the Fulton Bank, the horse took off across the parking lot, down over the bank, out onto Fourth Street, back up Towns Edge Drive, back into Fulton Bank's parking lot and across towards the Citgo Station. During this time, a 5 gallon bucket of silver asphalt roof paint was dumped off the wagon and broke open all over the roadway, and after numerous vehicles drove through it, made about a 100 foot silver path. Members spent the good part of an hour cleaning up the spill with the assistance of the Quarryville Borough Streets Department with their front end loader and sand.

July 1st proved to be a steady day for Quarryville Volunteers. Five calls for service were answered, four during the daytime hours and one in the evening. The list is as follows: Call 1 - 9:35 am Spill Control in front of 25 E. State St. in Quarryville Borough. A motor in the back of a pickup truck spilled oil onto the roadway. Call 2 - 11:52 am Vehicle accident with one overturned in the 2100 block of Beaver Valley Pike in Strasburg Twp. Two vehicle accident, one car overturned, one minor injury. Call 3 - Medical assist with lifting at 195 Solanco Rd. in Colerain Twp. While the Rescue was returning from the crash, the medical assist was dispatched. Crews assisted EMS with carrying a patient down a hill where he was injured trimming a tree. Call 4 - 3:00 pm Vehicle accident stand by at Rt. 222 and Little Britian Rd. North in East Drumore Twp. A van and car collided, no injuries, crew performed debris cleanup and traffic control. Call 5 - 10:21 pm Vehicle accident at Rt. 372 and Fite Way in East Drumore Twp. Units arrived with several injuries.

At 3:22 pm, Engine 5-7-4 was dispatched to assist the Rawlinsville FC (5-8) with a woods fire on Upper Bear Island in Martic Township. This island is in the middle of the Susquehanna River just South of the Norman Wood Bridge where Rt. 372 crosses from Lancaster to York County. All units were directed to the Muddy Creek Boat Access off of River Road on the York County side of the river. Once on scene, the members were ferried out to the island on one of the multiple boats from Rawlinsville, Pequea, Conestoga and Columbia #1 Fire Companies that were in the water. The fire was approximately 2 acres in size, but could have spread to the remaining 63 acres of the island that was not on fire. The smoke could easily be seen from the Norman Wood Bridge by responding units. QFD crews operated with other volunteers and PA Forestry crews to complete containment of the fire. Portable pumps, long hand line stretches, rakes and shovels were all utilized. QFD members cleared the scene at 9 pm, with the remainder of the crews being released around midnight.

At 5:36 pm Wednesday evening, the Company was dispatched for an investigation at 329 Bartville Road in Colerain Township. The resident had called the firehouse prior to calling 911 reporting his house was struck by lightning but there was no smoke or fire visible. On arrival of the units, it was found that the entire part of the chimney was blown off of the roof, and there were several holes blown in the plaster walls and ceilings on the inside of the house. There was a bed and pillow that caught fire right after the lightning hit, but the residents had extinguished them prior to arrival. Luckily, no fire was found. The units were available in 30 minutes. After getting back from the investigation, the Rescue and crew went to Bart Twp. Fire Company to assist in their Vehicle Rescue Technician class. The Rescue provided additional cribbing and tools for the non-hydraulic tool portion of the class.

At 4:24 am, Engine 5-7-4, Engine 5-7-2 and Tanker 5-7 were dispatched to assist the Union Fire Company, Station 21 on a barn fire at 5158 Forge Road in Lower Oxford Township. Deputy 21 (Obenchain) arrived at the farm with large round hay bales burning in a steel pole-type building. With a very long driveway (over 3000 feet) and no exposure problems, it was decided to pull the bales from the barn and into a nearby field and allow them to burn. The farmers used two front end loders to move the burning hay out into the field, saving a lot of hard work that the firefighters did not have to do. Members stood by in case anything was needed. All QFD units were in quarters by 6:15 am.