Members of the  West Hazleton Fire  Company  put  down  there  gear  and put on their  cooking  aprons  as  they  supported The  local  car  show  held  this  past  Saturday and  enjoyed  serving a  modified  menu to  the  participants and  got  to  see  some  really  nice  custom vehicles.

From  the Officers and Members of the  West Hazleton Fire Department we  wish  everyoned a  safe  and Happy Fourth of  July

West Hazleton Fire Department participated in the 107th Six County Firemans Convention Parade. The convention and parade was hosted by Hazleton City Fire Department and McAdoo fire co.  Command 241 and Engine 241 both won awards. Engine 241 recieved 3rd place best appearing Engine 1750 and over. Command 241 recieved 1st place best appearing special service.

Photos courtesy Bill Barr.

Ladder 244 was  dispatched to  assist  West  Hazleton  Police to  a reported break in  at the  old  Ames  Store loacted in  Valmont  Plaza. Units laddered the  building  as  members of the  State Police  and Hazleton  City  Police  went  on the  roof  to  conduct a  search.

Gas main  was struck  during  Water  line work   near 224 E  Broad Street  E-241 along  with Chief 241 responded   upon arrival  met  with  UGI  employees who  were in  process of  turning  the  valve  off . No  other  damage   or  gas  odor  was  reported in the  area.

The  members of the  Fire  Company  would  like to  congratulate Brother Justin Roslevich  and his wife Nancy  are now  Grandparents. On  Friday  June 25th @ 0510, Riley Leigh entered the world 5  weeks  early She  was  born  at 4lb 9 oz  and  17 1/2 inches . Justin  reports  that  Mother  and  Daughter are doing  well.  

The West Hazleton  Fire Department  was  honored  recently at the  107Th  Six County  Fireman's Association  Banquet. The  Department  received recognition for their commitment and  dedication  for  the departments  Fire Prevention Program .

A woman was bathing children in a West Hazleton home when she smelled smoke late Thursday night.

She took the children and ran outside, West Hazleton Fire Chief Robert Ward said. Gray smoke billowed from the white duplex.

The fire broke out in a west-facing bedroom in the house at 316 Allen St., but flames were contained to the room, Ward said. No injuries were reported by 10 p.m. 15  people  from  the  combined home units ( 316 & 318  Allen  Street  were  displaced  after the  fire.

West Hazleton Police Officer Bob Minnick, dispatched to the scene by Luzerne County 911, said when he pulled up to the home he saw flames emerging from the second floor and smoke circling the roof.

Chief  Ward  praised  firefighters for their  quick  response which helped  contain the fire damage to  the bedroom.The PA  State Police  fire  Marshall was  called into  investigate the  cause.

Assisting at the  scene were crews from  Hazle Twp. Fire  Rescue, APTS  ambulance service, West Hazleton  EMS, West Hazleton  Police Department, American  Red  Cross, PP& L Utility  crew, West Hazleton  Fire Police and the greater Hazleton Area  Fire Police.

 All Photos are courtesy of Frank Barr.

The  West Hazleton  Fire Department is  sadden to  announce the  passing  of a  true  friend  and forever large part of our family Mary  Camissa . Mary  earlier  this year lost  her husband Brother Frank  Camissa.

On behalf of the Officers and members of the Fire Department we  wish  to  extend our  sincere condolences to the  Camissa  Family.

Mary  was  loved  by  all  and  will be  missed. Details of  arrangements and  funeral  service will be  forth coming  when  made  available .

June 20, 2010 at 22:22 hrs. West Hazleton Fire was dispatched by Luzerne County 911 for the RIT team and Command 241 to respond for the working structure fire in Freeland Boro. L244, R245 and C241 responded to 531 Center St Freeland for the working structure fire in an elderly housing building.  

Ladder 244 arrived and was assigned to the A/B corner. The RIT team was advised by Freeland command to complete the search of the structure. The crews split and half the RIT team deployed as the search group. Primary and Secondary searches proved negative.  The fire was knocked by Freeland and Hazle Twp. crews.

Units operating on the box included  Freeland Engine 53 n Ladder 57, Hazle Twp. Tower 107, Tanker and Rescue 101, Valley Regional Tanker, White Haven Engine and multipe EMS units from APTS, Lake Harmony and Freeland.

 Multiple occupants were displaced by this fire. Fire damage was held to to one apartment with others suffering minor smoke and water damage.

Photos courtesy of Bill Barr.

WHFD would like to congratulate firefighters Luis Conner, Angel Contreras and Jim Zaremba for working hard and passing their emt-b class.  The three have now become Firefighter EMT's with West Hazleton Fire Dept. Good Job n keep up the training guys.

The West Hazleton Fire Department recently hosted a Forcible Entry training class through Bucks County Community College.  Firefighters learned various techniques of forcible entry. Participants used hand tools to manipulate locking devices as well as power tools to cut different style locks. 

This type of training prepares firefighters for the possible challenges of making entry into residential and commercial occupancies. It also allows participants to learn about updated technology in securing devices.

Participating companies included West Hazleton FD, Tresckow Fire, Harwood Fire and Wright Twp. fire.  WHFD would like to thank the instructors and participants for attending.

R245 manned  by  Firefighters Basala and  Contreras and  Command  241 manned by  1st  Asst. Chief  Frye and  Lt  Evans were returning  from the  TRT  call  heard   Nescopeck Twp Fire  being  dispatched  for a  2  car MVA with  fluids  down  and  injuries, Units  advised 911 Com center that  we were  approximately 1/4 mile  away  from the  scene and  that  if they  wanted us to   proceed to the  scene  we  could  until  local  units  arrival.

Upon  Arrival  we  found one  Patient sitting  on  passenger  side of the  van complaining of  Head  injury  , Back injury and  chest  discomfort , personnel  assisted in  Patient  stabilization  and had to  pop the  rear  sliding  door on the  van to  extricate the  patient safely.

During the  removal  of the patient the  patients vital  signs  started to   present problems  and  a  immediate  call for air medical  assist was  placed. Rescue  245  cleared  from the  scene and  Command  241  Personnel then  assisted  Nescopeck  Twp  Fire  Department  with  LZ  operations and  transfer  of  Patient  to  the  Helicopter

Rescue 245 and  Command 241  were  dispatched by  Luzerne County  for  technical  Rescue  Call for a  Trench  Collapse in  Salem  Township pinning  two   one  conscious and  one  unconscious.  Team  members  operated in  assisting  units  in  securing the  area  around the  trench  along  with  utilizing  shoring  equipment   once the side wall boards  were in  place. Two  additional  Technical  rescue  teams  were  dispatched to the  scene  from  Columbia and  Northumberland  Counties  for  equipment  and manpower assistance.

At 00:26 hrs  On  Thursday  April 29,2010  A  CO  detector alarm  went off  at  465  Ridge Ave. Engine 242 Responded  with  Two  personnel. Two   additional  Firefighters arrived  and Crews went to  work  with  evacuating   and  metering the  residence. Ventilation to the  House  was   done  and  Firefighters  cleared the scene @ 0128 hrs.