Once again, Santa has sent word to the Drexel Hill Volunteers that he will be coming for his annual tour of the town on Saturday, December 20th at 10:00 am. He will once again be touring the local atop one of our fire trucks as his firefighting helpers hand out candy canes to residents. Be sure to listen up for the sirens any time after 10 am that morning!

Just after 1 am Tuesday, Company 36 (Cardington-Stonehurst), Rescue 26 (Highland Park), Rescue 20, and Medic 103-7 (DCMH) were dispatched to Marshall and Heather Rds. for an accident with entrapment. Engine 36 arrived first reporting a one vehicle accident into a utility pole and building, as well as heavy entrapment of the driver and entrapment of a rear passenger as well. Engine 36 stretched a precautionary 1 3/4" handline as Rescue 26 arrived and went in service. Rescue 20 (D/C M. Morgan) was close behind and immediately began assisting in stabilization and extrication. Rescue crews had to use the HURST jaws tools to remove the doors and roof of the vehicle, before removing and packaging the patients. Both occupants were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries. Rescue 20 was released from the scene and back in Drexel Hill in about an hour.

At 8:41 am Monday morning, Companies 20, 26 (Highland Park), Quint 37 (Upper Darby), RIT 74 (Primos-Secane), and Medic 103-7 (DCMH) were dispatched to 1012 Turner Ave. for a house fire, reported to be a second floor bedroom. As units were responding, Fireboard advised that police were on scene with smoke showing. Engine 20-1 (D/C M. Morgan) and 20-9 (Chief Hoban) arrived to find a 2-story single home with heavy smoke showing from the second floor. The crew of 20-1 stretched an 1 3/4" handline to the second floor where they found fire in the front bedroom, as Ladder 26 and Quint 37 arrived and began searches and ventilation. Engine 20-2 arrived next and assisted the first-in crews, followed by Tower 74, who set up for RIT. Ladder 20 arrived and began checking for extension and then assisting with overhaul. A good knock by the first-in crew held the fire to the bedroom of origin and prevented any extension. The job was placed under control around the 20 minute mark and the incident was scaled back a short time later. Company 20 remained on scene for over an hour before returning to the Station around 10 am. Traffic 20 and 8th Dist. Fire Police also assisted at the scene.

At 4:43 pm Friday afternoon, Companies 03 (Clifton Heights), 74 (Primos-Secane), 19 (Lansdowne), 44 (Springfield), and RIT 20 were dispatched to 203 E. Berkley Ave. for a house fire, reported to be in the kitchen. A/C 03-9A arrived first, reporting heavy fire showing from the 1st floor rear of a 2 story single home. Quint 03 arrived and stretched an 1 3/4" followed by Engine 74-2, who established a water supply for the Quint and then stretched an additional 1 3/4" to the second floor. Rescue 20 (Capt. Stevenson) arrived on the "B" side of the dwelling and the crew began setting up for the RIT, as well as throwing several ground ladders and assisting with outside ventilation of the second floor. The fire extended into the living room area on the first floor, but an aggressive attack by first-in crews prevented any further extension. Crews then began extensive ventilation and overhaul operations. Rescue 20 was relased after just over one hour on scene.

After running 2 working fires last night, Company 20 was at it again today. At 2:41 pm Monday afternoon, Companies 20, 74 (Primos-Secane), Engine 26 (Highland Park), Ladder 36 (Cardington-Stonehurst), RIT 37 (Upper Darby), and Medic 103-7 (DCMH) were dispatched to Demarco's Restaurant, 413 Burmont Rd, for a building fire. 20-9 (Chief Hoban) and Engine 20-1 (D/C M. Morgan) arrived to find heavy smoke showing from the first floor of a 2 story row of stores with apartments above. Chief Hoban established command as 20-1's crew stretched an 1 3/4" handline into the restaurant and found heavy fire in the kitchen area. Additional arriving crews forced entry into the rear of the building and began searching and ventilating the apartments above the fire. Crews stretched multiple additional lines and began opening the walls to check for extension, which was negative. The bulk of the fire was knocked down in about ten minutes, but all hands were in service for approximately 35 minutes before the job was placed under control. Engine 20-2 and Ladder 20 also made the response and 20-2 supplied 20-1. An additional Engine from Company 56 (Manoa) was special requested. 8th Dist. Fire Police also assisted on the scene. Company 20 units operated for approximately 90 minutes before going available shortly after 4 pm. Thank you to Engine 09 (Sharon Hill) and Tower 44 (Springfield) for covering Station 20.

A little over 2 hours after clearing the Windermere Ave. fire, RIT/Rescue 20 was dispatched at 9:25 pm for a working house fire at 183 Marlborough Rd. on the east end of the township. Companies 36 (Cardington-Stonehurst), 37 (Upper Darby), 26 (Highland Park), RIT 74 (Primos-Secane), and Medic 103-7 (DCMH) were dispatched minutes prior and arrived to find heavy fire in the rear of a 2-story twin home, involving a shed and deck, with extension into two houses. First-in crews stretched multiple handlines into both dwellings and RIT 74 was immediately put in service on arrival, adding RIT 20 to the assignment. Rescue 20 (Capt. Stevenson) made the response and set up for RIT duties upon arrival. The crew stood-by for about 30 minutes until the fire was placed under control. The Rescue was released a short time later and back in Drexel Hill around 10 pm.

At just past 6 pm Sunday evening, Companies 26 (Highland Park) and 20, RIT 74 (Primos-Secane) and Medic 24-7B (DCMH) were dispatched to 840 Windermere Ave. for a "possible working house fire", reported as smoke from a house with fire on the first floor. Engine 26-1 arrived to a 2-story row home with heavy smoke showing from the 1st floor. 26-1 established their own water supply and stretched an 1 3/4" handline into the dwelling. Ladder 20 (Capt. Stevenson) arrived next and assumed first-due truck operations by searching for victims and fire extension, as well as performing ventilation. Engine 20-1 took the rear alley and the crew secured utilities before heading into the basement to check for any fire extension. Engine 20-2 was close behind and assisted interior crews with ventilation and opening up walls and ceilings. The fire was extinguished in about 5 minutes and scaled back to 26-1 and Company 20 a short time later. The job was under control by the first 10 minute mark and 20-9 (Chief Hoban) had command. Traffic 20 and the 8th Dist. Fire Police were also on the scene. Company 20 was available by 7 pm.

About 90 minutes after returning from an accident with entrapment, Company 20 was back out the door. Just before 2 am Thursday, Companies 36 (Cardington-Stonehurst), 37 (Upper Darby), 26 (Highland Park), RIT 74 (Primos-Secane), and Medic 103-7 were dispatched to 6860 Radbourne Rd, for a house fire. Engine 36-2 arrived to find a 2 story row home with heavy smoke showing from the front and heavy fire showing from the first floor rear, extending to the second floor and roof. UD-11 (D/C Boyce) took command and immediately requested Ladder 20 to the scene. As Ladder 20 (A/C B. Tully) hit the street, interior crews reported heavy fire extending throughout the home and UD-11 then struck the full 2nd Alarm. This added full Companies 20, 04 (Darby #1), and 34 (Llanerch). Engines 20-1 (Capt. Donohue) and 20-2 were out the door moments later. Upon arrival, Ladder 20 laddered the end of the row and the crew went right to work on the roof, opening up. Engine 20-1 took the "B" exposure and found heavy smoke throughout, so they began ventilating, searching for victims, and opening up walls and ceilings to check for fire extension. Engine 20-2's crew went to the roof to assist the Ladder crew. No extension or victims were found in the exposure dwellings and the fire was placed under control in about 45 minutes. Company 20 units were in service for about 90 minutes, before heading back west. Thanks to Tower 44 (Springfield) for covering Station 20.

At 11:11 pm Wednesday night, Company 74 (Primos-Secane), Rescue 20, Rescue 26 (Highland Park), and Medic 103-7 were dispatched to 785 Providence Rd, in front of the Hillcrest Apartments, for an accident with entrapment. Engine 74-2 arrived to find a two vehicle accident with one person trapped and stretched a precautionary 1 3/4" handline. Rescue 20 (A/C B. Tully) arrived next and immediately went to work stabilizing the vehicle and using the Hurst JAWS tools to extricate the victim. Rescue 26 assisted with the extrication, which was complete in about 15 minutes. The victim was packaged by medics and transported to a local hospital. Companies were on the scene for about one hour before returning.

With another Halloween in the books, so is another run year. Once again, it was a record-setting year for the Drexel Hill Volunteers. From November 1, 2013 through October 31, 2014, Company 20 handled 936 emergencies, our highest total ever. Despite the increase in call volume, our volunteers have remained dedicated to serving you and our surrounding communities with the highest quality fire service and professionalism you deserve. We would like to thank all of our members for sacrificing countless hours training, partaking in fire prevention activities, and most importantly, getting the rigs on the street quickly EVERY SINGLE TIME the bell rings. Of course, we could not do it without the support of our families and ALL OF YOU, the citizens of this wonderful community we are proud to serve. THANK YOU ALL!