Early Sunday morning, at 2:16 am, Company 53 (Broomall), Squad 56 (Manoa), Ladder 41 (Newtown Square), RIT 20, and Medic 53 were dispatched to 9 Lindbergh Ave. for a house fire. As units were responding, Medic 108 (Haverford) advised he was on location with heavy fire showing from the kitchen area. Quint 53 led off with an 1 3/4" handline and Squad 56 dropped a 5" supply line to the hydrant. Ladder 41 handled the first due truck duties and began searches and opening up. Rescue 20 (A/C B. Tully) arrived just behind 1st in companies and began setting up for RIT, as well as throwing ground ladders and performing exterior ventilation. The first-in crew made quick work of the fire and it was placed under control at the 10 minute mark. Rescue 20 was released in about 30 minutes and back in Drexel Hill within an hour.

Once again the officers and crew of the Drexel Hill Fire Company would like to wish everyone a very happy and safe Thanksgiving and holiday season! As always, we'd like to remind you to enjoy your holiday responsibly and remember... Cook the bird, not your home!!

Just past 1 pm Sunday, Ladder 20 was dispatched to relocate to Company 05 (Glenolden) as they were battling a house fire at 140 Laurel Rd. in Sharon Hill Borough. Numerous companies were on the scene assisting Company 09 and had all hands operating for a well involved row home fire. There was heavy fire blowing out the rear of the house from the basement up to the roof. The fire quickly began running the roof and extending to adjoining homes. As Ladder 20 was enroute to Station 05, Fireboard alerted them to redirect into the fire scene, along with Rescue 39 (Lower Chichester) and Squad 52 (Brookhaven), who were covering Station 09. The Ladder ( D/C M. Morgan) was put in service immediately upon arrival, as the crew was sent to the roof to assist with opening up and preventing further spread of the fire. The job took over an hour to bring under control and units remained on scene well into the afternoon. Ladder 20 was released after about 2 hours and was back in Drexel Hill around 3:15 pm.

The Drexel Hill Volunteers were awakened early Thursday morning, as the tones dropped at 5:46 am for a house fire in the area of 162 W. Essex Ave. in Lansdowne Borough. On the box were Companies 19 (Lansdowne), 20, 03 (Clifton Heights), RIT 56 (Manoa), and Medic 105 (Fitz Hospital). As Ladder 20 (D/C M. Morgan) went responding, Fireboard advised that Lansdowne PD were on location with fire showing from the rear of a house. Assistant Chief 19-9B arrived and confirmed the report of fire on the rear porch, followed by Ladder 20, who stretched an 1 3/4" handline to the rear. Engine 20-1 (Capt. Donohue) then arrived and began assisting Ladder 20 with opening up the rear walls on the exterior and interior of the dwelling. Crews then encountered heavy smoke inside the rear of the home and discovered fire running the rear interior wall. An additional 1 3/4" line was stretched from Ladder 20 through the front door. Engine 20-2 arrived and began assisting with overhaul and ventilation, along with Engine 19 and Truck 19. The fire was completely extinguished in about 10 minutes, with no further extension found. Units were on scene for about 45 minutes before wrapping up. Company 20 was back in Drexel Hill at 6:50 am. Another full crew remained in Station 20 to provide coverage for the first due.

At 8:30 pm Saturday night, the box was struck for a house fire at 254 Bryn Mawr Ave. in Landsowne Borough. On the assignment were Companies 19 (Lansdowne), 20, 03 (Clifton Heights), RIT 56 (Manoa), and Medic 105 (Fitz Hospital). As units hit the street, Fireboard advised of a reported dryer fire in the basement. Ladder 20 (D/C M. Morgan) arrived to smoke showing from the basement and first floor of a 2 story single home and stretched an 1 3/4" handline for fire in the basement. Engine 20-1 (Lieut. Rapp) arrived next and began checking for extension on the floor above, as well as started ventilating the first and second floors, where there were medium smoke conditions. Engine 19 laid a supply line into the scene and assisted interior crews with extensive ventilation, as well as overhaul. The fire was knocked, with no extension found, and placed under control in about 10 minutes. Engine 20-2 (A/C B. Tully) also made the response and Company 20 was on scene for about 30 minutes, before packing up. The Volunteers were back in the station around 9:15 pm.

Another Halloween has come and gone, and with it goes the Drexel Hill Fire Company 2012-13 run year. Once again, the bells rang a record number of times, with the Company logging 866 total emergencies on the year, our highest ever. We are very proud of our Volunteers, who despite the increasing call volume, continue to quickly get the rigs on the street in numbers. We would also like to thank all of our family members and the community for their continued support!

Early Friday morning, at 1:14 am, the tones began dropping for a building fire in the area of the 3400-blk Brunswick Ave, in the local. On the box were Companies 20 and 74 (Primos-Secane), Engine 36 (Cardington-Stonehurst), RIT 37 (Upper Darby) and Medic 103-7 (DCMH). Medic 103 arrived first and reported a working fire in the rear of 3414 Brunswick Ave. Engine 20-1 then arrived and stretched an 1 3/4" handline as they were met with heavy fire from the rear of a large 3-story dwelling, converted into apartments. The "B" exposure was beginning to ignite so the crew of 20-1 quickly knocked down the fire on the exterior of the building in order to protect the exposure , then proceeded inside the building to extinguish the remaining fire. Engine 36-2 dropped a supply line for 20-1 and the crews of 36-2 and Engine 20-2 stretched additional handlines to assist 20-1 on the interior. Ladder 20 and Tower 74 assumed truck company duties by performing searches and opening up the roof. Rescue 20 also responded and assisted with ventilation and overhaul. Special calls brought in Engine 26-1 (Highland Park) and Truck 19 (Lansdowne). The fire was placed under control in about 30 minutes and crews remained on scene for about two hours overhauling and extinguishing hot spots. Company 20 was back in the house around 3:20 am.

Come out and join us as we CELEBRATE another Fire Prevention Week with our 7th Annual Fire Prevention Open House, Sunday October 20th, from 1pm-4pm. There will be Moon Bounces, Free Food, Face Painting, Pony Rides, our fire prevention smoke house, and much much more. Also, the Upper Darby Police Department, the Delaware County Communications Center, and the Delaware County Memorial Hospital Paramedics will be on hand providing information. Our Ladies Auxillary with be offering 50/50's which will be running throughout the day, along with musical entertainment. The day will be fun filled with a few fire prevention demonstrations by the firefighters. So, please come out and support your local Volunteer Fire Company, learn some valuable safety lessons to help keep you and your family safe, and most importantly, have a great time!
 

On Sunday, October 5th, the Upper Darby Township Fire Department held it's annual parade and family safety day to kick off fire prevention week. Company 20 crews staffed several apparatus and participated in the parade from the Drexel Hill Middle School to Aronimink Elementary School, where several fire prevention demonstrations took place, including a crew of Rescue 20 performing a live "JAWS of Life" demo. Firefighters were on hand to answer questions for families as well as hand out important fire safety literature. A good time was had by all.

Not long after returning from the parade, a house fire was dispatched in the local, to 478 Burnley Ln. On the ticket were Companies 20 and 74 (Primos-Secane), RIT 37 (Upper Darby), and Medic 103-7 (DCMH). Chief 20-9 (Hoban) arrived to find smoke showing from the rear of a 2 story twin and a fire under the back porch. Engine 20-1 arrived and stretched a booster line to the rear, then began opening up the porch and extinguishing a small fire underneath. Heavy smoke conditions were also discovered in the basement of the home, however a quick knock by 20-1's crew prevented any extension into the home. Ladder and Rescue 20 arrived and assisted with ventilation and overhaul. The fire was placed under control in a few minutes and all companies were available in about 45 minutes.

Just over 15 hours after returning from a 2-alarm house fire, the tones dropped for a building fire in the local, reported to be on the 2nd floor of the dental lab at 409 Shadeland Ave. On the ticket were Companies 20 and 26 (Highland Park), Engine 36 (Cardington-Stonehurst), Quint 37 (Upper Darby), RIT 74 (Primos-Secane), and Medic 103-7 (DCMH). Engine 20-1 (FF Castellano) and UD-11 (D/C Boyce) arrived to find a 2 story commercial row with smoke showing from the second floor in the rear. 20-1 established their own water supply and stretched to the second floor where they found heavy smoke and a working fire in the rear of the building. Ladder 20 arrived and began searching and opening up on the second floor. Engine 36-2 assisted 20-1's crew with fire attack and Quint 37 began opening the ceiling and walls on the first floor to check for fire extension. Tower 74 was assigned to the roof and replaced by a 2nd RIT from Company 19 (Lansdowne). Engine 20-3 (Lieut. Rapp) assisted with ventilation and opening the walls on the second floor. Some additional fire was found in the rear wall and window sill area, which was quickly opened up so all fire could be extinguished. The fire was then placed under control and crews went to work for extensive overhaul. Companies were on scene for nearly 90 minutes before going available. Company 20 was off-radio around 1:20 pm.