As the Volunteers were enjoying their morning coffee, the tones dropped for wires down at 4000 Brunswick Ave. 20-9A (D/C M. Morgan) and Engine 20-2 (A/C B. Tully) with a crew of 6 were on the street in moments and Fireboard advised that a tractor-trailer took down a utility pole and wires, with reports of the driver still inside. Upon arrival, units found a utility pole and street light down in the street on the 4000-blk. of Evans Lane, along with numerous wires down on the truck. The driver was also out of the truck and uninjured. PECO, Verizon, and Comcast were all notified to respond as the crew of 20-2 taped off the scene and checked for any additional hazards. Once all utility representatives were on scene, the incident was turned over to them and Upper Darby PD. The Company was in service for about 45 minutes and 15 volunteers made the response.

At 1:27 am Wednesday morning, the Box was struck for an apartment fire at the Garrett Plaza Apartments, 3854 Garrett Rd., in the local. On the assignment were Companies 20 and 74 (Primos-Secane), Engine 36 (Cardington-Stonehurst), RIT 37 (Upper Darby), and Medic 103-7 (DCMH). Engine 20-1 (D/C M. Morgan) arrived to find a 2 ½ story brick apartment building with fire showing from a basement window, followed by 20-9 (Chief Hoban), who established command. The crew of 20-1 stretched a line and forced entry into the apartment, where they found a working fire in the bedroom. Engine 20-2 dropped a supply line from 20-1 to a nearby hydrant, as the crew headed in to assist 20-1's. Ladder 20 and Tower 74 assumed truck company duties by searching and ventilating the floors above, as heavy smoke filled the building. Rescue 20 set up lights and assisted with ventilation, salvage, and overhaul. All searches were negative and a quick knock by the Engine prevented any extension, so the job was placed under control shortly. 21 Volunteers made the response and worked for about 2 hours before returning.

Just after 9:30 pm Saturday night, Companies 19 (Lansdowne), 20, 03 (Clifton Heights), RIT 56 (Manoa), and Medic 105 (Fitz Hospital) were sent to 19 W. Stewart Ave. for a building fire. Lansdowne PD arrived reporting heavy smoke from the third floor and roof, followed by 19-9 (Chief Russell), who assumed command. Ladder 20 (D/C M. Morgan) then arrived and stretched an 1¾" handline, as Engine 19 dropped a supply line and stretched two additional handlines. First-in crews encountered heavy fire in a second floor apartment with heavy smoke on the floor above. Additional crews began searches and ventilation, plus threw several extension ladders to the upper floors. The aggressive attack held the fire in check and it was brought under control in about a half hour. Drexel Hill turned out 17 Volunteers as Engines 20-1 and 20-2 also made the response. They were back in town by 11:00 pm.

There was no sleep to be had for the Drexel Hill Volunteers on Thursday morning, as they would respond to consecutive working fires in about 2 1/2 hours. It started at 1:22 am, when Companies 03 (Clifton Heights), 74 (Primos-Secane), 19 (Lansdowne), and RIT 20 were dispatched to 36 E. Washington Ave. for a house fire. Yeadon Fire Chief 16-9 (Dienno) was in the area in seconds and reported a well involved house fire. Fireboard then advised that they were receiving several calls reporting possible entrapment on the 3rd floor. 16-9 confirmed there was no entrapment, however there were dogs inside the home. He also requested PECO for a priority response due to wires down and arcing out front. Engine 74-2 arrived first and lead off with a 2 1/2" attack line, followed by Engine 03-1 who stretched an additional 2 1/2" line. 03-9 (Chief Kneass) established command and added Company 16 (Yeadon) to the box. Rescue 20 (Capt. Stevenson) set up for RIT and performed a 360 size-up, then began throwing numerous ground ladders and used a saw to remove a portion of fencing surrounding the dwelling. The fire was knocked down in about 20 minutes and placed under control a short time later. Rescue 20 was available in about an hour and back in the station around 2:45 am. One Engine from Company 44 (Springfield) also responded as a special request.

About an hour later, as Company 19 and Ladder 16 were cleaning up from the Clifton Heights fire, they were sent to the Penn Wood High School in Lansdowne, for a fire alarm. As Engine and Truck 19 were responding, fireboard advised that police were on location reporting a working fire. Engine 19 then arrived to find fire showing from the lobby as fireboard upgraded the assignment, adding full Company 16, along with Company 24 (East Lansdowne) and RIT 09 (Sharon Hill). 19-9A (D/C Worley) established command and immediately struck out the 2nd alarm, adding Companies 20, 04 (Darby #1), 36 (Cardington-Stonehurst), 06 (Collingdale #1), 42 (Collingdale #2), Tower 05 (Glenolden), and RIT 43 (Holmes). Engines 20-1, 20-2, and 20-3 made the response, under the command of 20-9B (A/C B. Tully). Upon arrival, 20-1 dropped a 3 1/2" supply line and 20-2 picked up the hydrant to supply 20-1. 20-3 arrived shortly after and all three crews stretched the "Drexelbrook Line" from 20-1 into the "D" side of the building, through the gym. Crews encountered heavy smoke throughout the school and several classrooms heavily involved in fire. All hands were placed in service for over an hour before the job was placed under control. Company 03 also responded after clearing their fire. Crews remained on scene for several hours before beginning to wrap up. Company 20 was back in town around 6:45 am. 18 volunteers endured a sleepless night to get the rigs on the street. Both fires are under investigation by the 7th District and PA State Police Fire Marshals.

The Drexel Hill Volunteers rang in the weekend early on Saturday. After the Ladder handled a fire alarm in the pre-dawn hours, Engine 20-2 was dispatched on the 3rd alarm assignment to 842 Main St in Darby Borough. Numerous area companies were doing battle with heavy fire throughout a large, two-story commercial building, with several aerial and ground master streams in service. Upon arrival, 20-2 (A/C B. Tully) took a hydrant location about two blocks from the scene and supplied an engine company in the rear of the building, as the crew went to work assisting on hand lines to attack the deep-seated fire. About 45 minutes after 20-2 headed in, Command requested another engine out of 20 to cover Company 04 (Darby #1). A crew then piled on Engine 20-3 (D/C M. Morgan) and made the trip to Station 04, where they covered the borough along with Truck 63 (Green Ridge) and Ladder 68 (Marcus Hook-Trainer). While those Engines were in Darby, Engine 20-1 (Capt. Stevenson) responded to a fire alarm at the Bank of America, 3100 Garrett Rd, in the local. 20-1 found a malfunctioning alarm and recalled. The Darby job was finally placed under control around 11:50 am, nearly 6 hours after the first lines were pulled. A short time later, Engine 20-2 was released from the scene and 20-3 from the cover assignment. While they were enroute back to Drexel Hill, the tones dropped again for the Ladder to respond on an apartment building fire in the Stonehurst section of the township. This was found to be burnt food and the Ladder was recalled within minutes. All three crews met back at Station 20 by 12:45 pm. A few minutes after calling off radio, it was back out the door for another fire alarm, before the men of Drexel Hill finally got the rest of the afternoon to relax. Thanks to the nearly 30 volunteers who got the rigs on the street during this busy Saturday.

Just after 8 pm Wednesday night, Company 74 (Primos-Secane) was dispatched to the Waste Management Plant at 408 S. Oak Ave. for a trailer fire. Upon arrival of Engine 74-2, they found heavy fire in a 50 ft. trailer full of primarily wood construction scraps. The trailer was also against the platform of the building's waste compacting system, so the assignment was upgraded to a building fire. This added Companies 20 and 03 (Clifton Heights), Engine 36 (Cardington-Stonehurst), RIT 26 (Highland Park), and Medic 103-7B (DCMH). Ladder 20, Engines 20-1 and 20-2, as well as Rescue 20 all made the response from Drexel Hill under the command of 20-9A (D/C M. Morgan). Ladder 20 and 20-1's crews assisted on hanlines while 20-1's operator took the hydrant position and supplied engines in the rear with 3 ½" and 5" supply lines. Rescue 20 and Engine 20-2's crews stoodby. After Waste Management workers were able to move the trailer away from the building and begin using heavy machinery to clear the trailer out, firefighters could finally put a good knock on the fire. The incident was placed under control in about 45 minutes and Company 20 units remained on scene for about 90 minutes. All apparatus from Drexel Hill were off radio by 10 pm.

For the third time in about a year and second time in two weeks, the Volunteers responded to a working house fire on the 3800-blk. of Marshall Rd. At 2:42 pm Monday afternoon, Companies 20 and 74 (Primos-Secane), Squirt 36 (Cardington-Stonehurst), RIT 37 (Upper Darby), and Medic 103-7 (DCMH) were dispatched to 3843 Marshall Rd. for a house fire. Initial reports from fireboard indicated a possible fire in the walls. Engine 20-1 (D/C M. Morgan) arrived to find smoke showing from the rear of a twin dwelling. The crews stretched an 1 ¾" handline into the first floor, where they found heavy smoke from the kitchen and fire in the rear wall of the house. 20-9 (Chief Hoban) arrived next and established command, followed by Engine 20-2 and Squirt 36, whose crews assisted with opening up the walls and checking for extension to other floors. Finding no extension, the fire was placed under control in about 15 minutes and held to the two engines from 20 a short time later. After performing overhaul, the crews wrapped up and returned home. Company 20 turned out 20 Volunteers and was in service for about 45 minutes. This fire was located directly across the street from the home of a bedroom fire exactly two weeks ago.

As the crew of Engine 20-2 was covering Company 09, a large column of black smoke could be seen miles away, rising up out of South Philly. Crews from the Philadelphia Fire Department were battling a 3-alarm blaze at a fabric shop with apartments above on the 700-blk. S. 4th St. While working to control the fire, Captain Michael Goodwin of Ladder 27 was working on a third floor roof, when it suddenly collapsed to the second floor. Other firefighters immediately sprung to action to try and rescue their fallen brother. As they worked to rescue Capt. Goodwin on the second floor, another collapse occurred, trapping several firefighters. Firefighter Andrew Godlewski, a five-year veteran, was pulled out of the collapse and transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he was being treated for burns. Capt. Goodwin was pulled out a short time later and also rushed to Jefferson, but unfortunately succumbed while enroute to the hospital. Capt. Goodwin was a 29-year veteran of the PFD and leaves behind a wife and two children. He is also survived by several siblings, including a brother in the Philadelphia Police Department. The members of the Drexel Hill Fire Company offer our deepest condolences to Captain Goodwin's family at home, as well as in the PFD. We also pray for the speedy recovery of Firefighter Godlewski.

Engine 20-2 covered Company 09 (Sharon Hill) on Saturday night, as the members of the 09 House attended their annual banquet. Just as 20-2 was pulling up to Station 09, they were hit out for an accident with injuries at Chester Pike and Sharon Ave, just up the street. 20-2 (D/C M. Morgan) arrived to find fluids and debris on the highway and a subject trapped in an overturned vehicle, after a police pursuit which began in a neighboring town. Rescue 42 (Collingdale #2) was then dispatched to assist. The trapped occupant was freed in minutes and transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries. Rescue 42 was available a short time later and 20-2 remained on scene for about 30 minutes with the extensive clean-up. The Engine then returned to Station 09 for the cover assignment, until midnight, without turning a wheel the rest of the time. 20-2 was back in Drexel Hill by 12:30 am. Thank you to the members of Company 09 for the invite and congratulations on another year of 100% volunteer service.

Just after 8 pm Monday night, Company 37 (Upper Darby), Rescue 26 (Highland Park), Rescue 20, and DCMH Medics were sent to SEPTA's Route 100 high-speed line, in the area of the 69th Street Terminal, for a train derailment. As units went responding, fireboard advised that Upper Darby Police were on location with a train that left the rails in the area of the Victory Ave. bridge, just north of the Terminal. Fireboard then advised that there were approximately 40 passengers on board, with no injuries reported, and that the power was also not yet secure. Quint 37 and LADDER 26 arrived and confirmed the report, followed by UD-11 (D/C Johnson), who assumed command. Rescue 20 (D/C M. Morgan) and 20-9 (Chief Hoban) arrived next and remained in staging. Command advised that crews were waiting for confirmation from SEPTA that power was secure to the tracks and train. Once power was secure, Command requested 20-9 and Rescue 20 to assist with deboarding the passengers from the train. All occupants were off the train in about 10 minutes and luckily no injuries were reported. The passengers were then escorted to an awaiting transit bus, which then transported them to the Terminal. The scene was turned over to SEPTA a short time later and all units went available. Rescue 20 was back west in about an hour. In addition to this call, the Volunteers also responded to a working house fire in the early morning hours, a gas odor outside later in the day, and a carbon monoxide alarm in the early evening.