Fire

Stats are in for the month of June!

Crews from Co. 20 responded to a total of 102 calls for the month. Of those calls, 2 were working building fires, 5 were vehicle accidents with injuries, including 1 entrapment, and 4 were vehicle accidents with no injuries.

For the first half of 2015, crews have answered 661 calls total. Of those, 16 were working building fires, 27 were vehicle accidents with injuries, including 5 entrapments and 1 major HAZMAT incident with injury, and 40 were vehicle accidents with no injuries.

Top Responders for the month of June were:

FF Joe Bragg – 35 calls
Duty Officer Adam Thompson – 31 calls
Lieutenant Ethan Bailey – 29 calls
FF Brian Sites and Duty Officer Justin Knotts – 27 calls
FF Mike Singer – 26 calls

Top Responders for the first half of 2015 were:

Captain Ryan Gillespie – 230 calls
Duty Officer Justin Knotts – 186 calls
Lieutenant Ethan Bailey – 171 calls
Duty Officer Adam Thompson – 170 calls
FF Thomas Sites – 169 calls
Chief Kris Osecky and FF Brian Sites – 162 calls
FF Jacob Peretin – 149 calls
FF Wendell Hofer – 130 calls
Duty Officer Dennis Chaney – 120 calls
Probationary Firefighter Megan Rardon – 118 calls

On Wednesday, June 24th, members participated in weekly training exercises. This week’s focus was on air management, and it was a valuable experience for new members who weren’t yet fully familiarized with air packs and air conservation. Participants wore full gear, including air packs, and played several rounds of dodgeball in the bay. The strenuous activity closely simulated physical requirements on the fire scene, and participants gained valuable knowledge on air conservation.

At 0300 hrs this morning, E-201 responded to Adam Heights Dr to find one vehicle fully involved. Crews extinguished the fire and cleared in service without incident.

At 11:18, Company 20 was alerted to assist Company 14 (Cheat Lake VFD) for a vehicle fire with exposures. Initial dispatch was for a vehicle fire, but further information from MECCA advised that they were receiving multiple calls and were advising that the house was beginning to catch fire. A full assignment was struck for Company 20, Company 12 (Brookhaven VFD), and Tanker 172 (Monongalia County Tanker). Engine 201 and Unit 202 went out with a crew of 6 total. 14-4 arrived on scene with a working vehicle fire with fire damage beginning on the side of the structure. Engine 141 and Engine 201 arrived on scene simultaneously and went to work. Engine 141 stretched a 1 1/2 attack line and began cooling the exposure while Engine 201’s crew went to work opening the vehicles engine compartment and dashboard in order to access the main body of fire. Fire suppression was completed. Engine 123 and Tanker 172 arrived on scene to assist.

On 05/23/2015 at 1230, Company 20 was alerted to assist Company 14 for a structure fire. Engine 201 and Unit 202 responded with a total crew of 4. Further information from MECCA advised that residents heard a loud pop and then noticed smoke coming from the wall. Engine 141 arrived on scene with light smoke showing and staged Engine 201 and Unit 202. A small fire was found inside the wall and was extinguished.

On 5/22/2015 Company 20 and Waterway, a Pittsburgh company that specializes in hose and ladder testing, spent the day testing Engine 201, Squad 203, and Tower 204. This is done annually in order to better serve the community with well-maintained equipment.

On 05/10/15 at 1351 hours, Company 20 was alerted for a vehicle accident on Interstate 79 at the 159 mile marker. Squad 203 went out with a crew of four along with Green County 18-4. Additional information from MECCA advised that three vehicles were involved. One vehicle traveling southbound crossed the median and struck a vehicle head on. Green County 18-4 arrived to find three vehicles with two sustaining heavy damage with one patient still entrapped. Engine 201 and Unit 202 went en route to assist. Squad 203 arrived and 20-1 assumed command while Green County 18-4 and Squad 203 crews went to work extricating the patient from the vehicle. Extrication was completed and patient was transported to Ruby Memorial by Mon EMS. Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department is investigating this accident. The Star City Volunteer Fire Department extends its gratitude to the companies involved.

On 5/8/15 at 1359 hours, Co. 20 was alerted for a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 79 at the 156 mile marker. Squad 203 responded with five personnel; additional information advised that a tanker truck carrying diesel fuel was on fire in the median and that the driver was out of the vehicle with severe burns. A large column of smoke was visible from Star City and a full assignment was requested from Co. 17, Co. 23, Co. 13, Green County Co. 18 (PA) and the Monongalia County Hazardous Incident Response Team. Squad 203 arrived to find one tanker truck in the median fully involved and the driver being treated for severe burns. Diesel fuel was observed flowing into a drainage system and into a local stream. WVDOH and DEP was notified. Additional tanker assignments from Company 11, 15, 16, and 21 were requested. An LZ was established and the patient was airlifted by Healthnet to the West Penn Burn Center. Squad 203, Engine 175, and Green County 18-5 began fire suppression operations with foam application as the Monongalia County Hazardous Materials Team and DEP arrived and began addressing the creek with booms and pigs, containing the fuel before it reached the Monongahela River. From alarm time to clear time was approximately 7 hours. The Star City Volunteer Fire Department would like to extend our gratitude to all who responded and assisted in this operation.

Stats are in for the month of April!

Co 20 responded to 132 calls for service. Of these, 3 were structure fires, 2 passenger vehicle fires, and 2 brush fires. Also, members responded to 4 vehicle accidents with injuries, including 1 entrapment, and 2 vehicle accidents with no injuries.

Top responders for the month of April were:
Captain Ryan Gillespie – 47 calls
Firefighter Jacob Peretin – 45 calls
Duty Officer Justin Knotts – 42 calls
Firefighter Brian Sites – 39 calls
Firefighter Joe Bragg – 38 calls

On April 22, 2015 the members of the Star City Fire Department participated in search training and pump operations training. For the search training, members were split into three crews of two personnel. The crews then had to follow hose lines through obstacles while blindfolded to find a downed firefighter. This training builds firefighter confidence and skills that could be used during a fire emergency. The pump operations training consisted of drafting from the Mon. River. Drafting is the process of using a source of water such as a river or pond to supply the fire engine with water needed to fight a fire when there are no fire hydrants near by. All participating members had a great time and gained valuable experience.