It was a cold and busy 24 hours at Fame! Saturday morning we held our monthly Technical Rescue training at the West Chester Fire Training Center. Crews reviewed and practiced rappelling and rope skills using the Arizona Vortex. We trained for several hours before returning to the warmth of the station. Later that afternoon, around 4:30 pm, Rescue 53 and Engine 53 were dispatched to assist MICU 55 at an accident with entrapment on Route 926 @ Dalmally Drive in Westtown Township. Crews arrived to a two car crash and quickly removed the driver’s door using HURST eDraulic tools. MICU 55 attended to the injured and Fame crews returned to service.
About two hours later, WCFD and GFAC units were sent to Market and Church Streets in West Chester Borough for an accident-reported serious. Crews were informed that there were two victims beneath an auto on the sidewalk and structural damage to a building. GFAC and WCPD quickly attended to the victims prior to arrival of the WCFD units, however a column supporting a roof over the sidewalk was knocked clear. Rescue 53’s crew installed a Paratech Longshore strut as a temporary support. Additional crews and equipment from Station 53 arrived and a double-T shore was installed to provide more long-term support of the roof until the property owner can install a more permanent support. Fame crews operated for a few hours at this scene.
Around 3:40 am Sunday morning Fame crews were back at it again, this time as part of the Chester County Rescue Task Force. Crews and equipment were sent to assist Stations 45 & 46 (Downingtown FD) for an accident with entrapment-vehicle into a building. Nineteen members responded with Rescue 53, Utility 53, Squad 53, Engine 53 and both Collapse trailers. Crews integrated with DFD and other CCRTF members and installed emergency building shoring. Fame members operated for several hours and returned to West Chester as the sun was rising.
Members also manned the station during this evening’s Eagle's Super Bowl game to provide service to our community.
Crews "chill out" on this very cold Saturday morning and await their turn to rappel.
Technician Mark McCarthy (R) performs safety check prior to FF Cesar Lopez (L) rappelling.
FF Cesar Lopez on rope.
FF Jacob Lindauer rappels using the Petzl I'D.
Fame crews install double-T post at accident at Market and Church Streets accident in downtown West Chester.
Collapse Technicians Steve Amway (L) and Kevin Beans (R) handle the cut station duties at the Market and Church Street accident. Several hours later they, along with other Fame collapse technicians, assisted Downingtown FD for a vehicle into a building.
Fame , as a part of the Chester County Rescue Task Force, assisted the Downingtown FD at this early morning vehicle accident in East Caln Twp. Fame and CCRTF crews installed vertical shoring to support parts of this damaged building so the car could be safely removed.
Fame/CCRTF Collapse Technicians Jim Leon (L) and Kevin Beans (R) work on installing the 3-post vertical shore.
