Monroe County Getting Flooded

The area has seen extensive flooding over the past week due to the heavy rains. See my other site for articles and maybe some pictures.

Message Board

43-1-2 in Service

Well after months of planning our new Pierce engine 43-1-2 went in service last night. This engine is equipped with a CAFS system. We had a chance to train on it last night and I cant believe the difference between the foam and straight water- the weight of the hose is significantly less and the fire suppression is a lot better.

Does your Dept. Still have a Siren???

This article ran in the local paper today- was wondering how many Volly FD's still have theses types of sirens. I can see both sides of the argument on this one. I am sure if these people's house was on fire they would want that siren blowing and people coming..
Check out my message board and let me know what you think..
Message Board

Fire siren irks Tobyhanna Township man
Eric Mark
Pocono Record Writer
June 19, 2006


POCONO PINES — A local family complains that unbearable noise from the Tobyhanna Township fire siren, about 100 feet from their home, is ruining their quality of life.

The siren — recently repaired after being out of commission for several months — sounds several times per day, sometimes in the middle of the night, they say.

The township fire chief, in response to the family's concerns, has put a timer on the siren so it only goes off during the day.

The township supervisor chairman says he will arrange a meeting with the fire chief and the folks who complained about the siren, to see what else can be done. That meeting had not yet taken place, as of Friday.

The siren is next to Clymer Library, which occupies the building that used to house the township fire company, off Firehouse Road and Old Route 940, in a residential neighborhood in the village of Pocono Pines.

Tom Augustine, who lives with his family in a home off Firehouse Road, next to the fire siren, told township supervisors last week the siren is so loud his family cannot hold a conversation, talk on the phone or watch television, even with the windows shut tight, when the siren goes off.

He said the noise is so bad it causes health problems such as ear infections for him and his family and that the family's former pet dog went deaf because of the siren.

Augustine contended the siren is unnecessary, since all Tobyhanna firefighters now have pagers, beepers or scanners to alert them to fire calls. He said the siren sounds more often than it did in years past, since fire calls have increased along with the township's population, adding that he has spoken with members of the fire company who agree the siren is not needed.




The fire siren in Pocono Pines is atop a pole and set between the public library and a cemetery. (Pocono Record/David Kidwell)

Supervisor Chairman John Kerrick told Augustine he would talk to Troy Counterman, the township's fire chief, and try to find a solution.

On Tuesday, Counterman placed timers on both of the fire company's sirens — one in Blakeslee as well as the one in Pocono Pines near the Augustine home — that prevent the sirens from sounding before 8 a.m. and after 8:30 p.m.

"We did that to accommodate the Augustines," Counterman said. "I'm not sure what else we can do."

The fire sirens play an important role in alerting firefighters to emergencies, since pagers have been known to malfunction, Counterman said. He gave as an example a time he was working in his yard and did not hear his pager go off but did hear the siren.

Counterman disagreed with Augustine's claim that the siren is louder since it was re-installed recently.

"It's the same siren as before," he said.

Workers at Clymer Library shrug off the siren noise.

"It's really not an issue for us," a library employee said Friday.

A similar dispute arose in Stroudsburg in 2002, when residents of the borough's Hill District complained of blaring noise from the Brown Street fire siren.

43 Runs another Pin Job

Station 43 toned out for a reported MVA with possible entrapment- the job was quickly upgraded to confirmed entrapment X2 and 3 total patients. Medevac was ordered to fly. Rescue 43-4-6 arrived on scene and completed a door removal as well as a partial dash roll to remove the two pinned patients. All three were flown via Medevac 1 and 2.

Happy Birthday

Today is the First Birthday of my blog. A lot has changed over the year. Hopefully you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed putting it together. Don't forget to visit my other site at http://43firefighter.proboards98.com/index.cgi.
It has lots of information and videos and pictures. Unfortunately I cannot post any more photos from calls I am on- but I will try to put as much information as I can on there.

Station 43 Runs another Pin Job

Station 43 was dispatched to a reported MVA on Route 209 near Franks Pizza- it was first reported as an MVA with a person with a head injury- FF/EMT Frank Tatusko went on scene and reported it as with entrapment. 43-4-6 arrived on scene and completed the door removal. It appears the car pulled out of the parking lot from Franks Pizza and was T-boned by a van on Route 209.

Chestnuthill Township Burn Ban Lifted

As of a few days ago the Township wide burn ban has been lifted.

Station 43 runs MVA with Entrapment

This is the spot where I would normally put a picture or two but you know that story. Station 43 and Station 8 ALS/BLS dispatched to a reported overturned auto with entrapment. I was in the area and went in POV. I found a single car off the road down a small ditch. The driver was still in the seat with her seatbelt holding her in the car. Station 43 did a partial door removal so we could get the door open the rest of the way and the patient was removed.

Spaghetti Supper June 10

If you are in the Monroe County, PA area, the West End Fire Company Junior Firefighters are sponsoring a Spaghetti Supper on June 10 from 4-7 PM as a fundraiser. It will be at the Firehouse on Route 715 in Brodheadsville.

Adults are $7.00 and kids 3-10 are $3.50- under 3 are free

Includes spaghetti, homemade sauce and meatballs, salad, bread and butter, homemade desserts and beverages.

Come out and support this great cause.