Doylestown Fire Company No. 1

Doylestown Kicks Off Annual Fire Prevention Week at Bucks County Library
The Doylestown Fire Company's Fire Prevention Unit made it's annual visit to the Doylestown Branch of the Bucks County Free Library on Saturday, Sept. 20, as the guest readers for children's story time. The weekly event is a program at the library for toddlers and pre-K children. This year's event was significant, because in addition to this being the 5th year the fire company has read to the kids, one of those kids was a reader. Megan Browne, 7. Megan, the daughter of Doylestown Fire Company's Fire Prevention Officer Larry Browne, is the inspiration for the visits, because when she started attending the program, it gave her father an idea. When presented to children's librarian Roberta Yackovitch, it was accepted quickly and enthusiastically. This year the reading was attended by over 40 kids, their parents, and Doyle, the fire company's Dalmatian mascot. In addition to the younger Browne, father Larry and associate member Paul Cain read children's books on firefighters and firefighting to the kids. Doyle and firefighters Chris Morris and Jenna Fetterolf were there to lend a hand with tours of Doylestown's Engine 19-1 in the parking lot on the beautiful Saturday morning. MORE

The event is also a kickoff of the companies fire prevention week activities, which falls this year the week of October 5. The Doylestown Fire Company will hold their annual Fire Prevention Open House at the Shewell Ave. firehouse on October 3, 2008, in conjunction with First Friday Doylestown, from 6:30- 9 PM. There will be fire trucks, fire safety events and displays, rappelling, vehicle rescue demonstrations, and the grand prize winners of the annual fire prevention poster contest will be announced. The Teddy Bear Clinic from the Emergency Division of Doylestown Hospital will be there to tend to the needs of special stuffed friends (bring your favorite stuffed animal), and other community organizations will be represented. The event is free and fun. MORE

2 Alarm Dwelling Fire on Turk Road
At approx. 5:20pm on 8/24/08, The Doylestown Fire Company was dispatched for an investigation in the area of Turk Road in Doylestown Township. Chief 29 Dan Hinkle (Warrington) was first on scene and reported a 1.5 story building fully involved with exposure issues and car fires. Doylestown command was established and Engine 19 and Ladder 79 arrived and went in service. The 2nd alarm was dispatched for manpower which brought in apparatus from Warrington, Chalfont, Plumsteadville, Warwick, Warminster, Midway, and Hartsville. The fire was placed under control within an hour, but extensive overhaul was needed. The exposure buildings were saved from serious damage. County Fire Marshals were called to investigate the cause of the fire. Crews were on scene for an extended period of time finding hotspots with the aid of a backhoe. Photos by Sara Grogan. MORE


Van Engine Compartment Fire in Doylestown Shopping Center
The Doylestown Fire Company was dispatched to a reported van fire in the Doylestown Shopping Center on August 20, 2008. First arriving units reported a van with an engine compartment completely involved. Engine 19 arrived and pulled a 2" hand line and extinguished the fire. Engine 79 assisted with manpower and water supply. Doylestown Borough Fire Marshal Dave Cell also on scene for the investigation. Photos by Denny Loux Sr. MORE


Early Morning Shed Fire
Just before 5am on August 18, 2008, the Doylestown Fire Company was dispatched for a reported Shed Fire on Spring Valley Road. Battalion 19 Ed Truman was first on scene and reported a shed with nearby wood pile on fire. Ladder 79 and Engine 19 responded an knocked the fire down. Some overhaul was needed on the shed to remove the burned sections of floor. Crews were in service for a period of time to make sure all the fire was out contained within the wood pile. Photos by Denny Loux Sr. MORE


Mobile Home Fire on Limekiln Road
On August 12, 2008 Doylestown fire Company was dispatched for a dwelling fire at 35 Limekiln Road, in New Britain Township, Box 19-1. Chief Denny Loux was first on scene and reported smoke showing from the rear of a mobile home. Engine 19 arrived and pulled a 2" hand line and quickly extinguished the small fire, even as their efforts were hampered by an uncooperative neighbor. During overhaul, it was determined that there was an accelerant in the area of the fire, so a crime scene was established and Bucks County Fire Marshal Nick Rafferty was called to the scene. Upon his arrival, he requested the accelerant detecting canine from the Philadelphia Fire Department to assist in the investigation. Porsche, the Philadelphia "arson dog", was brought to the scene by his handler, Philadelphia Assistant Fire Marshal Art Czajkowski. Porsche is trained to sniff out petroleum based accelerants with great accuracy, and assisted in the investigation. In the course of the night, a neighbor was arrested for disorderly conduct and taken to New Britain Township Police Headquarters. Photos by Larry Browne. MORE


Doylestown First Friday August 1 2008
On August 1, 2008, The Doylestown Fire Company took part in the monthly first Friday celebration in Doylestown Borough. The fire company was the highlighted non-profit organization for this month's festivities. Because of that, we were able to set up at State and Hamilton streets and had the entire parking lot to show off our trucks, equipment, and membership. The fire company had tables set up with equipment so people could get a hands on experience and learn about what we do. Kids and their parents were able to climb on the trucks and Doyle the Dalmatian showed up to meet with the youngsters. The even included live performances from the bands "Racoonfighter" and "Brothers and Others." Photos were taken by Sara Grogan. MORE


Multi Vehicle Accident at Pools Corner
The Doylestown Fire Company was dispatched for a vehicle extrication on July 20, 2008 at the intersection of Routes 202 and 313 in Buckingham Township. Medics on scene reported a multi-car accident with one entrapped in a minivan. Engine 79 arrived on scene and went to work cribbing the vehicle until Rescue 19 arrived with the hydraulic tools. Crews worked to remove the patient by removing the entire roof from the vehicle. Additional apparatus from Midway and Lingohocken were dispatched for manpower due to the extreme heat and to help establish a landing zone for the medevac helicopter. Photos by Jenna Fetterolf. MORE


Ladder Ops Class in Warrington with the FDNY
Four members of the fire company, Lt. 79 Jeff Kennedy, Firefighters Dan Kline, Becca Loux, and Lacy Miles, attended a 2 day- ladder company ops class at Warrington Station 29. On Saturday, July 19, the practical part of the class was held in 4 vacant structures acquired by Warrington for the class along Easton Road. The class, which was taught by FDNY firefighter Scott Lyons, TL-79, and Bob Hedden and Josh Overholt, covered many tactics, tools and techniques for effective ladder company operations. Forcible entry, breaching walls, ventilation, and proper ladder placement were all discussed and practiced. The practical part was made more challenging by the 90 degree heat and high humidity of the day. Thanks to Chief 29 Dan Hinkle for putting the course together and to the Warrington Auxiliary for lunch on both days. Photos by Larry Browne. MORE


Company assists Warrington with Duct Fire
Box 29-13 was dispatched on July 11, at 3:31 PM, for a fire at Benchmark, at 429 Easton Road in Warrington. Rescue 19 was dispatched as the RIT and responded with Chief and Deputy 19. Chief 29, Dan Hinkle, ran command from Chief 19's vehicle during the 2-alarm fire. The fire was located in the dust collection system of the woodworking company, and took a long time to find, isolate, and extinguish. Ladder 79 and Engine 19, along with Canteen 19, responded and assisted. The fire was placed under control after a long operation, and in addition to the refreshments and snacks from the Canteen, the TGIFriday's across from the fire building provided fries and hamburgers for everyone on the fireground, which included companies from Bucks and Montgomery County. In addition to Warrington and Doylestown, Horsham Montgomery Township, Warminster, Hartsville, Hatboro, Willow Grove JRB and Warwick responded. Photos by Larry Browne.MORE


Rescue and Engine called as RIT on 2 Alarm Fire in Chalfont
Rescue 19 and Engine 79 were called on July 3, 2008, to assist with a 2 Alarm Building Fire in Chalfont. The fire was located at the Lenape Valley Swim Club at 105 Westview Ave in Chalfont Borough. Chief 34 was first on scene and reported the building fully involved and quickly asked for the 2nd Alarm to be called. Crews from Engine 79 and Rescue 19 staged as a RIT team and then assisted with manpower after the fire was placed under control.


Doylestown Goes to Wetdown in Kendall Park
The Doylestown Fire Company traveled to Kendall Park, NJ on Saturday June 28 to take part in the Double Wetdown at the Kendall Park Volunteer Fire Company. One of our own, Nick Berezansky, moved back to his home state of New Jersey and joined the Kendall Park Volunteer Fire Company. We decided to bring some Doylestown to Nick as he celebrated with his new company the housing of their new 2006 E-One Pumper and 2007 E-One Ladder. After a quick parade, we were directed into the wet zone where we had a chance to wet down the new apparatus. Of course, we also had a chance to soak down all the other companies that showed up as well. After about an hour of stretching hose lines and getting drenched, we packed the trucks back up and had lunch provided to us by the Kendall Park Volunteer Fire Company. Photos by Sara Grogan. MORE


Fire Company Makes Quick Stop in Attic Fire on Cherry Lane
On the evening of June 25, 2008, The Doylestown Fire Company was dispatched to a reported dwelling fire at 276 Cherry Lane. Battalion Chief 79 Paul Kreuter was first on scene and reported light smoke coming from the roof. Chief 19 Denny Loux established command. Ladder 79 was first in and backed down the driveway and sent crews to the roof. Engine 19-1 pulled in bumper to bumper with Ladder 79 and crews stretched a handline to the attic through the front door. Roof and Attic crews reported a attic fan that overheated and caught the surrounding building materials on fire. The fire was extinguished and tarp was placed over the hole in the roof. Photos by Denny Loux Sr, Larry Browne, and Sara Grogan. MORE


Small Fire Scorches Building on Old Easton Road
On Saturday, June 21, The Doylestown Fire Company was dispatched for wires in the vicinity of 3765 Old Easton Road in the area of the Candle Wic and Bio Tech Center in Buckingham Township. Chief 19 Denny Loux Jr was first on scene and reported a transformer fire next to the building with extension. The box card was filled out and it brought in additional apparatus from Midway, Warrington, Plumsteadville, and Warwick. Engine 19 lead off with a handline and knocked back the fire and Ladder 79 went to the roof to check for extension. Crews then went in service with positive pressure fans to clear the large building of smoke. Photos were taken by Sara Grogan and Sean Duffy. MORE


Burn Prop Project Almost Completed
The County is even closer with the completion of the Class A Burn building in Doylestown at the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center. All interior tiles are completed and paving has been done around the building. All that remains are some small odds and ends needing to be wrapped up before we can start to utilize the building. The next step is to do some burns in the building to temper the structure and then it will be open for class use. Photos by Fred Hashagen.


Station 19 Shewell Avenue Doylestown, PA 18901 Emergency: 911 Non-Emergency: 215-348-2656	Station 79 40 Warden Road Doylestown, PA 18901 Emergency: 911 Non-Emergency 215-348-2339