Brush Fire Assist
Field 17 was dispatched at 2119 hours on Wednesday, March 11th to assist Milford Township Fire Company and Trumbauersville Fire Company with a large brush fire on Upper Ridge Road in the area of the Finland Lodge. Battalion 17 and Deputy 87 responded as well. A 69,000 volt PP&L transmission line had been pulled to the ground by a fallen tree and started a brush fire that quickly spread to a few acres surrounding the PP&L lines. Field 17 made its way off of Upper Ridge Road into the woods along the East. Captain 17 took Southeast Operations. A base line was established along a creek bed between Field 17 and the fire. Firefighter Jim Mindler stretched a hose line to the East side of the head of the fire, where it was quickly halted. Captain Erwin went in service with a chainsaw clearing fallen trees and snags that would slow crews down. Engine 57’s crew used hand tools and indian tanks from Field 17 to work the South end of the Eastern flank, establishing a line directly along the flank and stopping the spread of the fire. Additional crews from 58 used equipment and a second hose line off of Field 17 to extend the line farther North, supervised by Deputy 87. Field 36 came in to Field 17’s location to supply water to Field 17. Battalion 17 handled water supply, crew, and equipment distribution from Field 17. Lieutenant 17-1 drove Field 17 and operated the pump.
Field 75, Montgomery County Field 65, and Berks County Field 58 were wrapping up after operating a large brush fire in the Upper Perkiomen area. These three trucks responded and established the West line along Swamp Creek Rd. The fire was contained while crews awaited the arrival of PP&L. After PP&L confirmed that both ends of the transmission segment were disconnected, crews extinguished the remaining fire and wet down the entire area to take care of any hot spots. Field 17 went available around 0130.
