June 30 - For this week's weekly drill, the volunteers
from Station 21 trained at the Lower Merion Burn Tower and Training Grounds on the skills of vehicle
rescue. Crews went over stabilization of vehicles utilizing the Res-Q-Jack system and traditional
cribbing on a vehicle. Also, different case scenarios were discussed for patients in overturned
vehicles and where proper cuts should be made with hydraulic tools. After all was covered on the
topic of overturned vehicles, we flipped the car back over on it's wheels and practiced typical
vehicle stabilization, door pops and post cuts.
SMOKE IN THE BASEMENT ON SURREY LANE
June 26 - At 4:59am, Station 21 was
dispatched to 1504 Surrey Lane for a building fire, with the homeowner reporting smoke in the basement.
Upon entry to the house, Engine 21's crew observed a light haze in the basement, and smelled an odor of
something burning on all floors. Utilizing the thermal imaging camera, the problem was able to be
isolated to an electrical box with a heavy duty cable running up to all floors of the house. Crews then
proceeded to check for extension in an area on the first floor, where the odor was strongest and the thermal
imager showed a high heat output, by opening up the wall. With the wall opened, smoke was observed coming
from the area of the electrical box located in the basement and the strength of the odor increased. Power
was shut off at the circuit breaker to this electrical circuit, and crews made themselves available at
6:17am.
PENN WYNNE VISITS ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND
June 12 - The volunteers from the
Penn Wynne Fire Company took Engine and Ladder 21 down the street to Penn Wynne Elementary School
in support of Alex's Lemonade Stand. This annual event was started by 8 year old Alexandra "Alex" Scott
in July of 2000 to benefit pediatric cancer research. Alex was diagnosed two days before her first
birthday with neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. Since her first lemonade stand, Alex has
raised over $200,000 for pediatric cancer causes. The courageous Alex, who continues to fight her rare
form of childhood cancer, made a showing to greet her supporters who turned out including many of the
firefighters from the Lower Merion Fire Department. To learn more about Alex's Lemonade Stand or to make
a donation, visit www.alexslemonade.com.
