The members of the Clifton Heights and Primos Secane Westbrook Park fire companies walked through the new Rockbourne Falls office building. This state of the art facility is the old Drexel Hill Furniture 5 story building.

The owner and management were on location to show us all of the facility and answer all questions. For those who remember the facility in past years, know of it’s decline and abandonment and would be happy to see this landmark used and to bring more people into our area to continue to see our community grow.

The fire company would like to thank them for allowing us to view this site for the mutual benefit of both organizations and for also providing us with refreshments.

Clifton Heights Fire Company was asked by the Clifton Heights Business Association to hang banners over Baltimore Avenue and on Springfield Road to help promote there upcoming Flea Market and Car Show. This event is to take place on May 31st.

A special thanks to Fifefighter Mike Moore for the use of his bucket truck.

Please try to come out to support our local business association.

On Saturday, April 26, 2008 the Clifton Heights Fire Company & Darby Fire Co. # 1 merged with the union of Firefighter Joanne DePompeo and Firefighter Phil Middaugh. The groom arrived on Pipeline 04 followed by the bride and her father on Engine 03-3 (The Mack). The wedding was held at St. Mark’s church with the reception at the Holiday Inn Select on Namaans Road in Delaware. We wish to extend our congratulations and best wishes to the newlyweds. We would also like to congratulate the brides parents Deputy Chief Jerry DePompeo and Judy for a well planned event. A GREAT time was had by all.

Lansdowne FC was dispatched to Gladstone Towers Apartments for a brush fire. Further investigation found that there was a severe natural gas leak. Command 19 (Young) called additional crews from Station 19, 03, 20 and 09. The decision was made to evacuate all tenants from both buildings. This required command to request additional ambulances, which brought Ambulance 03,16,24,04,Medics 105 and 103. Also, two SEPTA buses were used to relocate the tenants to the Twentieth Century Club until the next morning when PECO could contain the leak.

Crews remained on location until all occupants could be transported. Canteen 47 was on location to provide there services to the emergency personnel as well as too many of the tenants.

The Clifton Heights Fire Company’s new building addition in the rear of our property is near completition. The antique apparatus was moved in last week during final construction. More pictures and building dedication plans will follow. A special thanks to Bill Wassell for allowing us to store our apparatus in his garage on East Madison Avenue.

On April 1st 2008, companies 16,24,19,03,105 were dispatched to the 600 block of Penn Street, Yeadon for a building fire. Crews arriving on location were met with a working 2 1/2 story twin house fire. Personnel on location began to extinguish the fire. The fire spread was moving to rapidly and the need to add additional personnel was requested by 16 command (Mellazzo, 16-9A). This brought out companies 22,04,06,36 and RIT 09. Crews continued to extinguish the primary fire building and deal with extension and smoke in the adjoined twin. Crews were pulled out once to evaluate the situations safety and determined they could return and complete the extinguishment. Crews remained on location for some time performing salvage and overhaul operations. Canteen 47 also assisted at the scene. Pictures courtesy of Brian Feeney.

Company 03 was dispatched along with Companies 20, 26, and 36 to assist Company 74 at an apartment building fire on South Avenue. UD-11 (McAfee) went on location and reported a basement apartment fire. Orders were for Engine 74-1 to proceed into the front of the building and lead off with a 1 3/4 inch handline. Tower 74 and Quint 03 to the front of the building for manpower and Engine 03-2 to reverse out as water supply.

The crews from Quint 03 assisted with initial searches of the apartment complex and Firefighter/EMT Michael Geyer and Firefighter Jillian Campbell found an occupant that needed assistance getting out of the building. Crews from Engine 03-2 and Engine 03-1 assisted with secondary searches and overhaul.

Company 03 remained on the scene with Company 74 until water supply was no longer required and extensive overhaul was completed.

On Saturday morning, February 23, 2008, at 8:39 AM, Company 03, 19, 74 and RIT 16 were dispatched to a dwelling fire in the 200 block of Cambridge Road in Clifton Heights. It was reported to be heavy smoke coming from the basement of the dwelling.
At 8:41AM, 03-9 (Kneass) arrived on location and reported heavy smoke showing from a two story row home. It was requested that Engine 74-2 take the rear of the property and for Quint 3 to set up in the front. Both crews lead off with 1.75� lines, Engine 74 into the rear basement door and Quint 3 to the first floor. Heavy fire conditions were found in the basement with some extension to the first floor. Because of limited access to the rear of the property, Rescue 43 was added to the assignment as a RIT in the rear.
The fire was brought under control shortly after the first twenty minute mark; crews remained on location for over two hours for extensive overhaul. All crews worked great together and there were no injuries.
Thank you to everyone on the scene, Station 44 for the cover assignment and to Frank Wesnoski for his photos.

The week January 19th thru January 26th 2008 was a busy one for our firefighters.

Clifton Heights Fire Co. responded to 24 fire dispatches. They were in our own town as well as assisting 6 mutual aid communities.

Hats off to our volunteers for their commitment. Be safe out there.

Company 03 along with Companies 74,19,20,44,16(RIT),103-7B were dispatched to unit block of Rockbourne Road for a building fire. Quint 03 arrived on location and found a transformer fully involved and light smoke coming out of side A of a 5 story multi-tenant stone building. Command 03-9A (Dep. DePompeo) established a safe staging area and limited access to the building until PECO could arrive to secure the electrical service. Quint 03 command 03-12 (Kent),along with crew found an electrical box and meter on fire and extinguished with a dry chemical extinguisher. Since the meter was unable to be pulled the fire continued to be fed until PECO could disconnect the power. The crew from 74-2 used foam to extinguish the electric pole and surrounding ground debris. Company 44 was made available and returned to Station 03 to cover. Apparatus remained on location until power was secured and fire was completely extinguished.