This evening crews staffing all apparatus headed out to the Greenfield Corporate Center to conduct some training. Tonight's topic was the 400' Preconnect aka the "Apartment Line". Each engine company apparatus is equipped with such a line for instances where a longer distance needs to be covered to reach a fire such as apartment complexes with courtyards, large stores or industrial occupancies. Crews practiced advancing this line several times and ended the evening with a race between the 3 units with the crew from E633 claiming victory. Over the past week our volunteers have logged over 380 manhours in company training and we continue to train so we can provide the best possible service to our community.

Early this morning crews from the 63 house and Co. 62 (Witmer) traveled to West Chester PA to conduct some live fire training. The West Chester Fire Dept. operates their own training center which is available for use for a fee for outside agencies. In this facility is a class A burn building. In a class A building firefighters are able to light real fires using skids and hay in order to simulate realistic fire and heat conditions. Crews spent the day running multiple fire evolutions in this building on both the first and second floors. To many of our newer firefighters this was the first time they were able to experience true fire, heat and smoke conditions. A valuable experience to all involved. We would like to thank the West Chester Fire Dept. for allowing us to use their facility, and the Upper Leacock Fire Co. for covering our station for the day and handling 2 calls for service.

This evening several departments converged on the Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park to participate in an evacuation drill. Multiple "victims" were placed on the skyride and monorail and crews had the task of removing everyone from the rides during a simulated power failure to the park. Access inside the park for aerial apparatus is very tight at spots and required several of the units to reposition in order to access all of the areas. Using 5 ladder trucks crews had both rides evacuated within 2 hours. We wish to thank the staff of Dutch Wonderland for allowing us this unique training opportunity, the Lancaster Township FD for providing a truck company stand-by during the event and Gordonville EMS for standing by at the park during the drill. Departments participating in the drill were 63 (Lafayette), 41 (Bird in Hand), 5 (Strasburg), 204 (Eden), 31 (Bareville) and 39 (Garden Spot).

Around 9am this morning Co. 3 was sent to the 1200 block of E. King St.  for a crash with one reported trapped. Engine 631 responded from the Make-a-Wish convoy staging area and arrived to find a 2 vehicle crash with injuries but no entrapment. Crews from E631, E633 and the Squad assisted EMS and were on scene for about 20 minutes

Rescue/Engine 63-1 participated in the annual Make-A-Wish Mother's Day convoy, stemming from a Lafayette tradition since the 1980's. Hat's off to the crew that spent the night before cleaning and shining up E631, and for a just cause. The weather was extremely favorable and as always there was a large turnout!

A few of the volunteers from LFC made the trip to Loganville Volunteer Fire Department (York County Station 63) for a standby during the funeral services for the passing of Fire Chief Rodney Miller. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Loganville Volunteer Fire Department, family, and friends of Chief Miller as they mourn their loss.

Lafayette Firefighters wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and fellow police officers and firefighters of Brian Johnson. Brian, also known as "Big Johnson" passed away earlier today while returning home from work as a police officer in Bladensburg Maryland. Brian began his fire service career in Lancaster County volunteering in Manheim Twp. before moving to Maryland. Brian held membership with Lafayette for several months in 2001 after moving back to the area for a period of time.

Around 6pm this evening Co. 63 was sent to the 1100 block of E. Orange St. in Lancaster Twp. for a dumpster fire. Units arrived to find a large construction style dumpster well involved on the Steven's Tech. School construction site. Crews staffing all 3 engines worked for over 2 hours to extinguish the fire.

This evening for new recruit training the good ole sprinkler tree came out of storage. The rookies were given 2 wood wedges and had to successfully stop the flow of water from a fire sprinkler. Although everyone came away soaking wet, the drill was a success. Thanks to FF King for heading this up. New Recruit training night is a new program which occurs on the 4th Monday of each month while the senior members are conducting the Board of Directors meeting.

This evening Co. 63 traveled to the Greenfield Corporate Center to perform some big water drills. Crews and apparatus rotated through 3 stations where they refreshed their skills utilizing large handlines and portable master stream devices. Crews also went over hydrant pumping and using the whole hydrant. At one point E633 was flowing in excess of 2000 gallons per minute.