Shortly after 1pm today, Units from 63 and EMS were sent to the 1900 block of Millport Rd. for a crash. Arriving units found a 2 car head-on crash with several people injured. Crews assisted EMS and were clear within 20 minutes.

As the snow began to fall Friday evening, Co. 63 was sent to the 1600 block of Lincoln Highway E. for a crash with rollover. Chief 632 (Sabella) was in the vicinity and arrived right away reporting an SUV on its side with a patient on the roadway after striking several parked cars at an auto dealership nearby. Crews assisted EMS with the patient and were in service in about 20 minutes. With the deep snow well on the way, a small crew of volunteers staffed the station overnight and amazingly ran no calls.

Early last week, Capt. Andrews and Deputy Chief Hershey managed to acquire the former Congress Inn on Lincoln Highway E. for use for training until the building's demolition later in the month. Right away Tuesday evening, Crews from 63, 410 (Witmer), 41 (Bird in Hand), and 510 (Strasburg) converged on the hotel to conduct some truck company drills such as roof ventilation, forcible entry, and opening of walls and ceilings. Throughout the week, crews from 63 have been returning to the building for various drills. Last evening, FF King took some crews out to perform some basic engine company operations. Using a smoke machine crews did "run-ins" where they practiced hoseline advancement, entry, and ventilation. The final 2 nights at this site will be this coming Monday and Tuesday where several local departments will be continuing to work on roof ventilation and wall breaching. We wish to thank the hotel owners for this wonderful training opportunity ** All Photos by Woody**

The membership of the Lafayette Fire Company wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the Lapp Family during their recent loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

7pm this evening Co. 63 was dispatched to the Country Inn and Suites on Lincoln Highway E. for the automatic fire alarm activation. Chief 63 was first to respond and was advised from LCWC that they had just received a report of a fire in the building and were sending the full 1st alarm assignment consisting of units from 63, 410 (Witmer), 41 (Bird in Hand), 48 (Ronks), 510 (Strasburg), and 24 (Eden).  On arrival units found a fire in the basement laundry room with an activated sprinkler and smoke throughout the hotel. The Crew from E633 was sent in to locate the fire while the crew from E411 advanced the 400' line from E633. Truck 63 and Rescue 48 crews began primary searches of the 1st through 4th floors of the hotel. The fire was knocked quickly and crews then began a large ventilation effort and performed salvage and overhaul. Additional crews assisted with some water removal from the activated sprinkler system.  This call was a good example of the benefits of an automatic sprinkler system as the fire damage was kept to a minimum. Units were on scene for about 2 hours. 29 Personnel from 63 responded to the call.

Following a long night on Sunday evening, the volunteers were "back at it" today. The day began with a call for an automatic alarm at Dutch Wonderland around noon. The alarm was determined to have been accidental. Then around 3pm the first alarm box was struck for the Thaddeus Stevens College Dorm building on E. Orange St. for a reported building fire. Units from 63, 54 (Lampeter), 24 (Eden), 48 (Ronks) and Lancaster City E3 responded and found a smoke odor on the ground floor which was traced back to an HVAC problem. While on the scene, our 2010 training officers (Capt. Andrews and Lt. Freeburn) were able to acquire a training structure on the Stevens campus. Later in the evening we would return to this structure for some SCBA drills.  During training our 3rd call of the day came in for an outside investigation of a fire just 1 block from the training site. Chief 63 and some personnel on foot went to the area and found a backyard fireplace in use. And finally, as clean-up from training was finishing up the pagers went off again for a brush fire in the area of the Target store on Lincoln Highway E.  All 3 engines responded and found a large tree on fire behind the store. Co. 410 was added to the call due to it being their area. E632 made its way back a dirt lane to extinguish this fire. We wish to thank Stevens Tech. for allowing us to use their building!

Shortly after 8pm this evening, multiple EMS units and Co. 63 were sent to the Rt. 30 and Rt. 462 split for a reported pedestrian struck call with the person trapped underneath a vehicle. Rescue/Engine 631 with a crew of 2 was at Station 48 (Ronks) refilling the cascade system and responded right away while Squad 63 made a quick response from the station. Units arriving found a victim underneath a tractor-trailer who was determined to be deceased. Crews from 63 then assisted the police department in setting up lighting and traffic control for their re-construction activities. RE631 and Squad 63 remained on the scene for several hours.

http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/247618

We wish to congratulate Firefighter Nick Elinski on his recent certification as a Paramedic.

Shortly after 4pm today, Co. 63 was sent to the 400 block of Conestoga Blvd. in Lancaster Twp. for a gas leak. Engine 633 was first to arrive and found a 300 gallon propane tank leaking outside of a sewer pumping station. The crew quickly determined that the leak could not be stopped and a water line was placed into service to disburse the vapors until gas company personnel arrived. Crews from Tower 63 were assigned to air monitoring while the crew from RE631 was assigned to check a neighboring home for gas. Gas company personnel had the leak under control within 30 minutes.

This afternoon units from 512 (Willow Street) and surrounding departments were sent to the Willow Valley Hotel and Resort for a reported building fire. Initial reports were that a Christmas tree was on fire. First arriving units reported heavy smoke and requested a modified second alarm to assist with a massive ventilation effort sending Tower 63 to the scene.  When the tower arrived they were assigned the C side with Tower 57 (Quarryville), Rescue 65 (Millersville) and Rescue 68 (West Lancaster) to set up ventilation in the Palm Court area. Crews used multiple fans for over 1 hour to vent the entire building. The tower was on scene for 1 1/2 hours.