Manheim Fire Department - Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

This years drawing will be for cash prizes instead of a truck. We will be giving away a total of $15000.00 in prizes. First prize is $7500.00*, second prize is $2500.00*, and there will five $1000.00* prizes. The drawing will take place in August at our open house. We will only be selling 3000 tickets. The tickets are $10.00 each. See a fireman to purchase your tickets.

Fund Drive - Our 2010 Fund Drive has been mailed to all residents and businesses in our fire response district. Please support us by making a financial contribution towards our fund drive.

Each year, only an average of 35% of the community supports our fund drive. Currently, there are no taxes in place in Manheim Borough, Penn Township or Rapho Township that specifically go to the fire departments. Each of the three make donations or provide services as a way to support us. If the community supports the fire department's fund drive, the need for a tax will be low. The average donation to our fund drive is $60, much less than a tax would require.

** Please note - we NEVER make phone calls to our community asking for financial donations. DO NOT contribute to these calls for help. They do not support the local emergency services at all. Please ignore them.

Former Engine 2-6-1 has been Sold! - Our former Engine 2-6-1 has been sold to the Trough Creek Valley Volunteer Fire Department in Cassville, Huntingdon County, PA. Members of their department traveled to Manheim to inspect it on June 18th and decided to purchase it from us for $10,000. They came back on June 24th to finish the deal and take it home with them. We thank the TCVFD for purchasing our Engine and wish them many years of satisfied service from it - it has served us very well for the past 24 years (even served in Lititz, Brunnerville, Columbia and West Earl during that time!) Here is a link to their fire department's website - www.tcvfireco21.com

New Rescue Arrives - On Saturday, June 19th, we took delivery of our new 2010 Pierce Quantum Mega-PUC rescue-engine. We are downsizing our fleet, but maintaining the same capabilities. This new rig will replace our 1994 Pierce Rescue and our 1987 Pierce Engine and will be called Rescue 2-6. The new Rescue has been lettered and striped by Danz and has been serviced by the local Pierce Mfg. service facility (Glicks in Bird-in-Hand). Now we are working to have the equipment mounted by our members and then trained on it by our members. Once sufficient driver and pump training has been completed, it will be placed into service. Our anticipated goal for placing it into service is by Sunday, August 1st.

June 27, 2010 - Shortly after 5pm our station along with multiple EMS units were dispatched to the 1600 block of Lancaster Road for a vehicle accident involving fire. Upon response, Chief 2-6 was advised that the crash involved several motorcycles and a van that was on fire. Chief 2-6 arrived to find multiple patients down and a mini-van that was on fire, but was being extinguished by a good Samaritan. Engine 2-3-1 and Rescue 2-3 were also added to the incident by Chief 2-6 during response. Crews from Engine 2-6-1, Rescue 2-3 and Rescue 2-6 assisted EMS units with patient care and Engine 2-3-1 set up a landing zone for Life Lion. However, the critical patient was able to be loaded and transported by ground and the helicopter was cancelled. The driver of the van was also treated and transported by ambulance. Sadly, the five remaining riders of the motorcycles succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Crews from both departments remained on scene until the coroners office and police department crash reconstruction teams finished their investigations. Crews cleared the scene at 11:30pm.

This incident marked the greatest loss of life in memory in our fire district. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the deceased and to the two surviving victims of this tragic event. On Wednesday, June 30th, our fire department held a Debriefing event at our station for all emergency responders who were present at the incident. Our department had 20 members attend, plus approx. 12 more emergency medical personnel from the responding ambulances and the primary Dispatcher from LCWC of this incident. The Debriefing was hosted by the Lancaster County Critical Incident Stress Management Team. All responding personnel have been affected by this incident and we welcome your thoughts and prayers as well. A special thanks to the Gap Fire Company and Mastersonville Fire Company for covering our district while we attended the Debriefing.

June 19, 2010 - While driving to work after the Keller Brothers fire, Chief 2-6 came upon a working fire in the attic of an apartment house on Main Street in East Pete Borough shortly after midnight on Saturday, June 19th. Chief 2-6 notified Station 2-3's personnel of the fire (they had just returned from Lititz as well) and upon dispatch of the incident, Truck 2-6 and Engine 2-6-1 were added to the call also. The Truck crew stood by on scene as the Rapid Intervention Team and then went to work, assisting with overhaul. The Engine crew also assisted with overhaul operations. Crews operated on scene until about 2:00am.

June 18, 2010 - Truck 2-6 and Chief 2-6 responded to assist the Lititz Fire Company (2-5) at a working building fire at Keller Brothers Ford on South Broad Street around 9:30pm. The crew from Truck 2-6 operated on the roof & inside the building checking for fire spread and assisted with horizontal ventilation. Chief 2-6 assisted Command 2-5 by supervising the Delta side operations. Crews operated for two hours before being released.

June 7, 2010 - A water rescue class held at Pleasant View Retirement facilities in the pool area. This class was given by Terry Theal over 2 weeks. The first week was class room then second week was at the pool with hands on practice. The class was attended by Manheim and Penryn Firemen. 7,2010.

June 5,2010 - Lightning struck a house on Elwynn Terrace at the rear dormer window on the 2nd floor and spreading the fire to the master bedroom. Manheim was assisted by East Petersburg, & Penryn. There were no injuries. The residents were not home.

June 4, 2010 - Station 2-6 was dispatched along with Manheim Ambulance to South Colebrook Road in the area of Mill Road for a vehicle accident. Chief 2-6 arrived to find a single car crash just south of the intersection. The vehicle struck a tree head-on, then spun around after impact to hit one more tree, before coming to rest in the center of the road. The motor was thrown from the impact into a corn field, approximately 200 feet from the first tree. The driver was treated by EMS crews and personnel from the Rescue before being transported to the hospital. Crews remained on scene for about one hour until the tow truck arrived to remove the vehicle and motor.

May 17, 2010 - The guys started out in the TV room and followed the hose thru the firehouse around the rescue under a tunnel (a table) thru the racks to a hill (milk crates) to a fire man down. They had to rescue him with a RIT pack and drag him back to the TV room. All the time their masks were covered and had to do it blindfolded, communicating with each other as a team. They dragged him over crates around the coat racks.. under the tunnel.. around the rescue.. thru the door.. to the TV room all under 20 minutes, they did it in 16 minutes. They were all bushed and sweating at the end...Great Job Guys. They had 2 teams of 4 guys each do it. We learned a lot about air supply, strength, buddy system, and just working together. They were also testing small power tools and making adjustments as needed. Click Here for additional pictures.

May 5, 2010 -Construction is progressing on our pump test pit. The test manifold and return pipe were fabricated and brought to the site to be embedded in the concrete that has been poured over the tanks. This test pit will allow the NFPA required testing of our water pumps on the apparatus and also allow the training of the apparatus operators in the proper methods of operating the pumps for fire operations. This
facility will also be available for use by our neighboring fire departments.

April 24, 2010 - Members of the Manheim Fire Department were invited by the Manheim Athletic Association to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the little league team. President Brian Ober was given the opportunity. He did get the pitch across the plate, hopefully indicating a successful season for the kids in the league. Good Luck to all.

April 24, 2010 - The Manheim Lion's Club held a beef dinner on Saturday April 24th at the Fire house to benefit the Manheim Fire Department. The dinner was scheduled to run from 4pm to 7pm,catered by Dean and Carole Ziegler of Country Home Catering. However, due to over whelming community support, the meals were sold out by 5:45. We would like to thank the members of the Lion's Club for all their hard work and preparation.

April 12, 2010 - Doe Run Rd. and Lexington Rd. A Gang lawn mower caught fire and was extinguished by Lititz, Penryn, and Manheim Fire Departments.

Manheim Fire Department March 2010 Fire Report

The Manheim Fire Department responded to 30 incidents in March 2010, averaging 11 members per alarm. Twenty-three incidents were within our fire protection area, 7 incidents were mutual aid assists. The most frequent type of call was Medical Assists. The highest number of responses was to Manheim Borough. The busiest day of the week was Wednesday with 8 incidents and the busiest time of the day was from 4pm – 12am, with 14 incidents. The busiest piece of apparatus was Engine 2-6-2 with 14 dispatches. Fire loss for the month equaled $500 for a kitchen fire in Penn Township on March 12^th. Top responders for the month were Firefighter Jason Martzall with 19 responses, Chief Duane Ober, 16, Deputy Chief Dan Reif 16, and Firefighters Jimm Landis, Steve Petersheim and Jon Schlotzhauer with 14 each.

2010 Fire Company Banquet

On Saturday, March 27th, the members of the fire department and invited guests participated in the company's 2010 Awards and Recognition Banquet at The Revere Tavern in Paradise. Following the meal, several awards were presented by President Brian Ober, Past Chief Ryan Olesen and Fire Chief Duane Ober. The following members received Length of Service Awards: Randall Kreiser (5 years), Rod Ault (15 years), Terry Theal (25 years), Nancy Gouse (35 years) and Terry Connelly (45 years). Firefighter Jason Martzall received the President's Award. The 2009 Firefighter of the Year was Adam Reeser. The 2009 Junior Firefighter of the Year was Carl Minieri. Ryan Olesen and Dan Reif received Past Chief and Honorary Fire Chief recognition and plaques. Brian Ober received the 2009 Fire Chief's Award. Following the awards, the members and guests were entertained by a Hypnotist, Marshall Manlove.

Manheim Fire Department February 2010 Fire Report

The Manheim Fire Department responded to 51 incidents in February 2010, averaging 8 members per alarm. Forty-one incidents were within our fire protection area, 10 incidents were mutual aid assists. The most frequent type of call was Vehicle Accidents. The highest number of responses was to Penn Township. The busiest day of the week was Monday with 13 incidents and the busiest time of the day was from 8am – 4pm. The busiest piece of apparatus was Rescue 2-6 with 18 dispatches. Fire loss for the month equaled $3,000 for a kitchen fire in Manheim Borough on February 8^th.

Manheim Fire Department January 2010 Fire Report

The Manheim Fire Department responded to 36 incidents in January 2010, averaging 9 members per alarm. Sixteen incidents were within our fire protection area, 20 incidents were mutual aid assists. The most frequent type of call was Automatic Fire Alarm, followed by Vehicle Accidents. The highest number of responses was to Rapho Township. The busiest days of the week were Monday and Friday with 7 incidents each and the busiest time of the day was from 8am – 4pm. The busiest piece of apparatus was Truck 2-6 with 14 dispatches. There were no properties damaged or endangered by fire in January.

January 19, 2010 - Shortly after noon, several local fire departments responded to assist Mastersonville Fire Company at a barn fire in the 6700 block of Elizabethtown Road in Rapho Township. Units arrived to find a horse barn that was more than 2/3 involved in fire. Crews worked to protect the nearby buildings, including a generator located in an adjacent building. The horse barn was a total loss and the estimated damage was near $75,000. The property is owned by Abner Glick. The cause of the fire was determined by the State Police Fire Marshal to be accidental due to combustibles being located too closely to a heat source. Crews operated on the scene for four hours and included fire departments from Mastersonville, Manheim, Penryn, Mount Joy, Rheems, Elizabethtown, Lawn, Mount Gretna, Brunnerville and Campbelltown, as well as Manheim Ambulance and Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal.

January 1, 2010 – At 9:30, FF Jesse Schlotzhauer and FF Greg Fenicle reached out to an elderly Penn Township resident in need. They met up with the resident who has had a strong fear of fire since she was a child. After walking through the residence to check for any fire concerns that were visible, they found a very big problem. She had no smoke detectors in her residence! After conversing with the fire prevention coordinator, the department was able to donate four smoke detectors and install them in appropriate locations throughout the residence. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES!