Max Finkelstein Inc., a wholesale tire distributer serving the Northeast U.S., has opened a new facility in Bern Township, located on Arnold Road in the Reading Regional Airport Industrial Park. In an effort to get to know the community, they invited the GFC and Bern Township Police for a tour of their facility, and a get acquainted buffet.
 
When we entered the warehouse the first thing we noticed was the aroma of brand new tires and the awesome sight of thousands of tires of every size imaginable, stacked neatly from floor to ceiling for almost as far as the eye could see. We were then greeted by our host, Mike McFarran, who guided us through the facility explaining the various fire suppression and safety measures that are contained in the warehouse. This included the high pressure sprinkler system, fire extinguisher locations, Knox Box location, the alarm system control panel, hazardous materials storage, and ventilation for the forklift charging area.
 
After the tour we were treated to a buffet of sandwiches, sodas and salads. I can assure you that no one went away hungry. There was even a generous supply of donuts for the members of the Bern Township Police Department.
 
Thank you, Mike, for your generosity and your time.
 
Those attending for the GFC were: Chief Brian Fisher, Lt. Scott Trate, FFs Matt Hoffmann, Matt Haggard, Dave Steffey, Rick Quattrock, Geneva Quattrock, Bill Pagan, Jr. FF Alyssa Hoffmann, and Photographer Steve Spies.
 
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GFC was called to the Directlink Technologies Center for a report of smoke in the Transformer Room.  Responding with GFC were crews from West Reading, Mt. Pleasant, Muhlenberg, Township of Spring, Western Berks Ambulance and Bern Township Police.
 
Upon arrival Lt. Trate, along with a Mt. Pleasant firefighter and Directlink maintenance personnel, entered the electrical distribution equipment area on the second level of the building and found that a smoke detector had been activated, and that there was a slight presents of smoke in the area. Building maintenance personnel inspected the transformer vault and found the fuses in the 13.2 kV service feeding one of the transformers had blown. After further inspection the cause was located in a buss bar raceway at the entrance to the number 2 switchboard, which had overloaded and melted down.
 
After finding the location of the failure, Lt. Trate determined that the building was secure and the presents of emergency personnel were no longer necessary.  The building was then turned over to the Directlink building maintenance personnel and the crews were released.
 
The operation of the Berks County 911 Dispatch Center, which is located in the Directlink building, was not affected by the incident.
 
Responding for GFC were: Deputy Chief Phil Haupt, Lt. Scott Trate, FFs Matt Haggard, Brian Lavenberg, Austin Valko, Jen Reedy, Rick Quattrock, Matt Hoffmann, Fire Police Capt. Charlie Kerschner, and Photographer Steve Spies.
 
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2011 was a banner year for the Greenfields Fire Company. We set a record for the number of calls in one year – 370! Granted, many of these calls were false alarms, but even a false alarm requires the same response as any other call.
 
Along with the false alarms were the calls that required attention and quick response. These calls included, but were not limited to fires, motor vehicle accidents, downed power lines, hazmat situations, flooded basements, EMS assists, aircraft standbys, downed trees, mutual aid, search and rescue, and so on. And not at one time did a call ever go unanswered!
 
In addition to emergency calls, the Greenfields Crew participated in weekly training sessions, some of which occurred at the Berks County Fire Training Site where live fire and rescue situations are simulated. Other training sessions were conducted at out of town training facilities. And some of the crew members, of their own volition, took part in training on their own to further improve their skills as firefighters.
 
Space in this forum does not permit listing all the events of the year. If you would like to see the ones that are not described here, click on “Archives” to go to the archive section of this website.
 
In the following paragraphs I will try to highlight each month’s major events:
 
JANUARY
         January saw a change in command at the GFC with the retirement of Chief Scott Haupt who handed the reins over to our new Chief, Brian Fisher.
 
FEBRUARY
         February saw the GFC go on standby for a very special visitor to the Reading Regional airport…The back-up aircraft for the Presidential Airborne Command Post, Air Force 2. This Boing 737 and its crew practiced short field landings at our airport for about 20 minutes, giving everyone quite a show.
 
The outstanding event for February, though, was a major structure fire in the 1500 block of Bernville Road in Greenfields. The historic stone and wooden structure that once housed the offices of Mike O’Pake was totally destroyed by a blaze that required the GFC to be assisted by Ariel trucks from Muhlenberg and Mt. Pleasant along with Engines from Laureldale, Hyde Park, Temple, West Reading, Leesport, and Western Berks. Fortunately, the residents were at work at the time, and there were no injuries. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.
 
February also saw the addition of 3 new Firefighters to the GFC. They are Firefighters Lydia Tutella, Austin Valko, and Jr. Firefighter Alyssa Hoffmann. Alyssa is the Granddaughter of our very own Firefighter/Engineer Matt “Pop Pop” Hoffmann.
 
MARCH
 
         GFC was called upon to assist the Bern Township Police in their search and rescue efforts in late March to locate an elderly male who had walked away from his residence in the Prison Heights Development area of Bern Township. Crews had searched the area for approximately an hour when Deputy Chief Phil Haupt and FFs Matt Hoffmann and Matt Haggard located the man in a garage about a half a mile from his residence. The man was transported to the Reading Hospital for evaluation thus bringing a happy ending to what could have been a tragic situation.
 
APRIL
 
         GFC responded to a two car MVA on County Welfare Road and Palisades Drive that required the door of one of the vehicles to be forced open to allow EMTs access to the patient. Crews from Mt. Pleasant Rescue 30 used the “Jaws of Life” to accomplish the task.
 
On a brighter note, GFC assisted Kohl’s Building Products, who hosted their 1st Annual Easter Egg Hunt, by chauffeuring the Easter Bunny to the event in E 55.
 
MAY
 
         GFC broke a 6 year record in May for the most calls in one month with a total of 41 calls. These calls included motor vehicle accidents, residential fires, a barn fire, a suspicious package at the Reading Regional Airport, and a water rescue.
 
The most notable of these calls was a working structure fire, with entrapment, in the 2100 block of Cullum Dr. in Greenfields. When crews arrived they faced heavy fire load in the foyer area of the house which then spread to the attic and void space above the garage. Bern Township Police were able to remove a victim from the living room area of the home who was later transported to the Lehigh Valley Medical Center.
 
June
         June was another busy month for the GFC. Along with the normal summer activities that occur in June, such as WWII Weekend and the Blue Marsh Water Safety Festival, GFC was called to St. Joe’s Hospital for a power outage, Reading Regional Airport for an aircraft emergency, and a 3 vehicle MVA involving fire at the Route 183 at the Route 222 interchange.
 
But what would the month of June be without weddings? GFC was not left out in this respect either when the Fire Station was converted into a wedding chapel with the nuptials of Matt Haggard and Melissa Mulligan taking place therein.
 
Lastly, the membership roll of the Station increased by one with the addition of our new Company Photographer, Steve Spies.
 
JULY
 
         July kept the GFC busy with the usual number of false alarms and MVAs, and an assist with a water rescue in Penn Township. But the main cause for activity centered around training, and a little bit of fun.
 
Normally training sessions occur weekly during the scheduled Monday Night Drills, but July included 2 extra training sessions. These included a day long Zone 2 Tanker Task Force Drill in Hamburg, and a trip to the Wilkes Barre/ Scranton International Airport for a one day session on Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting. The Scranton ARFF training included an afternoon of live burns in a simulated airliner on one of the hottest days of the year,103 degrees F, which pushed everyone’s endurance to the limit. Half of the GFC crew of 20 took part in that exersize.
 
The fun though, happened early in the month with the GFC’s annual July BBQ when company Grillmiester, Rick “The Rock” Quattrock, grilled up a feast of burgers and dawgs for the crew to celebrate summer and the last Southwest Airlines Standby of the season.
 
AUGUST
 
         MVAs, a structure fire, standbys and training sessions dominated the month of August, keeping the GFC on their toes.
 
A week long detail of standbys at the Reading Fair was interrupted by a report from Bern Township Police of smoke showing from the rear of Fisher’s Rental on Bernville road. Upon arrival, Chief Fisher declared it a working structure fire. With the aid of Mt. Pleasant Co. 30, Western Berks 18-4, Township of Spring Co 85, West Reading Co. 64, and Leesport Co 37 the fire was brought under control and the business was able to open the next day. Bernville Co. 29, and Temple Co. 11were placed on standby and Schuylkill Valley EMS provided rehab.
 
A very special thanks to Werley’s Automotive for donating $1.00 to the GFC for every oil change they performed during the months of June and July.
 
SEPTEMBER
 
         The month of September did not slow down one bit either. The crew was kept busy with usual high volume of false alarms and MVAs, but training sessions, and standbys were ramped up with the resumption of the Southwest Airlines/Boscov’s standbys and the biannual Reading Regional Airport Disaster Exercise.
 
Rounding out September were the addition of two new firefighters to the GFC Crew: Brian Lavenberg, and Amy Cabot.
 
OCTOBER
 
         October, being National Fire Prevention Month, kept the crew of the GFC busy with presentations being given on fire safety to schools, day care centers, Berks Heim, and local industry. Training sessions, MVAs and false alarms continued, and the public was invited to tour the fire station during GFC’s Second Annual Open House.
 
The Social Hall also ramped up their activities with the installation of Bonnie Lioneti as the new manager of Friday Night Bingo. Bonnie was responsible for the great success of the Social Hall’s Halloween Bingo Bash that set a record for Bingo attendance in October. But the fun doesn’t stop here…
 
Just when we thought October was coming to an end, Mother Nature threw us a curve ball in the shape of a freak snow storm that roared through Berks County, blanketing the area with 6 to 10 inches of heavy wet snow. The record number of calls for the month of May became laughable when the GFC responded to 24 calls in one day during this storm! MVAs, an industrial fire, downed trees and power lines, and EMS assists, along with a high number of false alarms sprinkled in kept the GFC busy for over 24 hours straight. The crew’s only thanks, other than the satisfaction of a job well done, were a slic...  [  more  ]  

GFC and stations from Mt. Pleasant Co. 30 and West Reading Co. 64 were dispatched to an automatic fire alarm call at Atlantic Coast Aviation Service’s hanger located at the Reading Regional Airport Friday night.
 
Upon arrival, Lt. Trate found the Knox Box could not be opened because of ice in the lock. The Knox Box was thawed out thanks to quick thinking by Deputy Chief Phil Haupt, who suggested using a hair dryer to melt the ice that had formed in the lock. Once the Knox Box was opened, the crews were able to gain access to Atlantic Coast Aviation Service’s hanger.
 
Once inside the hanger everything, except for the blaring klaxons and flashing strobe lights of the fire alarm system, appeared normal and Lt. Trate began checking office and storage areas for signs of fire. Upon opening the door to the hanger’s maintenance office, Lt. Trate noticed a dusty haze inside that room, but no evidence of heat or flame. Lt. Trate then spilt the crew up into two groups and instructed them to conduct a thorough search of the building to determine if a cause for the hazy condition could be found. Lt. Trate later determined that the dusty haze had come from a heating duct inside the maintenance office, but no origin of the substance could be found.
 
The alarm system was reset by Atlantic Coast Aviation Service’s maintenance personnel, and 15 minutes later the building was determined to be secure and the fire crews were released. The cause of the dusty haze is still to be determined.
 
Those responding for GFC in E 55 were: Deputy Chief Phil Haupt, Lt. Scott Trate, FFs Dave Steffey, and Amy Cabot. They were joined shortly thereafter by E 55-1 driven by Geneva Quattrock, with FF Brian Lavenberg, and Photographer Steve Spies.
 
 (Click on the headline to see more photos, and then click on the photos to enlarge.).

Those participating in this Monday Night’s Drill session were in for a surprise when Deputy Chief Phil Haupt unveiled the Station’s latest equipment addition…An SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) Cascade Fill System. The convenience of having this new system will allow GFC to fill their SCBA cylinders at the station, rather than relying on the generosity of other fire stations to fill them for us.
 
To start off the evening, everyone was assembled in the Day Room where Deputy Chief Haupt gave a formal explanation of how the system functions, and the standard procedures for its safe operation. The crew then adjourned to the Engine Room for hands on practice operating the system.
 
Many thanks to Deputy Chief Phil Haupt for the months he spent managing this project. Phil did everything from gaining the financing, locating the components, arranging for the Station’s electrical modifications, overseeing the system’s installation, and finally, conducting the crew training. So next time you use your SCBA, you can thank Deputy Chief Haupt for that breath of fresh air.
 
 
 (Click on the headline to see more photos, and then click on the photos to enlarge.).

 

Greenfields Company 55, along with Leesport Company 37, responded to an MVA on White Oak Ln. near Grange Rd Saturday morning.
 
Upon arrival, GFC found a Chevy S10 pick-up truck that had been traveling eastbound on Grange Rd. had overturned and came to rest against storage shed and a house on the north side of Grange Rd. Because the vehicle’s airbags deployed, and the driver was wearing a seatbelt he escaped uninjured. The house sustained damage to the exterior and interior basement walls. V&M Towing later removed the vehicle.
 
The cause of the accident is unknown at this time.
 
Those responding for Company 55 were: Chief Brian Fisher, Deputy Chief Phil Haupt, Capt. Mahlon Auker, Lt. Scott Trate, FFs Dave Steffey, Amy Cabot, Geneva Quattrock, Matt Haggard, and Photographer Steve Spies.
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Greenfields Fire Co assisted fire, police, and EMS units from around Berks County at an MVA that occurred Friday afternoon at around 3:08 PM on southbound Rt. 222 near Broadcasting Rd.
 
An 18 wheel big rig rear ended a Buick sedan, pushing it several hundred feet down southbound Rt. 222, striking two other vehicles along the way, and finally coming to rest in a fiery entanglement on the embankment above southbound Rt. 222. The driver of the sedan was killed. The truck driver and the occupants of the other two vehicles sustained unspecified injuries and were transported to local area hospitals.
 
Engine 55, coupled with Western Berks Tanker 18, supplied water and foaming agent to the crash site, and as darkness fell, provided the Berks County Crash Reconstruction Team with scene lighting throughout the evening.
 
Those responding for GFC were: Chief Brian Fisher, Deputy Chief Phil Haupt, Lt. Scott Trate, FFs Geneva Quattrock, Rick Quattrock, Dave Steffey, Matt Haggard, and Photographer Steve Spies.
 
Due to their graphic nature, and out of respect for the family of the deceased, no photographs of the incident will be published in this forum at this time.

Greenfields Company 55 along with Mt. Pleasant Company 30, Bernville Company 29, Leesport Company 37, and Western Berks Ambulance were called to an MVA at the intersection of West Leesport and County Welfare Roads late Thursday afternoon.
 
A Dodge sedan had collided with a Saturn SUV. The Dodge suffered front end damage while the Saturn sustained damage to the passenger’s side door. The female driver of the Dodge and the male driver of the Saturn, along with his female passenger all suffered unspecified, but non-life threatening injuries. They were transported to the hospital by Western Berks Ambulance. Firefighters from Mt. Pleasant Company 30 needed to use The “Jaws of Life” to remove the passenger from the Saturn. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
 
Those responding for GFC were: Chief Brian Fisher, Deputy Chief Phil Haupt, FFs Matt Haggard, Jen Reedy, Matt Hoffmann, Geneva Quattrock, and Photographer Steve Spies.
(Click on the headline to see more photos, and then click on the photos to enlarge.)

Greenfields Company 55 along with Leesport Company 37 were called upon to assist Schuylkill Valley EMS with a trauma patient in the 900 block of Center Road early Thursday morning.
 
An 81 year old male had struck his head after falling down approximately 10 stairs. The patient was conscious when EMS arrived and was transported to the hospital by Schuylkill Valley Emergency Medical Services . No further assistance was needed, and fire company personnel returned to their respective stations.
 
Those responding for GFC were: Chief Brian Fisher, Deputy Chief Phil Haupt, FF Dave Steffey, and Photographer Steve Spies.
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Greenfields Company 55, Mt. Pleasant Company 30, Western Berks Company 18, and Spring Township Company 85 were summoned to the 1000 block of Hilltop Ct. Christmas Morning for the report of smoke and flames coming from a resident’s garage. Upon arrival the GFC crew found a pile of smoldering sports equipment and fireplace ashes in the driveway outside of a resident’s smoke damaged garage. No open flames were present.
 
Earlier Christmas morning the homeowner had emptied the ashes from their fireplace into a plastic garbage bag, and then put the bag in the garage next to some sporting equipment. The ashes apparently contained some still smoldering embers and ignited the bag, which in turn ignited the sports equipment. Upon smelling smoke, the homeowner - using a snow shovel -  managed to push the burning material onto the driveway where it was extinguished with a garden hose. A concerned neighbor called 911 to report the fire.
 
Damage to the home was contained to the garage which sustained smoke damage to its interior and to the exterior vinyl siding above the garage door. No injuries were reported.  Chief Fisher determined that no further fire company assistance was need and released the crews back to their respective stations.
 
Those responding to the call for GFC were: Chief Brian Fisher, Deputy Chief Phil Haupt, Capt. Mahlon Auker, Lt. Scott Trate, FF Jen Reedy, and photographer Steve Spies.
 
Welcome back FF Jen Reedy!
 
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GFC 55 and Mt. Pleasant Co. 30 were called upon to answer an AFA at Teleflex Medical at 2400 Bernville Road early Christmas morning. Engine 55 left the Station with Deputy Chief Phil Haupt at the helm carrying Chief Brian Fisher, Lt. Scott Trate, FFs Jen Reedy, Matt Haggard, and Photographer Steve Spies.
 
Upon arrival at the Teleflex facility Chief Fisher and Lt. Trate were greeted by the duty security officer who led them to the fire control panel. Chief Fisher inspected the fire control system and determined that a water flow indication had triggered the alarm. Chief Fisher and Lt. Trate then proceeded to the area indicated on the alarm panel, but found no indication of water discharge. The alarm system was then reset.
 
The cause of the alarm remained unknown pending further investigation, and the GFC and Mt. Pleasant crews returned to their respective stations.
 
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Greenfields Company  55, Mt. Pleasant Company 30, and Schuylkill Valley Ambulance 610 responded to an MVA on southbound Rt. 222 at Rt. 183 Friday morning.
 
Upon arrival the crew found a sedan resting on the embankment above southbound Rt. 222 a few hundred yards south of the Rt. 222-183 interchange. The driver had been helped out of the vehicle by the highway construction crew that was working nearby, and was uninjured.
 
The driver of the sedan, apparently confused by the highway construction project, and the maze of signs, traffic lights, and the ever changing on and off ramp situation, did not realize that the on-ramp to southbound Rt. 222 from northbound Rt. 183 was now on the right side of northbound route 183, and not on the left as it had previously been. By turning left the sedan wound up on the embankment above southbound Rt. 222. V&M Towing later removed the vehicle from its precarious perch.
 
Responding for GFC were: Chief Brian Fisher, Capt. Mahlon Auker, Lt. Scott Trate, and FF Matt Haggard.
 
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GFC was summoned to an Automatic Fire Alarm at the Gruber Wagon Works at 1102 Red Bridge Road Wednesday evening. Deputy Chief Phil Haupt, Lt. Scott Trate, FF Matt Haggard, and Photographer Steve Spies responded in E-55.
 
Upon arrival Lt. Trate and FF Haggard were met by the duty Park Ranger who guided them to a newly constructed storage barn from where the alarm was emanating. After entering the structure, it was determined that there was no evidence of smoke or fire, and the alarm was silenced and reset. The cause of the alarm could not be determined. The alarm company was notified and will schedule a service call in the morning to determine the cause of the alarm. GFC personnel then returned to the Station.
 
Special thanks to FF Matt Haggard for putting forth the extra effort to wash down E 55 after its return to the Station from a rainy night’s trip to the Gruber Wagon Works.
 
 
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The Greenfields Fire Company Station House was transformed into a party house Monday night for the annual GFC Christmas Party. Room was made available in the Station engine room when E-55 left to make its annual journey to the North Pole to pick up Santa. In its place, tables and chairs were set up and a bountiful “pot luck” feast was provided by all who attended.
 
Entertainment consisted of a slide show, assembled by Chief Fisher, showing photographs of the serious and not so serious events of the past year. But the big treat came with the arrival of Santa, riding not in his sleigh, but in the Officers Seat in Engine 55.
 
When Santa arrived he greeted everyone in the Station with a hearty HO, HO, HO, and then it was off to the Day Room to hand out gifts to the firefighter’s children. Each child received two gifts, however there were many gifts left over under the tree. Those left over gifts were gathered up by Santa, and delivered to Toys for Tots so the less fortunate children in the area could have a Merry Christmas, too.
 
After Santa’s departure, everyone gathered around the fire pit behind the Station for S'mores and a collective belch to end the evening. Rumor has it that that collective belch registered a 5 on the Richter scale.
 
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Everyone loves a parade and GFC was thrilled when they were invited, along with companies from, Brecknock, Cumru, Shillington, Mohnton, Spring, West Reading and Lower Alsace to participate in Kenhorst’s annual Christmas Parade.
 
The parade started around 1:00 pm and wound its way around Kenhorst. Popular cartoon characters such as Tigger, Winnie the Pooh, Big Bird, Sylvester, and the like road perched aboard the various pieces of apparatus.  With lights flashing and sirens blasting, the cuddly characters threw candy to the children all along the parade route.
 
Participating from GFC in Engine 55 were: Deputy Chief Phil Haupt, Lt. Scott Trate, FF Dave Steffey, and Photographer Steve Spies along with the Chipmunks who hitched a ride on top. In In Brush 55 were Geneva and Rick Quattrock with Tiger and Winnie the Pooh perched in the back.
 
Here are some photos of the day for your enjoyment. Click on the headline to see more photos, and then click on the photos to see an enlarged version.