In
MONTH
the Fort Washington
Fire Company responded to:
38 Alarms
Averaging
15.9
responders per call
Totaling 183
responder hours
For All of 2005 the Fort
Washington Fire Company Responded to:
644 Alarms
Averaging 25 responders per call
Totaling 7217 responder hours
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Profile Of The Month
By Jeff Rathfon
Each month we profile one of
the many Volunteers that make up the Fort Washington
Fire Company. This month we are highlighting
Ed Hurt
Meet Past Chief, Ed Hurt
Ed “Grump” Hurt joined the Fort Washington Fire
Company No. 1 as a junior member in November of
1969. Following in the footsteps of his father Ed
Hurt Sr., he was allowed to join the company at the
age of fourteen, several months shy of the then
required age of fifteen. However, Ed exhibited his
maturity rather quickly as he was exposed to the
serious nature of the fire service during his first
fire call. Ed recalls the fatal auto accident at
Butler & Welsh in which a man died after being
T-boned by a pregnant woman.
The Hurt family moved to Upper Dublin when Ed was
two years old. He and his younger brother Tommy,
also a member of the Fort Washington Fire Company,
grew up in a house on Pinetown Road. Upon
graduating from Upper Dublin High School, Ed took
his first job at Germantown Academy where he worked
in the maintenance department. In 1975 he met Dawn,
who he married in 1978. He and Dawn are happily
married and the proud parents of three daughters,
Stacey, Amy, and Karen. The Hurt family currently
resides on Jill Road in the Willow Grove section of
Upper Dublin.
It did not take long for Ed to exhibit his
leadership abilities within the fire company. He
was quickly promoted to Lieutenant by Chief Pat
Zollo. Thereafter, Ed would hold every single rank
with the exception of Chief Engineer. Ed was
eventually elevated to Chief of the Fort Washington
Fire Company in 1991, a distinction he would hold
until our current chief Brian Newhall was elected in
December of 2005. Ed Hurt would prove to be the
second longest tenured chief in Fort Washington Fire
Company history, second only to George Haggar.
During his time in the fire company, Ed experienced
numerous incidents that will be forever ingrained in
his memory. Hurt recalls the Ambler warehouse fire,
the Perkasie fire, the Montgomeryville Mart fire,
and the Trinity Episcopal Church fire and many
more.
Ed has served on a number of committees including
the training committee, the grounds committee, and
currently the training grounds committee. His
involvement in the training grounds committee is
fitting as Ed contributed many man hours, along with
his father, building the facility some thirty years
ago. During his tenure as chief, every piece of
apparatus that is currently in service, with the
exception of Squad 88, was designed and purchased.
While he is fond of all of these trucks, his
favorite piece of apparatus was the 1951 open-cab
Mack Pumper.
When asked what he thought his legacy
would be as a past chief of the Fort Washington Fire
Company No. 1, Ed responded that he was always 100%
for the fire company.
A friend related the story that last year Ed was
chosen as citizen of the week by the Ambler Gazette.
The friend said "Ed was uncomfortable as he was
interviewed by the reporter. There are times when
Ed just wants to be quiet, it was hard for him to
toot his own horn and answer the reporter's
questions".
His dedication and loyalty has always been, and
always will be, widely respected by his peers. His
efforts and accomplishments as chief serve as an
inspiration and a reminder to everyone that served
under him then, beside him now, and after him in the
future.
_______________________________
Help Wanted
In 2006 we want to add 6 additional Firefighters to
our rolls. If you are interested contact
Chief Newhall.
We will provide all the necessary training.
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If you
know someone who would enjoy receiving our
newsletter, click on the "Forward email" link at the
bottom of this newsletter to send them a copy with a
personal note from you.
_______________________________
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This is one of a series of newsletters from the Fort
Washington Fire Company No.1 in an effort to keep
the citizens and taxpayers of Upper Dublin informed
about the many and varied activities carried on by
our organization. Anyone may opt out of receiving
these e-mailed newsletters by clicking on the
unsubscribe link at the bottom of this Newsletter.
In each newsletter we will endeavor to provide
information that is informative, useful and even
entertaining. |
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Fire
Prevention Expo Draws Large Crowd
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By
Howard Schmuckler
This year we had to change venues as the Fort
Washington Expo Center has closed, but we were able
to use the Upper Dublin Township Building and Loch
Alsh Avenue. Fortunately the weather cooperated; it
was a gorgeous fall evening. An estimated 1500
visitors came from near and far to see the Expo and
were able to participate in, learn from and enjoy
the variety of activities.
We
were able to present a new educational tool that the
Upper Dublin Township and Fort Washington Fire Co
has available to train individuals in the proper use
of fire extinguishers. Other popular demonstrations
and exhibits were presented by our fire company,
many other fire departments; and organizations such
as the American Red Cross, St. Christopher’s
Hospital for Children, the Burn Foundation, the
Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute, the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, the US Department of Homeland
Security, Pa Bureau of Forestry, Montgomery County
Department of Public Safety, Underwriter’s
Laboratories, PA State Police, State Farm Insurance
Co., PA Emergency Management Agency, and others. As
always, visitors had fun at the water target,
meeting with “Patches” the robot fire dog, watching
the police K-9 demonstration and the vehicle rescue
demonstration.
We would like to thank the Upper Dublin Township,
Upper Dublin School District, The Church of the Open
Door and many others who played a large part in the
success of this year’s Fire Expo. We have already
started planning for next year’s Expo, with some new
ideas. Please watch for our announcements for our
2007 Expo and plan to attend.
Pictures From the Expo
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FWFC Hosts Crash Photography Training
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By
Ed Schuler
Instructor/photographer and crash investigator, Jim
Halikman points out critical details that must be
included in crash photography
Fire Companies are often involved in victim
extrication, or firefighting at the more serious
auto accidents. Our company photographers are
increasingly asked to photographically document
crash scenes for the police departments as an aid in
determining the cause of the crash. These
photographs are also used in training firefighters
in the use of the "jaws of life" equipment carried
on our Squad and Rescue Trucks. Each month the Fort
Washington Fire Company responds to approximately 10
calls from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for
vehicle incidents between Willow Grove and Plymouth
Meeting as well as accidents within the township
itself.
On Saturday, September 17th, FWFC hosted a training
session for Area Fire Company Incident
Photographers. Fifteen photographers came to our
Summit Avenue station for training in crash
photography taught by Jim Halikman who teaches
similar techniques to area police departments. An
already crashed vehicle was brought to the station
to provide practice photography on the real thing. |
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By
Dawn Hurt
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Fort Washington Fire
Company welcomes new members anytime. Most members
are wives or mothers of firefighters but any Upper
Dublin resident, age 18 and older, is welcome to
join. We meet on the last Tuesday of every month
except July & August. Our meetings our held at the
firehouse on Summit Avenue in Fort Washington; we
begin at 7:30 p.m.
Our main focus is to support the firefighters both
financially through various fund-raisers and as
"goodwill ambassadors". We help by handing out
literature at the Fire Expo in September, serving
food at “Housing Ceremonies” for new equipment, and
various other activities the company may become
involved in.
Flea
Market Continued
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From PennDOT
"The new 'Steer Clear' law simply takes what should
be common sense and makes it a requirement for safe
driving in Pennsylvania," said Biehler of
PennDot. "Police
officers, emergency crews and those working to
assist stranded motorists must be given a wider
margin for safety - and we are counting on all
drivers to help us achieve this goal."
The law requires motorists to move to a lane that is
not adjacent to the scene of an emergency response,
police stop or a tow truck picking up an abandoned
vehicle. If drivers cannot move over because of
traffic or other conditions, they must reduce their
speed.
The law applies any time an emergency vehicle has
its lights flashing and where road crews or
emergency personnel have lighted flares, posted
signs or tried to warn motorists. Failure to move
over or slow down can result in a summary offense
that carries a fine of up to $250. In addition,
fines will be doubled for traffic violations
occurring in these areas. If that violation leads to
a
worker being injured, a 90-day license suspension
could result.
In cases where law enforcement may not be present,
the law allows road workers and emergency responders
to report violations by motorists. Law enforcement
can issue citations based on these reports.
For more information regarding the "Steer Clear"
law, visit PennDOT's website at
www.dot.state.pa.us. |
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