In
MONTH
the Fort Washington
Fire Company responded to:
49 Alarms
Averaging 13.8
responders per call
Totaling 581
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
Andrew Rathfon
Each month we profile one of
the many Volunteers that make up the Fort Washington
Fire Company. This month we are highlighting
Ed Wagner
Meet
Ed Wagner
The current Captain of the Fort Washington Fire
Company No1. Fire Police, Ed Wagner, joined the
department in 2002. “Chief Wiggum” as he is
referred to by many of the members, arrived with a
great deal of experience and knowledge that he
gained in his tenure as a firefighter and fire
policeman with our neighboring Wissahickon Fire
Company. Wagner was a member of Wissahickon from
1985 to 1992, serving five years as a firefighter
before joining the ranks of their fire police.
As a firefighter with Wissahickon, Wagner recalls
fighting the raging inferno that eventually claimed
the Trinity Episcopal Church in 1986 and the Ambler
Warehouse fire several years later. Through these
memorable events and countless other mutual aid
incidents, parades, and competitions, Wagner became
familiar with many of the members of the Fort
Washington Fire Company.
In 2001 Ed married his wife Sheilagh and purchased a
house on Ambler Road in Upper Dublin. Soon after,
Wagner decided to rekindle his desire to serve his
community, in the capacity of a fire policeman, by
joining the Fort Washington Fire Company. Sworn in
by the Township of Upper Dublin, much the same way
as a police officer, Ed began his journey - one that
would see him advance quickly through the fire
police ranks. Wagner was promoted to Lieutenant and
eventually voted to Captain in 2004, an honor that
he retains proudly to this date.
Once elected Captain, Wagner quickly went to work
equipping the newly purchased fire police van. This
versatile piece of apparatus is used not only to
respond to alarms, but also to a plethora of special
engagements throughout the year. Examples
include the March of Dimes, UDHS graduation,
Community Day, and the Ambler Fireworks. Wagner
continuously assures that his fire police are
equipped with the proper gear and equipment to
protect themselves, the firefighters of the Fort
Washington Fire Company, and the citizens of Upper
Dublin and surrounding areas.
Wagner, a
1987 graduate of Wissahickon High School, is
employed as the Transportation Director for the
Meadowood Retirement Facility. When he is not
working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and
his two year old son Edward. Sheilagh has also
decided to volunteer her free time to the Fort
Washington Fire Company, by serving as the Vice
President of the Ladies Auxiliary.
While Ed
has only been with the Fire Company for several
years, he has already made his mission as Captain of
the fire police very clear. Wagner is dedicated to
providing the necessary protection for firefighters
to execute the presented tasks in the safest working
environment possible.
_______________________________
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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What
is the FWFC Fire Expo?
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By
Howard Schmuckler
The Fort
Washington Fire EXPO is held annually on the Monday
of the week prior to Fire Prevention Week, unless
that day is a holiday. Initially started as a way
to educate the public about fire safety and fire
prevention, the EXPO has grown into a much
anticipated and very successful community event.
Included in the program now are many areas of injury
prevention for people of all ages. Our visitors
come from near and far, with an estimated attendance
of 2,000 – 3,000.
2006 marks the 18th
year for the Fort Washington Expo, which began in
the lobby of the Upper Dublin High School. The
program later expanded to nearby hallways and then
to the “west gym”. So much new information was
added to the program that the Expo outgrew the High
School. In 2002, the Fort Washington Expo Center
agreed to allow the Expo to be held at their
facility free of charge. Unfortunately, the Expo
Center has closed in June 2006. We extend a great
amount of appreciation to the staff of the Expo
Center in allowing us to hold the event in their
facility. For 2006, several locations were
considered in Upper Dublin Township, and it was
determined that the best is the Upper Dublin
Township Building.
Continued:
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Scholarship Recipient Thanks FWFC
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By
Ed Schuler
In the August issue of our newsletter we announced
the name of this year's Firefighter Scholarship
recipient Sean Dunn. He thanked the members in an
open letter which was read out in the August Fire
Company Meeting. We felt that the letter so well
expressed Sean's feelings about his time spent
volunteering with the Fort Washington Fire Company
and asked his permission to print it here.
Click Here
to read Sean's letter: |
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By Howard Schmuckler
Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate
the Great Chicago Fire that occurred in 1871, and
killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless,
destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned
more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8,
but continued into and did most of its damage on
October 9, 1871.
According to popular legend, the fire broke out
after a cow - belonging to Mrs. Catherine O'Leary -
kicked over a lamp, setting first the barn, then the
whole city on fire. Chances are you've heard some
version of this story yourself; people have been
blaming the Great Chicago Fire on the cow and Mrs.
O'Leary, for more than 130 years. However,
researchers over the years have come up with many
theories as to what actually caused the fire.
In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson
issued the first National Fire Prevention Day
proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week
has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday
period in which October 9 falls. According to the
National Archives and Records Administration's
Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is
the longest running public health and safety
observance on record. The President of the United
States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a
national observance during that week every year
since 1925.
Continued:
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By
Howard Schmuckler
Local Fire Companies awaiting the start of the
Rocket Fight Competition
On
the evening of Monday, August 21, (16) teams from 10
fire companies participated in friendly competition
at the Fort Washington Fire Company’s Fire Training
Grounds. This activity is referred to as the
"Rocket Fights".
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At the starting signal two teams train their hoses
on the "Rocket" target suspended overhead
The
rocket is a spool like target that slides along a
taught cable suspended high in the air. Teams from
various local Fire companies line up on opposite
sides of the rocket and try to blast the rocket over
the heads of the opposing team. (not too unlike a
tug of war except they are pushing with a high
pressure water stream) While the rocket fights are
good summer fun, (everyone gets wet), it has a
serious side in promoting practice team work for
hosing down a real fire.
Among those testing their skills in fire hose
operations were Barren Hill Fire Co., Edge
Hill Fire Co., Flourtown Fire Co., Fort Washington
Fire Co., Harmonville Fire Co., Oreland Fire Co.,
Roslyn Fire Co., Willow Grove Fire Co., Wissahickon
Fire Co., and Wyndmoor Fire Co.
Due
to the number of teams participating this year, the
event was held with single elimination. The team
that was victorious through the rounds was Fort
Washington team # 2.
This annual event brings together many of the fire
companies in the area who often find themselves
working together at emergency scenes. But, this is
a time to have fun together under less tense
circumstances.
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