In the Community News
News Stories from the Stowe Township Volunteer Fire Department
Added September 14, 2012
New Photo Galleries Added
Two new photo galleries have been added to the web site. One galery under training. The department went to Tomie's Yard and had a practive session on vehicle extrication. You can find the gallery here.
The other gallery is under Apparatus. We took the trucks up to the parking lot of the Sto-Rox Middle School and took a bunch of pictures. So please head over to the galleries and take a look, here.
Added April 8, 2010
30 Members Complete First Aid, CPR, and AED Certification
Stowe VFD certified 30 members in the American Heart Association. Instructors were on hand at Station 1 and Station 2 for 4 different sessions that were available to members.
The department would like to continue certifying the members every 2 years.
Added April 8, 2010
15 Firefighters Complete Firefighter I Training Preparation Program
Stowe Township firefighters completed all of the pre-requisite training and pre-test preparation for the State’s Firefighter I Certification Program. All are scheduled to test in May.
To test, firefighters completed certifications in:
- Structural Burn Training
- First Aid, CPR, and AED Certification
- Hazardous Materials Awareness
- Hazardous Materials Operations
- Firefighter I Prep Program
Congratulations to all of them on completing the training necessary to become FFI Certified
Added April 8, 2010
4 Firefighters Complete 4 Module Fire Essentials Delmar Training Program at Allegheny County Fire Academy
2 Junior Firefighters and 2 Active Firefighters complete the 6 month training necessary to become firefighters
Completing the requisite training were firefighters Mike Harsh and Dee Harsh along with Junior Members Tyler Cummings and Brandon Chapman.
The junior firefighters will complete module 4 (live fire training) after they are 18 years of age (requirement).
Added April 8, 2010
15 Firefighters Complete Rope Rescue I Training and Certification Program
Firefighters from Stowe Township completed the 40 hour rope rescue certification program to join 8 other members already certified at the level of rope rescue 1.
Members were instructed on rope techniques including:
- Knots
- Rope identification
- Rescue Knots
- Rescue Harnesses
- Rope rigging techniques
- Rappelling techniques
- Low angle and high angle rope rappelling
- Victim “packaging” techniques for moving injured victims from high or low angle situations
Added April 8, 2010
275 Rescue Equipment Upgraded for Faster Performance
Fire Officers and Administrative Officers approved the upgrade of the Hurst Rescue System on Rescue 275 which brings more power and more speed to the Hurst “Jaws of Life” system.
The upgrade included the installation of a new electric hydraulic Hurst mounted “Pump Generator” now allowing for simultaneous operations of multiple rescue tools. Also, the Engine-1, which is a pumper-rescue, received a new Hurst Hydraulic Simo-Pump allowing for the operation of 2 additional tools simultaneously.
The new systems were put to the test during vehicle rescue training with obvious improvements in the systems performance. Rescue Techs utilized both systems simultaneously operating 4 hydraulic tools during a simulated rescue training evolution.
Added April 8, 2010
Station 1 and Station 2 Receive New Signs
The Stowe Township VFD has highlighted the merger of the department by re-lettering the Stations to identify STOWE TOWNSHIP and its 2 fire stations.
Added April 8, 2010
Fire Vehicle Fleet Undergoing Re-lettering and Numbering
The fire apparatus of the Stowe VFD will have a new appearance in the near future. The re-lettering and re-numbering of the units is underway. The new lettering should be complete within the next month as we await delivery of the graphics.
Fire Station 2 gets SCBA Upgrade for RIT Personnel
6-MSA SCBA sets were purchased to upgrade the Station 2 inventory. The new “heads up display” masks and integrated PASS devices will allow firefighters from Station 2 to have standardized sets.
This purchase was necessary to allow more efficient and safer operations during Station 2’s RIT responses with Squad 2 and during normal fire operations as well.
Added April 8, 2010
Seat Belt Pledge
The members of the Stowe VFD signed a “Seat Belt Pledge” indicating their commitment to using seat belts when operating or riding aboard any Stowe Fire units. The national pledge is ongoing across the country (see the brief story below):
National Fire Service and EMS Seat Belt Pledge
Firefighter Christopher Brian Hunton, age 27, was a member of the Amarillo Texas fire department for one year. On April 23, 2005 he fell out of his fire truck responding to an alarm he died two days later from his injuries. Brian was not wearing his seat belt.
The Pledge:
"I pledge to wear my seat belt whenever I am riding in a Fire Department vehicle. I further pledge to insure that all my brother and sister firefighters riding with me wear their seat belts. I am making this pledge willingly; to honor Brian Hunton my brother firefighter because wearing seat belts is the right thing to do."