Congratulations Scholarship Winners

Oakmont Fire Company would like to congratulate four of its members on receiving scholarships awards from The Main Line Chamber of Commerce. Engineer Christopher Baca and Firefighter Dominic Marino received $1500 scholarships each, while Junior Firefighter Zachary Silver and Firefighter John Sweeney received $1000 scholarships each. The company would like to wish theses members the best of luck in their academic studies.

Company Celebrates 100th Anniversary

On Saturday June 9, Oakmont Fire Company celebrated its 100th Anniversary with a parade through the Oakmont local. Participating in the parade were Company 34 (Llanerch), Company 35 (Brookline), Company 58 (Bon Air), and Company 56 (Manoa) of Haverford Township. As well as trucks from Broomall, Bryn Mawr, Clifton Heights, Collingdale #1, Garrettford Drexel Hill, Gladwyne, Holmes, and Middletown. Also in the parade were the American Legion Manoa Post 667, The Greater Overbrook Sting Band, and the Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums. The Oakmont members would like to thank all the companies that attended the festivities and for the residents that came out to watch, and celebrated back at the station.

Congratulations William G. Hatton Sr.

The Company would like to congratulate Retired Chief William G. Hatton Sr. on being named Chief Emeritus of the Oakmont Fire Company. Chief Hatton has served the company for 46 years, 20 of those serve as Chief. Not only is he the longest tenured Chief of the company, he is also the top call runner of all time with over 8400 calls and counting. The company would like to thank Chief Hatton on his continued service with the company and is an inspiration to us all.

Squad requested to cover Bala Cynwood and Schuylkill Express Way

At close to 9:30 AM Union Fire Association was called to 545 Grey Stone Rd. in the Merion Station neighborhood of Bala Cynwood, Lower Merion Township for a working fire. MontCo. 34-2 (Lower Merion Deputy Fire Marshall 2) arrived on scene to report heavy smoke from the rear of a single family dwelling. MontCo. 28 (Union) then placed multiple handlines into service with heavy fire in the rear. Four alarms were struck for manpower and multiple RIT teams, with Squad 38 (Oakmont) being requested at roughly 11:15 for a cover assignment at MontCo. station 28, to respond on any additional calls. Units on scene included MontCo. stations 21 (Penn Wynne), 22 (Belmont Hills) 23 (Bryn Mawr), 24 (Gladwyne), 25 (Ardmore-Merion), 26 (Narberth), 34-1 (Lower Merion Deputy Fire Marshall 1), Lower Merion 5 (Fire Marshall) and DelCo. 34 (Llanerch). Additional cover assignments were dispatched for MontCo. 35 (Conshohocken), 39 (George Clay), and DelCo 15 (Radnor). The rest of Oakmont was left in service at station 38 with the Squad out roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes. No injuries were reported in the fire which is believed to have started in the basement.

Fire Company Responds to Assist Police

With roughly five minutes before 5:00 PM on Saturday April 20th, a fire crew was requested by the Haverford Township Police Department while a situation involving a barricaded subject was handled on the unit block of W. Hillcrest Ave. Crews stood by for fire and hazmat protection and went to work after the police department took one suspect into custody. No one was seriously injured. For further information regarding this incident, see the media release by the HTPD.

Parade Route Announced

We are proud to announce the official parade route for our hundredth anniversary parade to be held on June 9th, which will proceed from the former site of the bubble gum factory on Eagle Road near Hillcrest Avenue. The procession will follow Eagle to Darby Rd. near the Wawa where it will turn toward Benedict Ave at it’s completion. We hope all of our neighbors will come out to join us. Start time will be 12:00 PM.

Company Responds to Major Brush Fire

At 12:12 the company was called upon for a brush fire reported to be in the area of 26 Brennan Dr. After searching the area for a short time, it was realized that the fire was in the woods nearer to Interstate 476 milemarker 10 between that location and 3700 Darby Rd. Company  53 (Broomall) was called upon and soon after, company 64 (Edgemont) was added. The fire which strated roughly 200 yards into the woods and spanned an estimated 2 acres spread quickly as Engine 38 set up on Darby Rd., Squad 38 and company 53 set up on the Blue Route, and 64-4 (Brush) set up within the woods with 64-8 (Power Wagon) shuttling between it and Engine 38. Firefighters went to work at first controlling the fire with extinguishers and dirt while a viable water source was established. Roughly 3 hours and 15 minutes later the fire was under control and companies went available. No structures were in immediate danger and no injuries were reported.

Video and related article available at:

http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2012/04/07/main_line_times/news/doc4f7f43550f6b5109155609.txt

Another Cover in the Bryn Mawr Section of Lower Merion

Yet again Engine 38 was parked inside a Bryn Mawr Fire Company engine bay, this time unexpectedly as Firefighters from Bryn Mawr assisted with an attic fire in a single family dwelling inside the Ardmore section of Lower Merion. The engine stood by on an otherwise calm day as no calls needed responses.

Assist for Mansion Fire in Radnor

Shortly after 2:30 PM on April 4th, Montgomery County Company 23 (Bryn Mawr) was dispatched with DelCo Company 15 (Radnor-being added after numerous 911 calls) to 200 South Ithan Avenue between Gramont Lane and Chalous Drive for a fire alarm with multiple callers reporting smoke and fire in the attic. Shortly there after, the crew of Oakmont was dispatched for Engine 38 along with Company 41 (Newton Square), Engine 56 (Manoa), Company 35 (Brookline) to cover at MontCo 25, Company 44 (Springfield) to cover at MontCo 23, Montgomery County Squad 47 (King of Prussia), MontCo 25 (Ardmore), MontCo 21 (Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills), MontCo 24 (Gladwyne) 313-9 (Narberth Ambulance), Canteen 47 (Feltonville) and Radnor Car 1 (Fire Marshall). Crews quickly went to work in the large mansion (which was reported to already be evacuated) including the crew from Engine 38 which attempted to make entry to the upper floors. As the fire spread further it was decided a defensive exterior attack was necessary and all firefighters were evacuated. Traffic on South Ithan Road was shut down between Conestoga Road and Lancaster Avenue . The crew from Engine 38 then went into service with a blitz line on the B side of the dwelling which had been constructed in 1905. At 7:30 PM the crew was released and returned to serviceby 7:45.

Photo by Dannon Voight along with others