Company 61 has been working very hard in the new year to keep on top of training, community service, and keeping our equipment in good working order. A few weeks before the new year company 61 hosted some Tiger Scouts who needed to fulfill a requirement in their learning. The two boys that came to the firehouse were shown the fire apparatus, an air pack, and various other pieces of equipment including an attack line. Next, the boys were shown how a firefighter gets his air pack on while sitting in the truck on the way to the call. The two boys were very appreciative of the visit and thankful that we made it possible for them to come. Company 61 is always looking for ways to help the community, whether it be by showing young kids around the firehouse, or hanging up Christmas decorations around town. WE DO IT ALL! We are very thankful for the support we have received from the community throughout 2009, and thankful for the respect we have been shown by many citizens, we look forward to a great 2010, and plan to keep you all safe! If you are interested in volunteering as a firefighter, fire police, or simply with anything we need help with, you can stop by every Tuesday night at 6:30 for training nights, just knock on the door and say "you're here to help!" We are always looking for volunteers and we'd love to have you!

If you believe there is an event that the fire company would be a good participant in, or if we could help out with your event, you can contact either Chief Troy Hatt, or any of the Assistant Chiefs.

ANYONE WHO FAILED THE EXAM MUST CONTACT MATT HATRAK AT BUCKS.

HIS EMAIL IS                              hatrakm@bucks.edu

I CONTACTED HIM YESTERDAY ABOUT A RETEST, AND HE TOLD ME IF THERE WERE MORE THAN 5 PEOPLE FROM HAMBURG THAT NEEDED IT WE COULD SET IT UP TO HAVE IT AT STATION.
 
HE NEEDS EVERYONES CONTACT INFORMATION SO WE CAN DO THE RETEST.
 
PLEASE CONTACT HIM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE...

Hamburg Fire Co. is holding Drive to Survive Class at our station on Tuesday November 11 starting at 6:30pm. If you are interested in attending please let us know how many will be attending by Fri. Nov. 5th. Below is a breif description and instructors for the class. The class is approximately 3hrs. Please pass this on to any neighboring companies!

Arrive Safely

This fast paced program explores the unique response challenges faced by emergency responders. Topics include local and state laws, vehicle dynamics, driver selection, recognized training standards and SOP’s. The course focuses on both emergency and personal vehicle accidents. Emergency responders and their leaders are finding themselves on the wrong side of the headlines, in jail and even injured and killed at an alarming rate. This multimedia presentation looks at root causes and provides solutions for reducing these trends.

The course is presented by David Denniston. Dave is the past chief of the Cortlandville Fire Department in Central NY and does presentations across the country for ESIP Insurance. Dave has spoken at FDIC, Fire House Expo, IAFC and many state conferences. He has also been published in trade magazines and newsletters on subjects ranging from emergency vehicle response to organizational leadership.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!!

Throughout the past 2 weeks the members of Company 61 participated the SVRT (Special - Vehicle Rescue Technician) class.  Firefighters from Port Clinton, Amity, Monocacy, Earl Township, and Reading also attended the class.  The class specialized in dealing with accidents involving school buses, commercial buses, and tractor trailers.  The classroom sessions were held at station 61 on Tuesday October 7th and Tuesday October 14th.


On Sunday October 19th the class moved to the lot at Kramer\\\'s Towing for the hands-on evolutions.  The day began with an evolution in which we had to remove both doors from the back of a tractor trailer.  This evolution demonstared the necessity of working closely with the towing company on many evolutions involving large vehicles.


The strudents then moved on to a school bus accident in which they had to cut a large opening in the side of the bus, a second school bus accident where they had to completely remove the rear section of the bus, and a third school bus accident in which they had to roll back the roof of the school bus.


The students also cut apart a tractor trailer cab by removinf the doors and rolling the dashboard, and also by gaining access to the vehicle through the back of the sleeper portion of the cab.


For the final evolution of the day involved a tractor trailer flipped over on top of a small car.  The students had to stabilize the tractor trailer and then extricate a patient from the drivers seat of the car.


After a long day of hard work over in Kramer\\\'s yard, the students returned to the station and took the state test for their advanced VRT certification..
 

Anytime new members join the company they are expected to attend the following classes within the first year of their membership:
Essentials of Firefighting
Firefighter I Exam
New members are expected to attend the following classes by their 2nd year anniversary:
Basic Vehicle Rescue Technician
First Responder or EMT

Tuesday 4-22-08 - NIMS 300
Sunday 4-27-08 - NIMS 300
Tuesday 4-29-08 - Hazmat Operations Refresher
Tuesday 5-6-08 - Hazmat Operations Refresher
Tuesday 5-13-08 - Maintenance and other training yet to be determined
Tuesday 5-20-08 - Vehicle Rescue (BVR)
Tuesday 5-27-08 - Vehicle Rescue (BVR)
Tuesday 6-3-08 - Hose line advancement and hose testing
Tuesday 6-10-08 - Hose line advancement and hose testing

Tonight Ladder 61, Rescue 61 and Engine 77 participated in rope rescue training at the Hamburg Elementary school. Crews practiced tying anchor points on both the roof and the tip of the ladder. The firefighters also practices rappelling down the side of the approximately 3-story wall and other techniques related to rope rescue.

L61, R61, and E77 participated in rope training at the Hamburg Elementary school. Crews focused on how to secure a patient into a stokes basket for high angle rescues, tying anchor points, and using a rack to lower the stokes basket.

Tonight members from Hamburg (Company 61) and Port Clinton (Company 77) participated in roof ventilation training at station 61.
Using the roof simulator members practiced using axes, chain saws, and circular saws to cut holes in the roof. The roof simulator gave new members the ability to use the saws and practice the proper techniques without having to actually be up on a roof. Members got the opportunity cut a vent hole with both an axe and the power tools.

On Tuesday night (2-5-08) the company conducted ladder training at the field house behind station 61. Members practiced several tasks and instructed new Junior members on the proper techniques. Crews practiced properly placing ground ladders, juniors practiced climbing ladders, 2 firefighters passing on a ladder, and carrying tools while climbing ladders.
This training was evident on Sunday 2-10-08 at the chimney fire call when 2 junior members pulled ground ladders off of the engine and properly placed them on side C (the rear) of the building.

Despite the intense heat that has been pounding the area in the last few days Company 61 and Company 77 took part in a joint drill session tonight. Both departments utilized the skill of diking a water stream, where a daft site was established utilizing Engine 77, and Engine 61-3. Crews used ground ladders, tarps, and rocks to establish a location so engine 77 could draft water from a near by stream, while Engine 61-3 utilized there master stream, as well as a 1 1/2 hand line. At one point both department were able to flow enough water utilizing both deck guns and a hand line. Thanks so everyone who came out to help.

On Tuesday night the company went to Station 77 (Port Clinton) for ladder training. Firefighters practiced tying tools and hoisting them to the roof. They also practiced raising ground ladders and performing rescues utilizing ground ladders. The companies also worked with the main ladder to practice roof work.

On Thursday evening dive team members trained with our full-face dive masks at the Olivet camp pool. These masks cover the divers entire face as opposed to the normal dive regulators that only fit into the divers mouth. The new masks are also equipped with communicating devices which will allow the divers to taslk to each other, as well as talk to a commander on the shore, while under water.
The team practiced in the clear water of the pool to become comfortable with the equipment before putting the full face masks to use in the murky water of the Schuylkill River.

The Hazardous Materials Operations class will be held at station 61 throughout March, April, and May. This class will incorportate the new hazmat curriculum. All members are encouraged to attend the class.
The class will be held on the following Tuesday evenings.
March 27
April 3
April 10
April 17
May 1
May 15

In addition to the Thursday night fitness night at the Hamburg Middle School. The Principal has agreed to let the department use the weight room on Monday nights as well. Monday night fitness night will be during the same times and at the same location as the Thursday night fitness night. Thank you to the Hamburg Middle School and Principal Kenneth Buck for letting the Hamburg Fire Co. use the facility during these times.