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Members of the Lake Harmony Fire Company held in house technical rescue training tonight. Many of the specialized rescue tools carried on Rescue 17 were taught and utilized. The scaffolding was set up using the two little giant ladders for a simulated truck rescue situation. The exothermic torch was put in service to cut heavy steel I-beams. The air chisel was used to cut sheet metal on a vehicle. The band saw, metal cutting circular saw, and angle grinder was used to cut various pieces of steel. The pneumatic nail gun was set up for a simulated collapse operation.

Fire district 17 responded to the girl scout camp for a brush fire near the maintenance building. Kidder PD on scene reported one truck could handle. Ladder 17 deployed 200′ of booster line to extinguish the fire.

Lake Harmony Fire Company hosed an EVOC class this past weekend. Members learned how to safely operate an emergency vehicle and were certified on each piece of apparatus once they completed the competency course. Thanks to instructors Keith Oliphant and Joe Greco for teaching the class in association with Bucks County Community College.

A brush fire was discovered along Interstate 80 at the 274.8 mile marker along the westbound lanes in fire district 17. Fire districts 17, 16, V12 Forestry truck, and Lake Harmony Ambulance were dispatched at the request of PA State Police by Carbon County Communications. White Haven Fire Company was also dispatched by Luzerne County. Units arrived with a one acre plot on fire with extension across the highway between the East and Westbound lanes of traffic. Units were on scene for just under an hour.

A father and three children were canoeing on Lake Harmony Tuesday afternoon when their canoe overturned in the middle of the lake. Several bystanders heard the screams for help and sprang into action. One called 911, while several others made a rescue attempt using kayaks. A resident of Lake Harmony was successful in rescuing the two children who were farthest from shore, while firefighters from Lake Harmony completed the rescue of the father and other child. One child was airlifted to Lehigh Valley Hospital with serious injuries. Rescue efforts were impacted by the frigid water temperature and high winds, but everyone involved made a very bad situation much better. Thanks to all who helped.

10 members of the Lake Harmony Fire Company participated in a firefighter survival class this weekend. Members trained in numerous techniques for escaping hazardous environments and bailout training methods.

Lake Harmony Fire Company members were dispatched to rescue several people and a dog from the partially frozen Lake Harmony. Rescue 17 arrived with 7 members, 3 in Mustang Ice suits ready to go into service. A dog wandered onto the ice sheet, then fell through the ice. Several bystanders proceeded to try and rescue the dog using kayaks. The kayakers were able to rescue the dog, but then became trapped by the surrounding ice. Lieutenant Matt Miller and firefighter Dave Washington entered the water with ropes and were able to quickly teather the kayaks and the ground crew hauled them in to the shore. The dog and the civilian rescuers were unharmed. Albrightsville Fire Company was also dispatched and recalled enroute to the call.

Companies were dispatched to a fully involved garage fire on State Route 534 in the Tannery section of Kidder Township. Tanker 1633 arrived on scene and stretched two handlines. Engine 1653, Ladder 17 and Tanker 17 navigated the long narrow driveway and supplied the engine. The multi car garage was a complete loss. No injuries were reported.

A single vehicle traveling North on 903 when a deer jumped out in front of them and caused the vehicle to swerve off the roadway. The driver refused treatment. Rescue 17 was on scene for over an hour.

Fire Districts 16 and 17 and Lake Harmony Rescue Squad were dispatched for 2 lost hikers near boulder field exit road. UTV’s were placed in service. The victims were located within the hour. No injuries were reported.

PennDOT foreman Kyle Holman was honored by the Lake Harmony Fire Company for his lifesaving heroics at a single car crash on Interstate 80. See article below from the Times News.

 

BY CHRIS REBER [email protected]

As a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation foreman whose territory includes part of Interstate 80, Kyle Holman works side by side with first responders after a crash.

But during one recent incident, circumstances called for the Weatherly resident to become the rescuer himself.

On the morning of Dec. 28, Holman was one of the first people on the scene of a crash where a family’s vehicle overturned and caught fire. He and another man extinguished the fire and helped the family escape their damaged vehicle.

His lifesaving efforts earned the recognition of the Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Co. and Kidder Township, which both recognized Holman with plaques Monday night.

“The call came in as a rollover with fire and entrapment. I’ve been doing this a lot of years and that catches your attention. But it was pretty nice to come around the corner, see the car there with no fire and all the people out,” said Ralph Lennon, chief of Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Co.

Around 5:30 on the morning of the crash, Holman was driving a section of I-80 he has driven countless times for work, eastbound between the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Blakeslee exits. Like many other sections of I-80, it’s been the scene of numerous crashes over the years.

As Holman drove near the Moseywood Road bridge, he saw a glowing light which he recognized as being out of place. He quickly realized it was a vehicle on its side, with flames coming from the engine compartment.

“When I came around the turn, there was the fire. It was engulfed in flames. The first thing I thought was to jump out and help,” he said.

Holman took a fire extinguisher he had inside the PennDOT truck and rushed to put out the blaze. An unidentified truck driver who also stopped to assist brought another. Their two extinguishers didn’t hold much, but they were enough to knock down the fire.

After the fire was out, they worked on reaching the passengers. One man had managed to get out.

Four other people, including a baby, were still trapped inside. Holman said he feared that the fire could restart before they could get out. He could hear the baby’s cries coming from inside the vehicle.

“If you come upon that, your adrenaline kicks in,” he said.

He and the truck driver determined the best route to the victims was through the windshield. They tried pulling at it, but Holman realized it would take the sledgehammer in his truck to gain access.

After breaking the window, Holman was able to help the rest of the family get out. Everyone was alert, but they were taken by ambulance for evaluation of possible injuries.

According to a state police crash report, the driver of the vehicle fell asleep before the crash. She was charged with reckless driving.

Following the rescue, Holman stayed on the scene and completed his normal duties with PennDOT. He assisted the tow truck driver as they righted the vehicle and put it on a truck. Then he made sure the roadway was safe to reopen, just as he has done for countless other crashes on the interstate.

Lennon said it was a great pleasure to honor Holman, because he and the fire company work together on so many crashes along I-80. On top of that, he said Holman is a throwback to the days when drivers would happily stop to assist someone who was having a problem with their vehicle.

“It’s gotten to a point now where you’re almost reluctant to stop and assist someone because you don’t know what you might be getting into. What Kyle did, I think, goes above and beyond,” Lennon said.

A vehicle struck the building in the Pine Point Plaza car wash Tuesday afternoon, causing damage to the structure. The vehicle operator was transported to the hospital by Lake Harmony Rescue Squad with non life threatening injuries. The garage door and block wall was severely damaged in the crash. Rescue 17’s crew secured the scene and helped with patient care.

A young girl was seriously injured in a sledding accident on the Split Rock Golf Course off of Rock Ridge Road. A landing zone was established in the parking lot of the Galleria.

During a recent snow storm, Lake Harmony, Albrightsville, and LHRS were dispatched to a reported truck fire on Interstate 80. The fire appeared to have started in the rear brakes of the trailer, and then spread into the trailer that was hauling huge rolls of paper. Two additional tankers and Penn Forest 22 were added to the response. Crews trained multiple hand lines on the fire before gaining control. Units were on scene for over two hours. No injuries were reported.

Stations 16, 17, 22 and Lake Harmony EMS were dispatched to a reported dwelling fire at 194 Holiday Drive in Holiday Pocono at 16:31 hours. Engine 1651 arrived to find the left side of the dwelling well involved. Ladder 1721 arrived next, stretching a line to the rear of the home and throwing a 28′ ladder to the deck to make entrance into the home. Crews from Lake Harmony and Penn Forest entered the rear of the home and made an attack on the second floor, where they discovered heavy fire conditions and a hole in the floor. Ladder 17’s aerial was put into service to vent the roof and later for the ladder pipe. Units from Penn Forest 12 and Tunkhannock 42 also assisted. A rehab unit from district 19 was set up due to the freezing weather conditions. No injuries were reported. Units were on scene for over 5 hours, the cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.