February 10, 2010 New Arrival To The 84 Family! Brady Dominik Schoelkoph was born today at 1046 hours at the height of the 2010 blizzard. Brady, mom (Monica), and dad (Les) are doing fine. Brady's also has a very proud big brother Nikolaus. Brady weighed in at 7lbs 6ozs. On March 14, 2024 Brady will be eligible for Junior membership at the Hambones! Congratulations to the entire Schoelkoph Family

February 10, 2010 Help Us Help You & A Neighbor! During any major snow event a fire hydrant is the last thing some home owners maybe thinking about. By thinking of this you may just save a life, some property or both. When a fire hydrant is buried by snow it takes the fire department longer to find it. When we do find it, it takes longer to get water from it due to us having to dig out the fire hydrant and possible frozen caps. We are asking anyone that has a fire hydrant in the area of their home to please help us by digging out your hydrant and PLEASE DO NOT BURY IT WITH MORE SNOW! When you dig out the fire hydrant please provide a path to the hydrant and clear about 3' completely around the hydrant. This will provide us easy access to the hydrant so we can focus on the emergency we have been called to deal with. Our Volunteers have always taken a proactive approach to this and headed out to dig out the fire hydrants in our area of Columbia. The top photo shows what a hydrant may look like after a major storm. The bottom photo shows Junior Firefighter Kyle Fritz digging out the same hydrant. A huge thank you goes out to our Volunteers that care enough to shovel out a fire hydrant. This may help out a citizen of Columbia Borough. Below are two links to WGAL on shoveling out fire hydrants and other safety concerns when a major snow storm comes through. WGAL Fire Hydrant! WGAL Snow Safety!

February 9, 2010 2nd Major Snow Storm This Week With 4 MVA's With Company 76! About 1700 hours the snow started falling again in Columbia Borough and surrounding communities. At 1815 hours the 84 Volunteers were dispatched for a Vehicle Accident involving a Tractor-Trailer on Route 441 to assist Company 76 (West Hempfield). Due to the weather and an agreement between 76 and 84, Rescue 842 (4-wheel drive) responded first with 5. The 84 Rescue then followed behind with 6 and the 84 Engine also responding with 6. Rescue 842 arrived with units from 76 and EMS to find a minor head on collision that could be handled by 76 and Rescue 842. The remainder of units were put available. As the 84 Rescue was returning to station they were dispatched for another Vehicle Accident to assist Company 76 on Marietta Ave. Squad 76 arrived on the scene and stated no need for the additional units from 84 putting us available. As Rescue 842 was backing into station it again was due for a Vehicle Accident on Route 30 in the area of Prospect Road. Units from 715 (Mountville) arrived on the scene and reported the accident to only be a vehicle that lost control so Rescue 842 went returning available. The final MVA for the day was dispatched at 1943 hours to assist Company 76. Again both 84 Rescues were responding with a total of 12. Units from 76 arrived on the scene first and handled the incident putting the 84 Units available quickly.

February 6, 2010 Snow Storm Dumps 24+ inches! During the night the first major snow storm of 2010 dumped more the 24" in Columbia Borough and surrounding communities. The first run of the storm came in at 0411 hours when the Squad was dispatched to assist EMS. The squad was due to plow a road for the ambulance so they could make it to a local Mid-rise facility. Then at 0758 hours the 84 Engine and 84 Rescue were dispatched for a Building Collapse with Entrapment to assist Company 78 (Washington Boro). The 84 Rescue and Engine arrived with a crew of 12 and stood by. The victim was extricated before our arrival and crews stood by as a K-9 and a bird were rescued from the structure. The Dwelling Collapsed due to a tree falling on to the roof. The 84 Units worked the scene for more then 2 hours.

February 3, 2010 Head On Crash On 441! The Day Crew was dispatched for a Vehicle Accident with possible entrapment on Route 441 in Columbia Borough. The 84 Rescue went enroute with a crew of 7 with Chief 84 (Wiseman) arriving on the scene with a two car, head on collision one still inside the vehicle. Chief 84 set up Command 8 and had LCWC notify the railroad that the accident was on the tracks and to stop all trains. The 84 Rescue arrived on the scene first with Chief 84 reporting no entrapment. The 84 Rescue crew went to work providing fire protection with extinguishers, stabilizing the vehicle with cribbing and assisting with patient care until the ambulance arrived. Once the Engine arrived on the scene they took over fire protection using a handline. The patient was packaged and removed from the vehicle and placed into the awaiting ambulance. Once the incident went under control and the patient was on the way to the local trauma center, the 84 Rescue was put available. The engine company remained on the scene to clean up and await the tow trucks.

January 30, 2010 Dryer Fire & MVA Starts Saturday! Today at 1047 hours the 84 Engine and 84 Rescue were dispatched for a Commercial Structure Fire. Police on the scene reporting the fire knocked down by them with a smoke condition in the laundromat. The 84 Engine enroute with a crew of 7 and arrived on the scene first. The 84 Engine had a water supply established if needed with the crew going interior to investigate. The 84 Rescue enroute with 7 and arrived on the scene next with interior crews reported the fire was contained, with the Engine crew using a Pressurized Water Can (PWC) for final extinguishment. The 84 Rescue was given the assignment to start ventilation using the Positive Pressure Fan (PPV) off of the Rescue. The 84 Crews removed the smoldering clothing and disassembled the dry to confirm there was no smoldering fire inside the dryer. Both 84 units worked the scene for 27 minutes and then returned available. As crews were recharging the PWC the 84 Rescue was dispatched for a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) to assist Company 710 (Marietta). The 84 Rescue went enroute with 10, Deputy 710 (Ebersole) arrived on the scene and confirmed no need for Fire Department so units from Company 710 and the 84 Rescue were put available.

January 23, 2010 4 Runs Today For The 84 House! Today started at 1035 hours for a Vehicle Fire to assist Company 78 (Washington Boro). The 84 Engine went enroute with a crew of 6 and arrived on the scene with the crews from 78 already knocking down the fire. The 84 Engine crew assisted with opening the engine compartment and final extinguishment. The 84 Engine went available in 29 minutes. Then at 1619 hours the 84 Engine was dispatched for an Automatic Fire Alarm to assist Company 715 (Mountville). Crews from 715 and 84 investigated and found that steam caused the alarm to trip. The assignment was held to Engine 715 with the 84 Engine returning available. Then at 2251 hours the 84 Engine and 84 Rescue were dispatched for an Automatic Fire Alarm in our first due. The 84 Engine arrived and investigated and found smoking in a common hallway was the cause of the alarm. Alarm system reset and the box was put available. As the 84 crew was backing into Station, Company 76 (West Hempfield) was dispatched for a Vehicle Accident with Entrapment. Deputy 76 requested the 84 Rescue to assist with the incident. Rescue 84 responded with a crew of 9 and arrived on the scene behind Rescue 76. As we were arriving Command 76 reported one class 4 patient and had the 84 Rescue crew set up lighting. Command 76 put the 84 Rescue available to cover Columbia Borough and West Hempfield Township while the Police Investigation was going on. The 84 Rescue returned to station with their crew standing by for Company 76.

January 23, 2010 First Annual Quarter Auction A Success! Today we held our first annual quarter action at the fire house. During the auction about 175 people came out to bid on items. Our members worked the floor and served food for the action. Thanks to all the members that made today auction a success!

January 22, 2010 Hambones Featured On WGAL Tonight! On January 17 we were dispatched for a Structure Fire. The 84 Rescue arrived and was given the task of Search and Rescue (SAR). During the SAR no human occupants were found but the crew found two unresponsive cats. They were removed from the dwelling and given to the 84 Rescue chauffeur, Tristan (TJ) Broome. TJ placed the cats into the back of the 84 Rescue and placed on them the "Pet Oxygen Mask" to give needed oxygen. A few minutes after this was done, the cats started to recover. "Mr. Scoop", Fred Nell contacted WGAL about doing a story for the news on our Rescue. WGAL and Meredith Jorgensen interviewed TJ and the owners of the cats with the news story airing on the 11 and 8 o'clock news. Another fine save for the Hambones! Images on WGAL.com!

January 19, 2010 3 Runs For The 84 Heavy Rescue! The Day Crew started today at 0955 hours for a Dwelling Fire to assist Company 76 (West Hempfield). The 84 Rescue enroute with 4 and arrived on the scene. Crews investigated and found no fire problem and the box was put available. Then at 1250 hours the 84 Rescue was dispatched for a Gas Leak in Columbia. The 84 Rescue enroute with 4 arrived on the scene first. The 84 Rescue crew investigated and found the odor to be coming from a propane tank at the rear of the structure. Gas was controlled and units put available. The final run was at 2209 hours for an AFA to assist company 715 (Mountville). The assignment was held to the first Engine when they were given the additional information, the 84 Rescue went available.