On Friday, Station 227 took delivery of a new MSA Altair X5 multi gas detection meter.  This new detection meter has cutting edge Bluetooth technology that transmits real time gas readings back to the command post for incident commanders.  This meter can simultaneously detect 6 different gases.

On Monday evening, about 30 members from 227, 221, 222, 223, 225 attended “Lock-Out, Tag-Out” at Station 227. This class addresses the practices and procedures necessary to disable machinery or equipment, thereby preventing the release of hazardous energy while employees perform servicing and maintenance activities. The standard outlines measures for controlling hazardous energies such as electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, and other energy sources.

In the 9th round of the Assistance To Firefighters Grant (AFG), Station 227 was awarded $19,480.00 for the replacement of all the fire hose in the 227 arsenal.  This is our first successful AFG grant in our 68 year existence!!!  3,900ft of new fire hose has been ordered and we hope to take delivery of the fire hose within the next few weeks.  The grant committee is already making preparations for next years grant application period.

Recently the entire Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department took delivery of 102 New MSA G1 SCBAs.  This was only possible with the help of the Municipality of Penn Hills.  MSA later developed an integrated Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) as an option for the SCBAs and that technology was approved today by NFPA.  We are proud to announce that St. 227 purchased 5 TIC’s to completely outfit all SCBAs on Truck 227.  We feel this will give our firefighters an added tool in their arsenal to help find any potential victims much faster!  In the later months our goal will be to outfit the rest of the fleet.  We expect delivery of this technology by in the next few weeks.

http://www.msafire.com/breathe/integrated-tic-info.aspx

On Monday evening for training night, members worked on their confined space rescue skills.  Crew worked together to safely remove our mock victim from 3 stories below grade in a sewage pumping station.  The scenario was repeated twice so both teams worked on patient care and rope rescue.

On Monday, Station 227 hosted a township wide training event taught by the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office and the AHD.  The class was Hoarding & Vacant Properties.  Helps responder identify the levels of hoarding and proper notifications that need to be made.

On Monday Evening, Crews finally put all 27 Airshore Airstruts in service on Rescue 227.  This greatly increases Rescue 227’s structural collapse & trench rescue capabilities.

The Municipality of Penn Hills recently purchase the old Penn Hebron School from the Penn Hills School District located at 102 Duff Rd.  This site is projected to be the home of the new Penn Hills Municipal Safety Complex.  While plans were firmed up on the building, the Penn Hills Fire Departments were given access to the building for Fire & Rescue training.  This was a “once in a lifetime opportunity” and the Penn Hills Fire Departments are grateful, and we took full advantage of the property.  During this time, numerous training classes and fire company drill nights took place logging over 500hrs in training alone.

• SCBA Emergencies & Fire Fighter Self Rescues
• MSA Air Consumption Drill
• Large Area Search & Rescue
• Truck Company Ops 1
• Ventilation Practices
• Rapid Intervention Team Concepts
• Rapid Intervention Combat Exercises
• Advanced Rapid Intervention Combat Exercises

Late Thursday afternoon, four brand new 100′ sections of 5″ supply line sections where delivered to Station 227 after recent damage done to the supply line.

As winter continues fire fighters stay sharp with a few ladder drills for slippery conditions