Pictured in the photo from left to right are:  President Edward J. Boshell, Chief J. David Worthington, Safety Officer Kathleen Reutlinger and PA Representative Paul Clymer

A prestigious honor was bestowed upon Kathleen Reutlinger as she was presented with a 2007 Burpee Emergency Services Award on October 28, 2007 at the Spring Mill Manor Country Club.  The annual award program is hosted the Central Bucks and Pennridge Chambers of Commerce.  Safety Officer Reutlinger was recognized for her service to the PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1 as Chairperson for the Tower 26 Housing Celebration.  She was presented individual citations from U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy, PA State Senator Charles T. McIlhinney Jr., and PA State Representative Paul Clymer recognizing her achievements 
 

Due to the nature of fire emergencies, firefighters make more severe demands upon their ground ladders than any other piece of equipment. Technicians from Aerial Testing, Lebanon, PA were at the Borough Station recently to help ensure that the ladders we use will be safe, reliable, and perform as needed.

Tests were performed to the guidelines established by the NFPA 1932 Standard "Use, Maintenance, and Service Testing of Fire Department Ground Ladders" to test our fire departments' aluminum ground ladders:

·         Visual Inspections

·         Horizontal Bending Test

·         Roof Hook Test

·         Hardware Test

·         Hardness Test

They also performed an inspection on Tower 26.  The aerial device was examined for compliance with the manufacturer's guidelines along with the National Fire Protection Association standards NFPA1901 & 1914 for such things as:

·         Outriggers and Controls

·         Turntables and Controls

·         Platforms and Controls

·         Ladder Section Components

·         Boom Components

·         Complete Hydraulic Systems

·         Interlock and Safety Systems

This testing is performed annually for the safety of the Firefighters, and to reduce the cost of insurance premiums.  A certificate documenting the inspection of each ladder will be forwarded along with any maintenance recommendations.

All active female firefighters from Perkasie Fire Company No. 1 recently gathered for a group photo in front of Tower 26 to remember past Firefighter Deborah Sowers, who was the first woman to join in 1977.  Pictured from left to right are Firefighter Patti Kostrubiak, Firefighter Erin Kostrubiak, Safety Officer 26 Angela Kelly, Safety Officer 76 Kathy Reutlinger, Lt. Holly Becker and Firefighter Sandy Schaller. 

All of these women have passed the NFPA standards for Fire Service Professional Qualifications and are certified by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).  Safety Officer’s Kelly and Reutlinger both hold Fire Instructor I & II certification besides their Health & Safety Officer qualifications.  They participate along with Lt. Becker on the Bucks County Technical Rescue Task Force.

PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1 recently placed in service a new command vehicle.  The 2007 Ford Expedition XLT was purchased with Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Developments funds secured with the assistance of PA State Representative Paul Clymer.  Shown above are Fleet & Leasing Consultant Chris Batori of Faulkner-Ciocca Ford Mercury, Quakertown, PA handing the keys to Chief Worthington.  Emergency warning lights, communication equipment and reflective striping were installed by Concours Automotive, Ambler, PA.  This vehicle will replace a high mileage 1992 GMC truck presently in use by Battalion 26.

 
On Tuesday evening February 6 at 18:23 hrs, PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1  along with Sellersville FD Tower 27 and Engine 27 were dispatched for an apartment fire in 100 block of W. Callowhill Street.  A responding Sellersville FD Chief reported third party information to incoming apparatus that the correct address would be in the 100 block of E. Callowhill Street, and a smoke condition pushing from garage entry door.  Chief 26 (D. Worthington) upon arrival established Main St. Command.  Deputy 26 (J. Trotter) was assigned Operation Sector.  Engine 26 was directed to make the driveway and stretch a hand line to a garage unit.  Engine 27-1 was directed to pull a back-up line from Engine 26 for protection.  Tower 26 was directed to back in the driveway and make preparations to ventilate the garage roof.  Tower 27 was placed at the front of the four-unit building.  Quakertown- West End FD Tower 18 handled RIT duties.  Command requested two additional engines bringing responses from Silverdale FD Rescue 59 and Dublin FD Engine 23.  Chief 59 (J. Gillespie) was assigned Manpower Sector.  Initial Engine Company crews reported to Operations Chief Trotter a motorcycle fire, and that personnel were rolling the bike outside for extinguishment.  Tower companies ventilated two apartment units for light smoke conditions.  Grand View Hospital and Perkasie Community Ambulances stood–by on scene.  Perkasie Borough Public Works salted roadways in the area for ice conditions.  The incident was cleared at 1923 hrs.
 

PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1 has been recognized by the Office of the PA State Fire Commissioner as an organization that supports, promotes and encourages their emergency response personnel to voluntarily be recognized as a certified fire professional in accordance with nationally recognized and sanctioned Professional Qualification standards. The NFPA standards for Fire Service Professional Qualifications identify the minimum requirements for a person. A person certified to one of the Fire Service Professional levels will have demonstrated competency in the knowledge and skills required to perform at a particular level.  The service that can be offered to the citizens and community is enhanced by the professional competency attained through this certification process.

In receiving Silver recognition, the total number Certified Personnel must be equal to or greater than 75 percent (75%) of the number of members listed on the Department Active Member Roster. Special recognition was presented to PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1 by the Office of the PA State Fire Commissioner by way of silver trimmed decals which will be proudly displayed on Department apparatus.

On Sunday morning November 19, 2006 at 00:39 hrs, PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1 along with Sellersville FD Tower 27 was dispatched for a garage fire in the 400 block of E. Market St.  Chief 26 (D. Worthington) upon arrival reported a fully involved out-building within 10’ of a two-story residence and attached garage.  An on-duty Perkasie Borough Police Officer relocated the property owner’s vehicle away from the fire building.  Chief 26 established “Market St. Command and Battalion 76 (A. Wedman) handled Operations Sector. Tower 27 was directed to place initial hand line on Side C of residence for exposure protection.  Deputy 26 (J. Trotter) guided Interior Residence functions.  Engine 26 placed additional lines in service extinguishing fire.  Chief 26 requested the box be filled bringing additional resources Rescue 60 (RIT), Engine 27-1, Engine 59-1 and Ladder 23.  Personnel from Perkasie Engine 76 and Tac 76, along with those from incoming apparatus reported to the Manpower Sector manned by Assistant 27 (D. Wagner).  Perkasie Borough Electric Dept. was called to the scene to secure electric to the fire building.  Perkasie Community Ambulance manned a Rehab sector for crews.  In total five (5) Fire Departments assisted at the scene.  Personnel were in service until 02:36 hrs.

On Monday afternoon November 6, 2006, Perkasie Fire Company was dispatched for a vehicle into a building in the 600 block of W. Blooming Glen Drive.  Rescue 26 under the command of Captain 26 (E. Boshell) performed a size-up the incident with a vintage Chevrolet Camaro vehicle into the dining room of a 2-1/2 story single family dwelling.  Captain 26 then requested additional resources bringing Engine 27-1, Rescue 60 and Tac 76 with the Technical Rescue Trailer.  Deputy 26 (J. Trotter) arrived on scene and established “Perkasie Command” and managed the incident.  Perkasie Borough Electric Dept. was called to the scene to secure electric in the area allowing emergency personnel to work safely in the involved room.  Rescue 26 and Rescue 60 crews inspected the structure, along with the Borough Building Inspector.  Crews removed the resident’s personal possessions in the affected area and installed two (2) T-supports to a 4x4 beam to bear second floor loads.  Engine 27-1 assisted with removal of the vehicle from the building.  Rescue companies secured the exterior of the building with plywood sheathing.  Perkasie Community Ambulance treated the operator of the vehicle and manned a Rehab sector for crews.
 

On Wednesday morning October 25, 2006 at 07:57 hours, Perkasie Fire Company along with Sellersville FD Tower 27 was dispatched for a kitchen fire at a duplex building located at the corner of W. Callowhill Street and N. 6^th Street in the Borough.  Upon arrival of a working 2^nd floor apartment fire on Side B of the unit, Captain 26 (E. Boshell) requested the box be filled.  Tower 18 along with Montco Ladder 75 trench cut the roof on the fire building side of the fire building, allowing interior hand line crews to extinguish flames on the 1^st and 2^nd floors of the fire building.  Engine 23 along with incoming companies assisted with salvage and protection of home furnishings in all four (4) apartments.  Smoke and water damage in the exposure side of the building was kept to a minimum.  Perkasie Borough Electric Dept. dropped electric lines to the building and secured electric in the area allowing room for aerial fire apparatus to work.  Perkasie Community Ambulance manned a Rehab sector for crews.  Two (2) firefighters were treated for over-exertion and later returned to duty.  North Penn Goodwill Service was on scene to nourish and shelter the 50+ firefighters on scene.  PFC Chaplain Westhoff aided American Red Cross representatives with housing and food needs for the eight (8) displaced residents.  In total eleven (11) Fire Departments assisted at the scene.

Two Perkasie firefighters who died in the line of duty in 1926 were honored at the Bucks County Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on October 8th at 10 a.m. in the courtyard of the Bucks County Courthouse, 55 E. Court St., Doylestown, PA

Jacob C. Crouthamel and Willis Sames were both firefighters with the Perkasie Fire Company when they were killed in the line of duty April 1, 1926.  A drill was being held at the Bush Hotel in Quakertown by the Bucks County Fire Marshal to test the Quakertown water system.  Seven companies, including Perkasie, were to respond.  At 7:45 p.m., as Perkasie Fire Company's 1919 Seagrave pumper truck was en route to the drill, a car blocked the roadway and did not move out of the way of the truck even when sirens were sounded.  As the fire truck swerved to pass around the car, the back wheel of the truck sunk into the shoulder of the road, which had been softened by rain.   led to the injury of 16 firemen who were hurled from the truck.  Sames and Crouthamel were crushed between the side ladder of the truck and the telephone pole as the truck swerved.   Crouthamel, 42, was a borough councilman and clothing manufacturer in Perkasie and died instantly from a skull fracture and crushed chest.  Sames, 26, died two hours later at the Quakertown Hospital from a skull fracture, crushed chest and broken arm.  Ralph Schlich, 25, the driver of the car that did not yield to the truck, was found guilty and charged the maximum fine of $25.  

Now, over 80 years later, the two firefighters' names were added to the memorial in Doylestown; and the two men were honored posthumously at the memorial service, which occurs annually.   The ceremony is held the same day as the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, which is held in Emmitsburg, Md., and honors all fallen firefighters across the nation.  In addition, the Bucks County service is a chance for those who cannot travel to the national service to honor the fallen heroes closer to home.  The first fallen firefighter recorded on the memorial is Walter L. Moore, a foreman with the Bristol Fire Company who died in 1915 when a train hit the fire truck as it was en route to extinguish houseboat fires on the Delaware River.  The two fallen firefighters from Perkasie in 1926 will become the second and third recorded deaths on the memorial, which includes a total of 21 names.

(Text taken from news article written by Reporter Emily Morris – Perkasie News-Herald on October 4, 2006)


 

 
PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1 and Insurance Services Office, Inc. recently completed a Public Protection Classification survey of the Borough of Perkasie.  The Borough received an improved Class 4 rating.  This means that PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1 is now one of only 145 Fire Departments in the State of Pennsylvania to obtain this classification. This highest classification an all volunteer department can achieve is a Class 3 rating.  National statistics show that only 10.3% of the communities surveyed received a classification of 4 or better.  Residents within the Borough may see a property insurance savings if their property insurer recognizes by this improved score.  The specific reduction varies between insurance companies, and residents should contact their insurance carrier for further details.  In the letter from the ISO to the Borough Manager, they wished to congratulate the Borough for their commitment to serve the needs of the community property owners and residents.
 

 
 At 4:52 in the afternoon on May 6, the Perkasie Fire Company responded to a call on South Main Street.  The call was for a vehicle into a building.  In addition to the Fire Company, responding to the scene were Perkasie Emergency Management, Hilltown Fire, Sellersville Fire, Perkasie Electric and Perkasie Ambulance.  There were no injuries, but there was damage to the structure and potential for collapse.  The fire company's responsibilities are life safety and property protection, and since there were no injuries, the next task was to keep the building from further damage and remove the vehicle.  Firefighters trained in structural collapse and damage employed techniques to stabilize the building and allow the tow-truck operator to enter the building and and remove the vehicle.  Overall damage was limited to the accident, there was no further damage or collapse as a result of removing the vehicle.  The Fire Company released the building to a building emergency response team for final clean up.

 Perkasie Fire Company Purchases New Pierce Custom -Four Door 100 Foot Aerial Platform Truck. To replace the current Tower 26
 

Grace, Academy Homeschool Group

 
Fire Call: Ridge Rd, East Rockhill
Type of Call: Fire in the basement.
Time of call: 12:07 PM

Date:

5/30/05

The members of the Perkasie Fire Company gathered for a photo shoot at the site of the covered bridge in Lenape Park. Group pictures of the company were taken, along with individual pictures of our apparatus. Some of the pictures from this day appear below, and the apparatus photos can be viewed on the apparatus page.