Joseph’s story starts out like most other six year olds: playing, going to kindergarten and not having any major life worries.  That childhood reality was turned upside down in the spring of 2007, with the onslaught of headaches.  Joseph’s parents took notice because kids don’t usually complain of headaches.  Soon, the headaches were accompanied by nausea and vomiting which resulted in Joseph having an MRI, followed by a trip to CHOP.

On June 29^th, a parent’s worst nightmare: Joseph was diagnosed with a brain tumor called medulloblastoma.   A two by two and a half inch tumor was removed from Joseph’s brain on July 2^nd.  An MRI done that night, along with a spinal tap done two weeks later, gave Joseph’s family reason to celebrate: no other cancer cells were present.  The celebration was short lived because then it was time to start the next process of healing.  Joseph’s tumor was malignant; therefore it was possible that the tumor could return in an inoperable place.  Joseph should have started the fall in first grade with his friends, but instead, his fall consisted of many trips to CHOP in Philadelphia.  Joseph was given a treatment plan of radiation and chemotherapy: six weeks of radiation and forty eight weeks of chemotherapy.  Later in the fall, Joseph gained some of his strength and was able to join his friends at school.  Constant fatigue and appetite concerns consumed his family as Joseph endured his treatments.

Joseph’s story has not finished; he currently is in the midst of another round of chemotherapy.  Throughout this story, there are three constants that are truly amazing.  The first is Joseph’s spirit and attitude; he is still that smiling little boy, but with a little less hair.  The second is a family that has incredible faith in God and faith in his plan for them.  And the third, a community that is comprised of love, support and compassion.

FF/EMT Erin Kostrubiak was the recipient of 1 of 41 statewide scholarships awarded to college students from the State Fireman's Association of Pennsylvania.  Erin was also the recipient of a scholarship sponsored by the Bucks County Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Association.  Erin is a freshman at the University of New Haven majoring in Fire Science with concentration in Fire Administration and Arson Investigation.  Congratulations Erin!

Recently all Department Apparatus Driver/Operators completed sixteen (16) hours of instruction in an Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC).  The class guideline was developed by our insurance provider Volunteer Firemen Insurance Services, and covered areas such as legal understanding, safety and operation of fire apparatus.  VFIS is the largest provider of insurance, education and consulting services to Emergency Service Organizations.   Every two (2) years, approved drivers along with apprentice drivers test their skills in a driving course under direction of Bucks County Public Safety Center instructors.

Rescue 26 recently obtained a new level of rescue accreditation through the PA Department of Health (DOH) Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.  Rescue 26 becomes the first apparatus in Bucks County to meet the Pennsylvania Volunteer Rescue Services Recognition (VRSR) Program qualification for the Advanced Response Level.  The voluntary program provides a way for Perkasie volunteers to demonstrate their level of readiness in rescue services to the Pennridge area and surrounding communities.

According to the PA DOH, the Advanced Response Level provides for the following:  “Identifies basic tools, equipment (hand and power), manpower and training requirements that personnel trained to advanced levels can use to undertake basic through complex rescue operations.  This equipment may be carried on a heavy rescue or other specialized rescue unit.”

The VRSR program was developed through the collaboration of the Bureau of EMS, the Office of the State Fire Commissioner and the Rescue Task Force of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Service Council (PEHSC) to formally recognize those services that meet the goals and successfully complete the recognition program. 

In addition to the required equipment, Perkasie volunteers must meet minimum personnel training requirements for rescue responses.  At the Advanced Level, the Department must provide two Basic Vehicle Rescue Technicians, at a minimum two Emergency Responders (can be cross-trained with the other required personnel cert’s) as well as two RIT personnel.

Perkasie Fire Company had to apply for the program through the PA DOH.  The process required many months of work by the Officers.  This included the application, documentation of training and certifications for all members, EVOC roster, scene control policy, mutual aid rescue agreement, DOT inspection documents as well as checklists for all equipment carried on Rescue 26.

The recognition certificate and apparatus decals will be presented to the Department at a Perkasie Borough Council meeting by representatives of the Bucks County Emergency Medical Services Council.  The recognition is valid for three (3) years.

The members of the Perkasie Fire Company No. 1 are very proud to meet the requirements to participate in the VRSR program.  They will continue to strive to provide the best possible rescue services to the community we protect.

The replacement Fire Police 26 vehicle is under fabrication at Guardian Fire Equipment, Harrisburg, PA.  The chassis is a diesel powered 2008 Ford F-550 4x4 onto which a 10 ft. PolyBilt body and 5kW hydraulic generator will be installed.  The four-door cab will have room to carry five (5) persons, and a body designed with roll-up doors for easy access to traffic control and scene safety equipment.  The rear of the body has reflective chevrons for personnel safety while working in traffic conditions.  The rear compartment will provide access to a roll-out tray containing traffic cones and other assorted equipment.

This unit will provide the fifteen (15) Fire Police Officers of the Department with the ability to support scene safety in service to the Fire and Police Departments in the area; and be self-sufficient while assisting at public service events.  When placed in service, it will replace a gas-powered Ford Van currently in use.  Delivery is anticipated in mid-March 2008.

On Saturday morning January 5, 2008 at 03:20 hrs, PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1 along with Sellersville FD Tanker 27 was dispatched to a reported dwelling fire in 3000 block of Hill Road, East Rockhill Township.  Battalion 76 (A. Wedman) confirmed police reports of heavy smoke in the area.  Chief 26 (D. Worthington) requested three (3) additional engines and three (3) additional tankers added to assignment.  Tower 18 was added for RIT.  Hill Road Command was established, and Engine 26 was directed to pull hand lines from an adjacent property driveway.  Tower 26 dropped 5” LDH from the intersection of N. Rockhill and Hill Roads, and was directed to perform ventilation on Side C and the roof.  Interior engine company and truck company personnel found the seat of the fire in the attic area above a vaulted living room ceiling.  Operations Division Chief Wedman requested additional manpower to assist with ventilation.  Command redirected Tower 18 to assist with roof ventilation, and have the RIT assignment replaced with Rescue 60.  Upon arrival, Squirt 18 pulled an additional hand line to backup interior crew.  Manpower Division Chief 27 (H. McElhare) requested additional personnel from Command.  Rescue 59 was added and directed to assist with salvage and overhaul on the interior.  Chemical 17 handled air cascade duties.  Battalion 27-1 (D. Wilson) directed water supply operations with Engine 27-1 at the tanker dump site.  Deputy 27 (D. Wagner) supervised tanker fill operations with Engine 17 at the Rockhill Quarry draft site.  Water movement on the incident was handled by Tanker’s 27, 58, 36 and Montco 72.  Grand View Hospital Medics stood-by on scene for rehabilitation services to the firefighters.  The incident was cleared at 0634 hours.

Due to working and functional smoke detectors, the homeowner’s family was able to awake from smoke filled conditions, evacuate and dial 911 from a neighboring residence.  Bucks County Fire Marshal 201 stated the cause of the fire to be related to hot fireplace ashes placed in an area adjacent to combustible materials at the rear of the residence

Total Number of Incidents for Year: 292

Total Number of Training Activities: 38

Year End Summary Statistics:

Apparatus and personnel responded to 292 requests; 43 of the incidents (14.71%) were fire related, 23 incidents (7.87%) were rescue/EMS related, 46 incidents (15.75%) were related to hazardous conditions, 87 incidents were service calls (29.79%), 47 incidents were good intent related (16.09%),43 incidents (14.72%) were false alarms and 3 incidents  (1.02%) were weather & natural disaster related.

Perkasie Borough had 101 incidents (34.58%), East Rockhill Township had 85 incidents (29.10%), and Hilltown Township had 18 incidents (6.16%) of the total call volume.  Our services were provided to various other municipalities such as West Rockhill Township with 26 incidents (8.90%), Quakertown Borough with 21 incidents (7.19%), and Dublin Borough with 7 incidents (2.39%) of the total call volume.

In total, the department staff provided 5,361 man-hours of service in response activity and training.

Since replacing their old SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) with new equipment, the members of the Perkasie Firemen’s Relief Association voted to offer the excess equipment to a needy Fire Department in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  After contacting State Fire Commissioner Edward Mann, an email was sent out to organizations across the State.  Numerous inquiries were received, and a decision was made transfer the assets to Marion Township Volunteer Fire Company of Boyers (near Slippery Rock), Butler County, PA.  www.mtvfd31.com

MTVFC Assistant Chief Ryan Enscoe and two members drove six (6) hours to accept the equipment just prior to Christmas Day.  The donated equipment will replace low pressure 2216 SCBA with hip-mounted regulators.  Chief Enscoe commented they were surprised at the generosity, and also condition of the equipment they received.  They look forward to the newer technology and the ability to use high pressure SCBA similar to their mutual aid departments on their 100 calls to service each year.

The last several weeks have been active for the firefighters on RESCUE 26.  Calls for assistance to area Departments have kept the apparatus wheels moving.   Requests for RIT qualified personnel, mutual-aid assistance and move-ups to cover other Stations had the combination rescue/pumper on the road traveling across upper Bucks County and even to Red Hill, Montgomery County. Rescue 26 was on-scene to assist with a seven (7) vehicle accident scene on NB RT309 By-Pass in West Rockhill Township.  Recent wintry weather conditions had personnel performing auto extrications and responding to numerous downed electric wires in the Perkasie Borough, East Rockhill and Hilltown Townships. 

“RIT can be defined as a Rapid Intervention Team where qualified firefighters stand-by outside in full protective equipment with various tools ready to rescue other firefighters that are working in a hazardous atmosphere; is the result of a series of incidents where fire fighters became lost, trapped, or disoriented while fighting a structure fire without a RIT present.”

Chief Kenneth R. Barndt was a Life Member since 1966 of the Department. He served as a Foreman, Assistant Chief, Chief and Vice President over the years. He was the Fire Chief in charge of Perkasie’s “Great Fire of ‘88”. Chief Barndt also volunteered with the Perkasie Fire Co. Ambulance. He was a member of the Brunna Butzers organization. He was also a life member of the Bucks County Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Association; and also the Keystone State Fire Chiefs Association. He took the first EMT class offered in Bucks County. He also served as Perkasie Borough’s “Santa Claus” for many years. He always looked forwarded to joining with friends at the Department’s annual Old-Timers Banquet each fall. He was proud to have both his daughter Patti A. Kostrubiak and grand-daughter Erin Kostrubiak join the Department and become full Active members upon passing their IFSAC Firefighter 1 certification. 
 

In an effort to keep current with the latest rescue practices, firefighters and EMT’s from PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1 practiced extrication techniques on a school bus donated by Wilcox Recycling.  Instructors from the Bucks County Public Safety Center taught the Department current heavy rescue practices.   The Pennridge School District bus transportation center, two (2) elementary, two (2) middle schools and the high school are located within the Department’s first-due area.  Rescue 18 (West End – Quakertown), Rescue 23 (Dublin) and MCI-3 (St. Lukes – Quakertown) joined in mutual-aid training evolutions involving participant victims.   
 

This summer, PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1 replaced their 15 year old SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) with 32 new sets.  The new MSA Fire Hawk air packs were purchased from Breathe Safe Air Systems, Inc. of Warrington, Pennsylvania.

 "On behalf of Breathe Safe Air Systems and MSA, we would like to thank the Perkasie Fire Department for their continued support to the community.", said Michael Oglialoro, Sales Manager for Breathe Safe.  He continued, "The planning, research, and purchase of new self contained breathing apparatus shows the fire company's commitment to life saving equipment and their commitment to serving the community.  The members of Perkasie Fire Department should be proud and commended for their efforts and interest in safety."  

A major reason for SCBA replacement was due to the result of expiring air cylinder life.  An increasing number of the Department's cylinders were expiring due to hydrostatic age and could no longer be used for service, which is a standard set by the US Department of Transportation.  The new SCBA are among the finest on the market and offer remarkable upgrades in technology and safety.  The new packs are compliant with current 2002 NFPA standards, will receive free upgrades to new 2007 NFPA-1981 standards.

Some of the latest technology include a heads up display in the facemask that indicates the air level that remains in the cylinder, a PASS device which is a safety alarm system that monitors movement of the firefighter wearing the air pack and responds to inactivity, and a buddy breathing system that can be used when a fire fighter runs low or out of air.  Each of the Perkasie firefighters has been fit tested for their own personal face piece.  As firefighters don the packs, they will now have their own facemask ensuring a good fit each and every time.

 The Department also received a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) air supply unit that can be carried to a fallen firefighter that may only have a limited air supply.
 

On Saturday August 8 at 10:23 hrs, PERKASIE FIRE COMPANY No. 1 was dispatched for a special assignment on Box 76-28 at the Pennridge Airport.  Airport management stated that the pilot of a Skydive Philadelphia aircraft reported a problem with the landing gear on a twin engine Beechcraft King Air.  The pilot landed the aircraft on the runway, performed emergency shutdown procedures and successfully exited the aircraft.  Upon arrival, Battalion 76 (A. Wedman) directed Rescue 26 and Engine 26 to positions at each end of the 4215 ft. runway to signify the airport was closed to incoming traffic.  One of the engines continued to run with the propeller clearing the runway surface by 2”.  The engine continued to run for 2-1/2 hours until the propeller stopped spinning.  Battalion 26 (J. Conway) was in contact with both airport and aircraft owner, Cabair, mechanics regarding requirements to lift and lock landing gear.  Rescue crews utilized multiple Hurst air bags to lift and crib aircraft until onsite aircraft mechanics could manually lower and lock the landing gear.  The incident was cleared at 16:07 hrs.