DATE:             8 Feb 2010
TIME:              2100 hours
SUBJECT:     Anticipated Snow Event for Tues., 9 Feb. 2010
CONTACT:    Kenneth D. “Doug” Cole, Chief of Police 

 With the possibility of additional heavy snow accumulation beginning Tuesday, February 9, 2010, Monroeville officials are requesting the following:
 
Any person needing assistance or wanting to report residents in need of assistance should call 412-856-3303 during normal business hours (8 AM to 4:30 PM) Monday thru Friday. After hours and on weekends call the Monroeville Emergency Communications Center at 412-856-1111. The Monroeville Emergency Communications Center is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.  
 
Residents are reminded that during snow emergencies motorized vehicles should not be parked on municipal streets. Police can tow vehicles that are blocking emergency vehicles or hindering snow removal efforts. Residents who have fire hydrants in front of their property (and are physical capable) are asked to dig the snow from around those hydrants so that they are visible from the street. 

And of course to report EMERGENCIES ONLY, dial 911. 

OK FOLKS, HERE THEY ARE!!!

The NEW Truck 5 T-Shirts are officially in. Call the station for details or visit our ITEMS FOR SALE page located under the PICTURES SECTION of our website. 

Today around noon Company 5 was alerted for an engine crew to respond into Murrysville for a residential structure fire. Company 4 had been alerted approx 30 mins prior and were on scene and working with Engine 42 and Truck 4. Company 5 crews met with Murrysvilles Fire Chief in command who advised that he wanted us to enter through front door and immed. go to the right and start opening walls up to check for extension as there were numerous areas of floor burnt out extending from right side of home at fireplace (side 4) across to living room on side 1. Crews opened 3-4 walls and found no extension. At that time there were crews already inside the area and due to unsafe flooring it was determined that we would exit home and advise chief of findings. After advising the chief he requested we go to side 4 and speak to Monroeville officer at back of home (D/C Bacco), as we went around home, Chief Piano of Sardis VFD greeted us and advised he had 4 guys inside cutting floor joists to check fo extension and there were 4-5 on stand-by outside awaiting orders. At that time I advised him we would go back to side 1 and see if anything else was needed there. As we went around to side 1, command again requested us to enter side 1 front entrance and go to 2nd floor to breach walls to allow crews a walk area due to the burnt our flooring on the second floor hallway. We made our way to 2nd floor and went into 1st bedroom on left on side 3 and started to breach walls through 2 bedrooms to the main bedroom where fireplace was on side 4. At that time several inspection holes were cut to determine fire spread and was found to be negative. While making inspection holes, numerous "hot spots" were found on flooring area joists between 1st and 2nd floors. Company 4 crews were below us on 1st floor and they were advised to use handline to hit those areas while we pulled the flooring up for them to see. Once in main bedroom, we made our way up to attic area and also found no fire spread. Company 5 and 4 at that time advised command and exited the residence where command advised we could pick up and return into service.  MFD crews were on scene for 2 hours.

***SPECIAL THANKS to Murrysville Fire Companies for the invite. ***

Pictures and Video News Clips

MONROEVILLE UNITS RESPONDING: Engines 42 and 51, Truck 4
MONROEVILLE OIC: D/C Bacco (C-43)
MURRYSVILLE COMMAND: Asst. Chief Yant (Station 20)

Today while doing some Tiller training, Company 4,5 was alerted for a MVC with rollover and reported vehicle on fire. Due to Rescue 4 being out of town covering for a funeral, this brought Rescue 6 as the 2nd due rescue. Crews arrived on scene and evaluated several patients while Engine 51 crew found a vehicle overturned and on fire making the knock rather easy. Crews returned into service within 40 minutes.

COMMAND: C-42 (A/C Rowntree)
UNITS RESPONDING: Engines 42, 51, Rescue 6, Medic 49, Amb 47

While cleaning up from the earlier structure fire. Command was advised of a male stabbed. Unrelated but not to far from the area of the fire, Medic 5-9 responded with a medic from Station 1. The patient was found to have 2 stab wounds of serious nature and was transported to one of our downtown trauma centers. During that same time frame, Station 5 was alerted for a psych call in our district which was crewed and found no cause or need for EMS services once on scene.  

Tonight, just before midnight Communications alerted Companies 1,6,3 and Truck 5 for a reported structure fire in the 3700 Block of Old Northern Pike. MPD arrived to find and confirm a single family dewlling with fire showing and everyone out of the residence. Crews arrived to find a fire in the corner of sides 1 and 2 and quickly went to work extinguishing it. Within 20 mins crew made a knock and had the scene under control, checking the residence for hot spots. Truck 5 crews set up ladders, lights and fans as well as helped out with some interior work. Crews were back in within 2 hours.

COMMAND: C-10 (Chief McCollum)
UNITS RESPONDING: Engines 12, 31, 62, Truck 5, Quint 1, Rescue 6, Amb 5-9, Command 32, Rescue 1

This morning Company 4,5 were alerted to the PA Turnpike for a reported tractor trailer on fire. While enroute, Turnpike Communications advised responding units of a working tractor fire with no involvement of the trailer section. C-40 advised to put Tanker 5 on the detail at that time due to the Turnpike not having it's own water source. Crews arrived and found an involved tractor fire with no hazardous materials in the trailer but with slight fire involvement of the trailer. Crews were on scene approx. 1 hour and turned scene over to PSP. 

COMMAND: C-40 (Chief Cole) 
UNITS RESPONDING: Engine 41, Engine 51, Tanker 5, Medic 4-9, Ambulance 4-7

*PA Turnpike does not allow pictures of incidents to be published.
LINK for news story with VIDEO of fire is below.

Tonight MECC received a call from a neighbor reporting smoke from the residence in the 200 Blk of Lilac Dr. MPD arrived on scene within minutes and confirmed heavy smoke. With the initial report was also reported that it was unknown if anyone was inside, fire crews arrived and quickly went to work. Unfortunately, with near 0 temperatures, several of the hydrants in the area were frozen. This called for Tanker 5 to the scene. Within minutes it was found that the resident was not at home and there was no entrapment. 

C-60 arrived and called for a 2nd alarm bringing the rest of the Monroeville Fire Companies to the scene. This also called for stand-by Departments to move up to Monroeville for coverage. Due to the problematic water system, 2 Tankers from Westmoreland County (Larimer, White Valley) were also called for the move-ups. Crews finally gained control of the fire in just under 2 hours.

SPECIAL THANKS to the following: 
Wilkins Twp VFD #304, Turtle Creek VFD, Unity VFD (Plum Boro), Holiday Park VFD (Plum Boro), Wilmerding VFD, Pitcairn VFD, Larimer VFD and White Valley VFD, Murrysville Medic 1, Penn Hills VFD #227   

COMMAND: Chief Katofsky (C-60)
UNITS RESPONDING: E-61, E-62, E12, E51, Tanker 5, E-41, Truck 4, Quint 1, Command 32, Rescue 4, A-59, A-69, MPD, MPD Detectives, TV-15, Monroeville DPW for salt crews and vans for rehab, Alleg. County Fire Marshall

With the colder winter weather and snow brought several accidents in the area over the past few days for all 5 of the Monroeville Fire Companies. The members of #5 would like to remind all to please be safe. Take your time driving on the snow covered roadways and make sure your cars are properly brushed off, it is the law now.   

This morning the guys were awakened for an AFA with companies 6 and 1 to the 4300 Blk of Old William Penn Highway to a small strip plaza for an AFA reported false. E-51 arrived first and while doing a walk around saw a large amount of water comming from the building.

After having to force entry, crews found that a sprinkler pipe had ruptured dumping a large amount of water on the 2nd floor. Once isolated and shut off, crews spent the nex hour performing salvage work in an attempt to save a large amount of musical equipment in one of the stores and minimize damage to the stores below. The businesses were then turned over to a local resporation service for follow-up.

COMMAND: A/C Ramsey (C-61)
UNITS RESPONDING: E-51, Truck 5. E-62, Rescue 6, E-12, Truck 4, Monroeville DPW for hazardous road conditions due to freezing water.