At about 5:30 p.m. with the Friday night Rush Hour in full swing and a snowstorm pelting our area, Rescue 56 was dispatched to a vehicle accident at the Tastee Freez on Rt. 61. Firefighters arrived to find a two vehicle accident with minor injuries. OFD provided traffic control and assisted with scene clean up. After clearing the scene an hour later, the crew stopped for a well-deserved coffee break on the way home.

Rescue 56 was dispatched at 9:45 a.m. to a vehicle accident on Rt. 61 in the vicinity of Red Church. The accident involved a pick up truck that had kidded off of the highway and rolled over. The driver escaped serious injury and extrication was not required. OFD assisted with traffic control until the accident was cleared.

At 9:47 a.m. OFD was dispatched to assist Orwigsburg EMS by setting up a Landing Zone for an incoming Medevac Helicopter. OFD set up the LZ at Blue Mountain High School and assisted with the patient transfer.

2 DAYS AWAY !!!!

The OFD is anticipating nice weather and excited for our 125th anniversary parade and celebration.  We cant wait for the neighboring fire departments to get here and give the Borough of Orwigsburg a great parade to show off some of Schuylkill County's fire apparatus.  We will also be celebrating the anniversary after the parade at our firehouse with food and refreshments.  After the parade commemorative mugs and t-shirts can be purchased for the occasion.  The festivities will be kicked off with the parade starting @ 1:00 pm, and the celebration afterwards.  See ya there!

Michael Sinitsky, OFD firefighter, promoted to the rank of E-5 Staff Sargeant in the United States Air Force.  Mike joined the Air Force in 2008 and serves as a Fire Protection Journeyman.  He will now become a Lead Firefighter Crew Chief, responsible for supervising other Airmen. He is stationed at Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst in Burlington County, NJ.  Mike started his Fire Service career with Co. 47 Landingville and joined the OFD in 2005.  He continues to participate as an active firefighter with the OFD whenever he is home and also serves as a Company Trustee.  Congratulations Mike.

Orwigsburg Fire Department received an alarm from Schuylkill County Communications Center reporting a detector activation at Madeline’s Restaurant in Orwigsburg.  Landingville (District 47) and Deer Lake (District 42) filled out the 1st Alarm assignment.  Ambulance 932 (Orwigsburg) arrived on scene five minutes later and reported a working fire. SHFD Ladder 725 was added to the Box, as well as Pottsville Fire Department’s RIT team. First arriving OFD units encountered a rapidly advancing fire in the 1st and 2nd floors. Command requested a Tanker Task Force due to the lack of hydrants in this section of the Borough. Three attack lines from Engine 5610 and a fourth from Engine 4710 were used to control the fire, while Ladder 725 vented the building. One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and was transported to a local hospital by EMS where he was treated and released. OFD units cleared the scene at 03:45 hours. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

The Orwigsburg Fire Department was dispatched to Schuylkill Gun Works at 20 West Main Street, in Schuylkill Haven to a working commercial fire. Haven firefighters encountered a well involved fire in the rear of the building. A large Mutual Aid Assignment provided assistance to the Schuylkill Haven Fire Department. The crew of E-5610 assisted with the fire attack and overhaul operations. A Cressona firefighter stepped through a weak spot in a floor leading to a MayDay call. He was removed from the building by a RIT Team and transported to an area hospital by EMS. OFD cleared the scene at 20:45 hours.

Rescue 56 was dispatched to a report of a tractor trailer accident with entrapment on Fir Lane in East Brunswick Township. The rig, carrying an estimated 65,000 lbs. of trees from a lumbering operation had jackknifed on a hillside dirt road. The load had shifted, trapping the driver in the cab. First arriving firefighters from West Penn Fire Company (District 37) had requested a heavy wrecker from Soley’s Garage to assist in stabilizing the truck. New Ringgold (District 55) and Yorkville Rescue 63 (Pottsville City) were also dispatched to the scene. The victim was freed from the wreckage in about one hour and transported to an area hospital by EMS personnel.

Rescue 56 was requested by Berks County Radio to respond to a working commercial structure fire in Lenhartsville.  Rescue 56 joined numerous Berks, Lehigh, and Schuylkill County Fire/EMS and Haz-Mat Departments working at the fire.  The 2 1/2 story building, housing a service station and apartments, was completely destroyed by the blaze.  Rescue 56 remained on the scene until released around 12:30 hours.