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This video posted by dtvfd9d0tcom was shot Sunday night on Philadelphia Street in West Manchester Township, Pennsylvania (York County). The video was shot by a member of the Dover Township VFD, Station 9. Prior to Engine 9-2′s arrival three people were brought to safety from the porch roof by the crew from Engine 5-1 (West Manchester).
Greg Gross, York Dispatch.com:
Three people, including a small child and a young pregnant woman, had to be rescued from the porch roof of a burning West Manchester Township home Sunday night.
The woman and the child, who live at the 2595 W. Philadelphia St. home, were taken to York Hospital for observation, said Roy Gentzler, assistant chief with West Manchester Township Fire Dept.
Firefighters used a ladder to get to the people on the porch roof and guided the three residents to safety.
A cat alerted several residents to a fire at their West Manchester Township home – which was not equipped with smoke alarms – but then perished in the blaze, Fire Chief Dave Nichols said Monday.
“They owe their lives” to the cat, Nichols said.
Firefighters arrived at the home in less than two minutes after receiving the call at 11:02 p.m. Sunday and found that three residents – Jordan Rupp, 22; his girlfriend, Dani Kauffman, 20, and Kauffman’s 3-year-old son, Tristyn Kauffman – had escaped by climbing onto a roof, the chief said.
Also on STATter911 …
- Early raw video: House fire in Poughkeepsie, NY. – January 3, 2013
- Raw video: House fire in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. – April 4, 2013
- Early video & radio traffic: York Township, PA house fire. – April 10, 2013
- Raw video: Apartment fire in Hazle Township, PA. – October 19, 2012
Comments
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Would have been easier if you knew how to force a door clown!
A few comments for Engine 9-2′s crew (I know you will probably take offense to this and see it as “armchair firefighting” but I’m honestly just making observations for you to improve upon. If your gonna post a “helmat cam video” be prepared for the comments.-
Officer- When you have to get off the rig and go into the back of the Engine to get a radio you are already behind the game. Prepare yourself before you arrive. Get off the apparatus with tools in hand. You should not have to go to someone else’s apparatus to get a forcible entry tool.
Crew- Learn how to force a door properly and quickly. A simple residential inward swinging wood door should have been forced in less than 20 seconds (no excuses). (Gap, Set, Force.) If you don’t know what I’m talking about take a forcible entry class.
Move with a purpose and get inside when stretching a line. The sooner the “wet stuff gets on the red stuff” the sooner everything else gets better. Flake out that line and get your facepiece on. Way too much time wasted “donning” SCBA’s. This is something you can practice all the time. Don’t get off the apparatus empty handed, always carry a tool.
No offense will be taken by anyone. The reason the helmet cams were purchased is so that we can view OUR actions, and actions of others to hopefully improve.
To clear a few things up before they get out of context. The radio for all crew members are mounted beside each FF. When I look to the right and confirm to the Capt we are assigned RIT. Then I reach to my left for my radio. I can assure you every member gets off the piece with a portable,lights,full ppe,and a tool. These are basic necessities.
E9-2 was third arriving and was given the RIT assignment. Crews started throwing ladders and performing tool checks(running saws). Our assignment was changed to take a line to “side charlie”. We modified the order(advised operations) to best attack the fire and that is why entry was made on side “delta”. Side alpha entry was not made by us due to a pile up at the front door.
We pulled a line and the reason there was delay on charging and going in to attack was there wasn’t supply set up. That is why there is radio traffic and face to face communications. This was to expedite the line being charged.
There was a short delay on forcing the door. However I don’t believe anymore then the “20 sec” mark. With this forcible entry pause there was a 3.5hr training conducted at our training tower tonight on forcible entry and hose line management. These are the short comings we were man enough to admit were OUR short comings. But unlike a lot of departments we will pick out our shortcomings and then actually work to improve upon them.
Hopefully everyone can view this video and pick out things and work on those issues to help improve themselves for their next fire.
Overall 3 people were assisted to safety. The fire was held and extinguished to room of origin. No injuries were reported by anyone and this is the goal of any fire we go to.
Cheers- 360 done. Getting others to clear their PASS.
Jeers- You were dispatched and assigned RIT, yet no one has a set of irons with them!!?????? That’s poor leadership and training.
Also, to the nozzle man, don’t run into the building like that. There could have been a hole in the floor. Just be careful guys.
The irons were with their RIT equipment cache, if you notice that where the officer goes to to get them. When their assignment was changed to fire attack the irons got left behind/forgotten. It happens.
If they are using there helmet cam for trtaining & reviewing what went right & what went wrong, then kudos to them. If they made changes, then thats a positive step to becoming proficient. They need to address there RIC responsibilities. No excuse for no one of 5-6 guys not having irons. Hopefully they corrected that.
Chief 9-2 Officer, your post was articulated very well. I appreciate hearing from the other side as to what actually went on at a scene besides what we see in short clips.
Every scene you can learn from and keep posting your videos.
On a side note I’ve had to remind firefighters before to put their helmet on, aderaline takes over and sometimes the little stuff gets missed.
Chief 9-2 – - Thanks for the explanation and being honest. You did stop the fire in the room of origin and you will be better as a result of this fire!
Was there any thought about laying in your own supply line? That way you had more water to start with than the truck company which was low already because of the first line. I know across the river in lancaster county, it is common practice for the second or third engine to lay in a supply line or at least assist with getting a supply line for the attack engine. Just a thought for the driver/ operator.
Kudos to 9-2 for realizing they had shortcomings, and chosing to address them with training only a few days later. Most companies would insist their perfect and say screw off if you pointed out where they went wrong.
I have to agree that it is a refreshing attitude.
Statter
I agree also. Great Attitude. It is hard to step back and admit that things could have gone better at times. I applaud you and your Department for doing that. Stay safe Brothers.
I don’t normally chime in on these blog sites as they often encourage derogatory armchair IC’ing. This is to set the record straight.
The incident is dispatched at 2302 hours for a RSF with entrapment. Crews respond and arrive on scene at 2304 hours. Engine 5-1 crew was staffed with 3 (VOLUNTEERS). Truck 1 crew staffing was 2 (Paid Driver and VOLUNTEER). The engine driver and firefighter immediately begin rescue of 3 civilians (adult male, adult very pregnant female, and 4 year old son) from the porch roof. The engine officer and truck firefighter advance a line to division 2 for reported additional trapped. The truck driver positions and sets the stick to the porch roof for secondary egress for the rescue crew. This was all completed within the first 2 minutes before E9-2 arrives and the video begins.
As additional resources arrive they are assigned to pull a second attack line for division 1 to protect the stairway for the rescue crew. E9-2 is the RIT on first alarm RSF’s. They were ordered to advance a line to division C as heard on the audio. They changed their assignment and entered via a door on side D to initiate fire attack. C9-2 stated previously that there was a backlog at the front door.
The division 2 rescue crew reported all clear on primary search and was in the process of repositioning their line for fire attack on division 1 when E9-2 advanced via side D to the kitchen. The fire was quickly extinguished and the incident transitioned into salvage and overhaul mode.
The fire began on the rear porch and extended into the kitchen via an open doorway. The cause is accidental. The home was not equipped with working smoke detectors. The young family lost most of their personal belongings just weeks before the birth of their child and 2 cats that perished in the fire. These cats notified the family of the fire by frantically banging on the bedroom door. The family self-rescued to the front porch roof and was rescued from that position by the crew of Engine 5-1. They were evaluated by EMS on scene and transported to the hospital for precautionary measures.
One of the rescuing firefighters recently completed his interior firefighter program and was promoted to the rank of Interior Firefighter.
Were there shortcomings on this incident – most certainly YES. They occur on every incident regardless of the community or pay status of the fire department. Were there many positives – YES. All but one of the responders on the first alarm assignment are VOLUNTEERS. Engine 5-1 and Truck 1 crews were staffed with VOLUNTEERS. Some of them are active live-ins with others coming from home. THREE LIVES SAVED, NO INJURIES, FIRE CONTAINED TO ROOM UPON ARRIVAL, EVERYBODY GOES HOME ALIVE!!! This is what we should be discussing within our BROTHER / SISTER HOOD.
Unfortunately in this media frenzy age, some are quick to post without first conducting a risk vs. benefit decision making process. As soon as the world sees anything less than perfection the attack begins. Before you pounce, remember we all live in glass houses.
Thanks to all units that responded – West Manchester Twp FD E5-1, R5, TK2, E2-1, Chief 5-1, West York FD TK1, Dover Twp FD E9-2, West York EMS, York City FD, Manchester Twp FD, Nashville VFD, Spring Grove VFD, and Thomasville VFD. Job well done.
Dave Nichols
Fire Chief
West Manchester Twp
Thank you chief for taking the time to write.
Statter
I second that Dave. Clearly thse guys aren’t afraid of a constructive critique and like to go interior. We see way too many videos of people standing in the street shooting a line in a window. We don’t see that here. We see guys that WANT to go inside and perform interior firefighting. Kudos. I will say it seems like they are SO aggressive that once that door was forced guys were charging that side “D” doorway like prison guards storming a rowdy prisoner in a cell. Need a little more discipline there. Also, officer, nice job watching out for the men making sure PASS alarms are reset and men are wearing full PPE. Did that guy ever find his missing helmet?
Ladies and Gentlemen, that is how you respond, not only to an alarm, but to some of the criticism brought on by poor intentions. Well said and great job. Congratulations to Chiefs 50 and 9-2!