April 15, 2011

At approximately 03:11 hours Centre County Emergency Communications Center (CCECC) received a report of a vehicle fire near mile marker 76 on I-99 and at 03:13 dispatched Company 5 to the area. Additional information received identified the incident as a tanker truck fire resulting from a collision between two tractor trailer rigs with the tanker rear-ending a paper hauler while travelling in the southbound lanes. The actual location was in Benner Township, just north of Exit 76 (Shiloh Road).

Engine 510 was first in and took a position for public protection, blocking traffic just north of the incident. Chief 502 (Kurzinger) arrived quickly behind the engine and assumed command. Units observed total destruction of the truck’s cab with fire extending to the cargo trailer. Hazmat and additional units were requested by 502 and upon arrival of hazmat a unified command was established (Fire, Hazmat, PSP). Chief 500 (Yocum) handled Operations, Chief 201 (Baney) handled water supply. County and Centre Region EMA handled Logistics.

Numerous resources were requested to establish water supply, assist with traffic control and isolation, queue recovery resources, and provide for the needs of responders at an incident of extended duration. Water tankers were refilled at Shiloh Road and command and water supply activities used the entire northbound side of the highway. Once the product was verified, three phases of the operation were planned: extinguish the fire, render the vehicle safe, recovery of the driver’s remains.

An initial effort to reduce the fire to the cargo area and cool the cargo with water was halted after Hazmat observed a marked change in fire behavior. The effort moved to a defensive operation with fixed monitors flowing about 1000 GPM for some time until the fire exhibited consistent behavior. During this period, foam assets were amassed to complete extinguishment, which would not commence until product recovery assets were in place and ready. Holding an effective foam blanket was identified as a problem since the accident site had considerable slope. Runoff was already a concern that was being addressed by DEP and Penn DOT; they plugged the overflow drains in a nearby retention basin. To hold the foam blanket in place Hazmat constructed a large underflow dam below the site. This proved effective and the fire was extinguished at approximately 09:12 hours. Eagle Towing, the recovery contractor for the trucking firm began product transfer at approximately 09:57 hours. The driver’s remains were recovered by fire personnel at approximately noon. Emergency units cleared at 14:06 hours.

During this incident Mifflin County Tankers 6 and 7 covered Centre County water supply from Bellefonte. Centre Hall Engine 410 covered Company 5.

April 11, 2011

At approximately 15:15 hours a borough resident discovered a cache of dynamite while cleaning out a detached garage along K Aly and summoned State College PD for assistance. Arriving officers immediately summoned local EOD and a PSU Hazmat Chief to assess the explosives which appeared to have been in the garage for quite some time.  Based on observations and analysis the explosives were deemed unstable and public protective measures were initiated. A unified command for the incident was established and included SCPD Chief King, SCPD Captain Gardner, Hazmat Chief Bittner and Centre Region EMC Kauffman. Alpha personnel were summoned to the scene in stages as specific tasks were identified. Rescue 518, 500 (Yocum) and Alpha Fire Police were requested at approximately 16:30 hours for EOD support, planning assistance, and perimeter control. Engine 510 and Truck 516 handled the evacuation of approximately 70 residents and gave shelter-in-place instructions to 20 others. These units then assisted with perimeter security and EOD support. The region’s mobile command unit was brought to the scene by Centre County Emergency Communications (CCECC) and used as the command post.

Chief 500 (Yocum) handled disposal operations at a remote location with assistance of Engine 513, Utility 522, 925, 937, and State College Public Works. At this location the explosives were destroyed by PSP EOD personnel.

Moving the materials to the disposal site required the closure of numerous intersecting roads along the route. Engine 311, Truck 517, 593 (Cornish), Alpha Fire Police, SCPD and Ferguson Township PD handled this assignment. Relocation of the explosives required three trips using the PSP transport unit.

With the assistance of Truck 217, remaining Alpha personnel covered the first due area with 540 (Clouser) as the Duty Chief. The Salvation Army Canteen unit operated at the incident scene from approximately 18:30 hours until midnight. Operations at the incident site were terminated at approximately 00:45 hours, while operations at the disposal site terminated at approximately 03:00 hours. A special Thank You goes out to all residents in the affected area for their cooperation and assistance.

Tonight the Alphas celebrated another great year at the annual member’s banquet, held at the State College Ramada Inn. It gave guests an opportunity to hear of the accomplishments over the past year of the company and its membership. It also afforded the membership a night to commemorate a successful year of protecting the Centre Region and providing mutual aid assistance.

Awardees of the night are as follows:

700 club: Members who achieved a combination of 700 points, which include calls, meetings, training and standbys.

Matt Johnson

Christopher Martin

Christopher Berry

Most Improved Firefighter: Svend Pederson

Firefighter of the Year: Christopher Berry

A special thanks goes out to Kathy Schulz for another amazing year of photos. Also, thank you to our standby crews: Boalsburg, Bellefonte, and Pleasant Gap.