By Lisa Grimaud
Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
Copyright 2007 Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.
LANCASTER, Pa. — East Petersburg Fire Company No. 1 reported a 24 percent increase in incidents for 2006. In contrast, over the same period, property loss decreased by 80 percent.
Chief James Rohrer Jr. told borough council Feb. 6 the increase in calls, 518 for the year, was due mainly to heavy rains last June. The fire company was called upon to pump out flooded basements.
In 2005, property losses amounted to $275,000. For 2006, that number dropped to $55,950.
Rohrer said fire calls run in cycles. “It could turn around at anytime,” he said. Even so, he credits East Petersburg’s personnel, training and response time.
For the past three years, crew members have kept their response time, from dispatch to arrival on the scene, at five minutes.
With 40 volunteers, the borough’s fire company has a higher membership than other area companies. Rohrer feels this is due to East Petersburg’s sense of community.
“Most of our membership have been with us 10 or 15 years,” he said, including some third-generation firefighters.
Members also are committed to training, Rohrer said. The 40 volunteer firefighters have a total of 185 certifications in various categories.
Since 2003, East Petersburg members have doubled their participation certifications through the office of the state Fire Commissioner, with 66 percent of personnel certified.
Rohrer said most fire departments in Lancaster County are 50 to 75 percent certified. However, he compared East Petersburg’s 40 volunteers to other companies, which may have only 15 members.
East Petersburg is also the only fire department in South Central Pennsylvania to receive the Voluntary Rescue Services Recognition of Advanced Level Rescue Service through the state Department of Health.
All those certifications also help bring in grant money to offset the rising costs of equipment and training and cut down the number of fund raisers firefighters need to do, Rohrer said.
In 2006, the department received $40,348 in grants. The money allowed the crew to purchase a vent saw, an automated external defibrillator and training unit and a new high-pressure lifting bag system (used to lift heavy objects, such as a car, in order to reach a person who may be pinned beneath it). Grant money also will pay for laptop computers to be placed in rescue vehicles this year.
Dedicated volunteers, training and grant money all help to contribute to East Peterburg’s fire safety, Rohrer said. But more than that, “it shows the people we serve we’ve committed ourselves to a certain standard. People know (the volunteers) are doing what they’re doing to protect (their community),” he said.
Also at the Feb. 6 council meeting, public works superintendent Herbert Mattern Jr. said the borough would be doing work on Ridge Avenue this spring. The project includes a new water main, new overlay of asphalt and new curbs. Council scheduled bid openings for Tuesday.