Witmer Fire Protective Association

Friday Morning at 09:46 hours LCWC dispatched box 62-6 for a reported Dwelling Fire on Aberley Lane in the Devon Creek Development off New Holland Pike. Chief 62(KAUFFMAN) went en route and reported a column of smoke from several miles out. East Lampeter PD arrived and reported a garage fully involved attached to a residence with the fire catching the adjacent residence on fire. Upon arrival Chief 62 requested a 2nd Alarm assignment which brought over 10 mutual aid departments to the scene. Engine 62-2 arrived and their crew advanced two 200 ft.1″1/2 attack lines to the residence next to the main fire building and were able to contain the fire to the garage of that residence before it spread to the house. Units from 20(MTFR),61(UPPER LEACOCK),41(BIRD-IN-HAND),63(LAFAYETTE) and 29(WEST EARL) arrived and assisted with fire suppression while the remainder of the 2nd alarm units staged and were used as needed. Units from 62 and 63 remained on the scene for extensive overhaul and cleared just before 15:00 hours. We would like to thank all the mutual aid companies for the assist on a hot day.

**New “Heavy Engine” shirts!**

New t-shirts available to purchase featuring our Engine 62-2, email jlapp@witmerfire.com if you are interested in purchasing one.

Last evening at 18:50 hours Engine 62-2 and Squad 62-1 responded to the Host Resort on Lincoln Highway East to assist Station 63 (LAFAYETTE) with a mass evacuation of the facility due to a sprinkler system malfunction that caused water to come thru the ceilings on the 4th thru 6th floors. There was a large event going on at the time that involved approximately 2000 people so crews from 63 and 62 spent over 2 hours on the scene completing the Evacuation.

Last Evening at 23:30 hours Engine 62-1 and Squad 62-1 responded to assist Station 63 (LAFAYETTE) at a crash with reported Entrapment and Multiple injuries on Lincoln Highway East. Units from 62 were on the scene just over four hours. This morning at 06:53 hours Station 62 was dispatched to a crash with unknown injuries at the Intersection of Horseshoe Road and Hartman Station Road. LCWC advised Chief 62 they were getting reports of Entrapment and they were upgrading the assignment. Upon arrival Chief 62 found one vehicle into a utility pole with heavy damage and one person still in the vehicle however they were not confined or trapped so the mutual aid companies were recalled. Engine 62-1′s crew assisted EMS with the patient and depowered the vehicle. Units were on the scene for approximately one hour.

This afternoon at 1633 Hrs E62-1, E62-2, Res61, Tr31, Abulance38-1, and Medic4-30 were dispatched to a farm rescue in the 62 first due. Upon responding units were advised that the caller is reporting a child stuck in the PTO shaft of a farm tractor, Chief 62 arrived first and established command 62 confirming the report and after a brief talk with Medic 4-30 decided to request a medical helicopter be started due to the severity of injuries and possible extended extrication. Ambulance 38-1, Medic 4-30, and E62-1 arrived simultaneously and instantly worked on stabilizing the patient as they decide on an extrication plan. At this point E41-1 was dispatched to establish a Landing Zone for the helicopter and the decision was made to request Rescue 48 as a backup plan due to their extensive rescue equipment and knowledge of farm rescue incidents. At this time Recue 61, Truck 31, and Engine 62-2 had arrived and their crews assisted the rescue efforts working as they cut the one end of the shaft and unassembled the other end. In the end Rescue 48 was not needed as the extrication was completed as they arrived and the child was then airlifted to Hershey Medical Center.  Together  the rescue teams completed a complex rescue scenario involving a child with teamwork and skill. A huge thanks to everyone who assisted and especially the EMS crews who showed their professionalism as the assisted with the rescue.

Units on scene; E62-1,E62-2,RES61,TR31,E41-1,RES48, SQ62-1,SQ31-1,Ambulance38-1,Medic4-30,and the East Lampeter Police Department

Extrication time was 17 minutes from arrival

Station 62 has responded to 6 calls in 3 days starting with a crash on 1/5 on Mount Sidney Road just north of Route 340 that was handled by Engine 62-2 due to Engine 62-1 being out of service for scheduled maintenance. We were assisted by Medic 6-1(LEMSA)along with Engine 48-2(RONKS)for the rescue engine. Later that afternoon Engine 62-2 responded to assist Station 63(LAFAYETTE) on a reported apartment building fire but were recalled on arrival. On 1/6 Tanker 62 was dispatched to assist on a reported barn fire in Warwick Township but was recalled before responding. At approximately 18:00 hours Engine 62-1 was dispatched to assist Station 63 on a crash but was recalled enroute. Then at 18:58 hours Engine 62-1 and Squad 62-1 were dispatched along with Medic 6-1 to a motor vehicle crash in the 2000 block of Horseshoe Road.Deputy 62(KAUFFMAN) arrived to find one vehicle off the roadway with heavy front end damage and the driver injuried.Engine 62-1′s crew stabilized the vehicle on their arrival,did a battery disconnect and worked with EMS to remove the patient. On 1/7 Station 62 along with Truck 63 were dispatched to a CO Alarm on Stumptown Road which turned out to be a faulty detector.

 Elam Lapps son operating the sirens around the block

Pictures of the memorial for Elam Lapp.

Station 62 and Ickesburg Station 3 members

Brothers Reuben and Chris Lapp with  Elam Lapps son

Last evening at 23:36 hours Station 62 was alerted along with Truck 204 (MTFR) for the rescue and EMS to a Motor Vehicle Crash with reported Entrapment at the intersection of Creek Hill Road and Hartman Station Road. Chief 62 (BONO) arrived to find one vehicle head on into a tree with the driver heavily entrapped. A short time later it was determined that the victim was deceased. The mutual aid units were recalled with the assignment being held to 62. Engine 62-1′s crew had to do extensive cutting to extricate the victim. Thanks to Station 31 Fire Police for assisting with traffic control.

It is with deep regret that the Witmer Fire Protective Association announces the passing of a fellow firefighter. Elam Lapp was killed in a tragic vehicle accident in Perry County PA where he currently lived with his wife and three young children, Elam was a very active member with the Witmer Fire Protective Association for many years before moving to Perry County and is the son of the late Mose Lapp who was a longtime member and a brother to Captain Reuben Lapp. Although Elam didn’t live in the area anymore he still maintained his membership and caught occasional alarms while in the area, Elam was also a Lieutenant with the Ickesburg Fire Company in Perry County. Our thoughts and prayers are to the Lapp family as well as the Ickesburg Fire Company as the firefighters worse nightmare became reality for them last evening as they responded to this incident and found one of their own. Rest in peace Elam and we will take it from here

The Witmer Fire Protective Association general membership gave the new squad committee the go ahead to order the vehicle that was recommended by the group, this particular vehicle is a 2016 Dodge Ram 3500 with a full crew cab and 8 foot bed and 5.7 Liter V8 Hemi VVT Engine. This decision was made after the members reviewed a 2016 Chevy Silverado 3500, 2016 Ford F-350, and the 2016 Dodge Ram 3500, it was clear to the members after reviewing the vehicles side… by side that the Dodge vehicle appears to be the best suited vehicle for the company due to cab size, maneuverability, bed size and other features. Once the vehicle is ordered you can expect the vehicle to arrive at a minimum of 12 weeks from the order date and then the process of mounting toolboxes, installing lights, vehicle lettering, and mounting tools will begin before the new Squad 62-1 will be placed into service!
Stay tuned for more updates!