Berwyn Fire Company News / Events

Berwyn EMS Covers the West Chester Borough
Two crews from Berwyn spend the evening running calls in the West Chester area

On Saturday, December 13th, two EMS crews from the Berwyn Fire Company traveled to West Chester to cover calls for the Good Fellowship Ambulance Club (GFAC) for the evening while the men and women of GFAC enjoyed their annual banquet.

The crews remained on station from 5 p.m. on Saturday until 7 a.m. on Sunday and stayed busy throughout the evening. Calls consisted of five medical runs and an accident with entrapment. The two crews were joined by a crew from Uwchlan who also responded to three incidents.

In total, the standy-by crews answered nine calls on the overnight having all three ambulances out at separate incidents just after midnight. Also, crews back at Berwyn handled multiple calls in the Tredyffrin/Easttown area.

Thank you to Chaz and the rest of the GFAC crew for their hospitality and dinner! Also thank you to Medic 91 for some of the "geographic support." We hope to be back in the Borough in the future.

On Monday, December 1st, Berwyn personnel headed to the Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors meeting to honor two of our life members.

Retired State Rep. Carole Rubley, State Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith, and State Rep. Paul Drucker were in attendance to share in this special moment recognizing William 'Bill' Butler and the late Henry 'Zeke' Pyle.

Bill joined the Berwyn Fire Company in 1941. He has held the positions of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Trustee on the Board of Directors. Bill served as a Firefighter, Engineer, Ambulance Driver, and Ambulance Attendant during his tenure. In 1974, he sold his own house to expand the fire company building space. He also handled all of the insurance logistics for the membership up until 2007.

Zeke joined the Berwyn Fire Company in 1945 at the age of 15 toward the end of WWII. He held the positions of Chief Engineer, Deputy Engineer, and Firefighter. Zeke served as a Trustee on the Board of Directors for many years. He drove all the fire apparatus by the age of 17 and retired from active duty in 1997. Although Zeke passed away recently and could not be here to share in this moment, his wife, June, accepted the award on his behalf.

Both men received standing ovations from the crowd in what was a very proud moment for the Berwyn Fire Company family.

A thank you goes to Retired State Rep. Carole Rubley for her years of dedication to the 157th District and for starting the process of recognizing volunteer firefighters with 50 or more years of service.

DSC_0051 by kpgclark.

State Representative Barbara McIlvaine Smith with Bill at the Tredyffrin Township Municipal Building.

DSC_0053 by kpgclark.

Mrs. June Pyle and Retired State Representative Carole Rubley at the Tredyffrin Township Municipal Building.

Photos courtesy of Kathy Clark, Berwyn Fire Company Business Member

The Berwyn Fire Company will hold its annual Turkey Raffle on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 7 p.m. at the fire house. All are welcome!

This is our largest fundraising activity of the year. In the past, this event has raised as much as $10,000 to keep our fire and EMS operations running smoothly.

We depend on community support for a significant portion of our budget and hope you will contribute generously.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Sponsor a Turkey ($25)

We will raffle off 65 turkeys that evening. Each turkey you sponsor will carry your business' advertisement, brochure or message to indicate your donation. You will also be acknowledged on a big board of sponsors for all visitors to see.

Provide Door Prizes (worth $5-$10)

Throughout the evening we will give out door prizes including goods, services, discount coupons, and gift certificates. Your contribution will be announced when the prize is awarded, providing local advertising.

Prefer to make a donation? Send checks out to:

Berwyn Fire Company
23 Bridge Ave.
Berwyn, PA 19312
Business Phone (610) 644-6050

Thanks for your participation - We appreciate your support!

The Berwyn Fire Company Halloween Parade is Thursday, October 30th at 7 p.m.

Community members of all ages are invited to attend this annual event. Prizes will be awarded to those in the scariest, funniest, and cutest costumes.

The parade will start at First Ave. and Bridge Ave. and end at the Berwyn fire station. We request that all participants arrive by 6:45 p.m. so we can start at 7 p.m.

Light refreshments and drinks will be served at the fire station, along with the judging of costumes.

The event is being sponsored by the Devon-Berwyn Business Association.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is the official sponsor of national fire prevention week. The '08 NFPA theme is "Prevent Home Fires".

Please take the time this October to practice your escape plan, test your smoke detectors, and check your home for fire hazards.

Berwyn firefighters will be visiting local schools and businesses throughout the month in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of fire prevention and fire safety.

The Berwyn Fire Company Open House and Fire Prevention Event is Saturday, October 11th from 12 Noon - 3:30 p.m.

If you would like to set-up a fire safety visit to your school or business please call 610-644-6050 ext. 22.

Berwyn Firefighters Earn Training Recognition
Most Certified Firefighters at the Firefighter I level in Chester County

The Berwyn Fire Company has recently been honored for its commitment to training and firefighter safety by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. The company was recognized as a Participating Department in the Voluntary Fire Service Certification Program for the second time since 2005.

The fire company has attained gold level participation, which means that 100 percent of Berwyn firefighters, 18 years of age and older have completed Firefighter I (FFI) training. The training is conducted under nationally recognized and sanctioned professional qualifications standards and consists of other courses like Firefighter II that firefighters can certify in. The FFI training consists of interior and exterior firefighting accompanied with CPR, First Aid, Hazardous Materials, and Incident Command System training. The Firefighter I course totals nearly 170 hours of training.

Berwyn becomes the first fire company in Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships, and only one of two Chester County fire companies with volunteers to receive the 100 percent distinction. There are 474fire companies, out of a total of 2,400, in Pennsylvania who have participated with the standards set forth in the program.

The fire company submitted a notarized application to the Fire Service Advisory Committee to be recognized as a Participating Department in early September. A certificate of accomplishment was awarded, along with recognition decals. The decals contain the program seal surrounded with a gold border and have been placed on all of Berwyn's fire trucks.

The program was developed to reduce and, where possible, prevent firefighter injuries and fatalities. According to the 2002 PEMA report, "A Study of Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services", Pennsylvania has the largest volunteer firefighter population, around 70,000, in the country and saves taxpayers $6.0 billion in taxes annually. Eighty-eight percent of the fire companies in the state utilize volunteer staffing, while the other 12 percent employ fully paid staffs.

Berwyn volunteers, part-time staff, and full-time staff that total 70 personnel have successfully passed the certification process for the Firefighter I course.

Craig Peterson, Berwyn Fire Chief, states, "Achieving this goal that we set three years ago is a great accomplishment. It shows the dedication that the men and women of the Berwyn Fire Company have to their community."

Fire officials at Berwyn hope this milestone will encourage others in the county to join the program and promote training as a top priority. The efforts of Berwyn's firefighters should prove beneficial now and in the future since many grants from the county level and higher are looking for training as a key component in being awarded grant monies.

Edward Mann, State Fire Commissioner, will be traveling to the area on Oct. 20th beginning at 6:30 p.m. to formally congratulate Berwyn on its accomplishment, along with local and state dignitaries at the Berwyn fire station.

September 11th "We Will Not Forget"
Berwyn Attends Devon Prep School & Malvern Fire Co. Events

The Berwyn Fire Company attended a ceremony at the Devon Prep School and at the Malvern Fire Company commerating the tragic events of September 11, 2001. We want to thank both organizations for their commitment to remember and honor those who lost their lives in the service of helping others in their greatest time of need.

First responders from the FDNY, NYPD, and PAPD lost their lives that day in what is considered to be one of the largest rescue efforts in the history of the United States.

If not for the sacrifices of these brave individuals, the loss of life would have undoubtedly been higher.

Please keep the fallen first responders and all those who perished on this day in your thoughts and prayers.

Berwyn Fire Company Life Member Passes Away
Henry 'Zeke' Pyle, Chief Engineer Emeritus

The Berwyn Fire Company is saddened to announce the passing of Life Member Henry 'Zeke' Pyle early this morning, September 5th.

Zeke joined the fire company at the age of 15 in 1945. Since World War II took a lot of volunteer firefighters overseas, the age limit was dropped to fill the ranks with those not eligible for the draft. He was a qualified driver on all the fire apparatus by the age of 17.

He held the positions of Firefighter, Chief Engineer, Deputy Engineer, and Trustee on the Board of Directors during his tenure.

Zeke served as a driver of the fire apparatus up until 1997. Despite moving out of the area, he would always stop in the fire station for coffee a few times a month to stay in touch with his friends.

He will be sorely missed by the fire company membership. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Viewing

Alleva Funeral Home, Inc., 1724 E. Lancaster Ave., Paoli, PA 19301
Friday, September 12th @ 6-8 p.m.

Funeral

Trinity Presbyterian Church, 640 Berwyn Ave., Berwyn, PA 19312
Saturday, September 13th @ 10:30 a.m.

Interment will be at the Great Valley Presbyterian Church in Malvern.

Any companies wishing to attend services with personnel and/or apparatus are requested to contact Lt. Eamon Brazunas at 610-644-6050 Ext. 22. Thank you.

6th Annual UMLY Emergency Services Day
Fire safety, live demos, & lots of fun!!!

Area first responders descended on the Upper Main Line YMCA in Berwyn on August 6th for the 6th Annual UMLY Emergency Services Day. The children of the Y camps were treated to live demonstrations throughout the two hour event that is the highlight of the summer camp season.

Personnel and units from Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, & Philadelphia counties were represented. The event made the 6 p.m. newscast on Channel 6 Wednesday and the local newspapers covered the activities.

To view a slide show of the event on the web, please visit the following link from the Main Line Life:

Thank you to the following agencies and 40 volunteers for your assistance in making this event possible for the children of our shared community:

Berwyn Fire Co.
Paoli Fire Co.
Malvern Fire Co.
East Whiteland Fire Co.
Westwood Fire Co.
Valley Forge Fire Co.
Radnor Fire Co.
Newtown Square Fire Co.
King of Prussia Fire Co.
Narberth EMS
Tredyffrin Twp. Police Dept. K-9
Chester County Communications Team
Chester County Haz-Mat Team
PENNSTAR Flight Services
SkyCare Flight Services

Special thanks to the Neopolitan Deli & Restaurant, Abel Brothers Towing & Automotive, Inc., & Tom Door's Exxon for your continued support of this event.

Berwyn's Bike EMS is in service
Bike EMS will allow for quick responses at various community events

Over this past weekend, nine Berwyn EMTs completed the 32-hour International Police Mountain Biking Association course which taught and certified the participants in various bike maneuvers such as riding in crowds, up and down steps, and other things needed to deliver EMS to crowded areas. Berwyn's Bike Team will formally be unveiled on July 4 at the Tredyffrin/Easttown fireworks.

Berwyn will provide this service using four Cannondale Interceptors, fully equipped with bandaging, splinting, and oxygen supplies as well as an AED. The team will be able to provide quick care to patients who are in areas, such as within Wilson Park, who may not be able to be reached by an ambulance crew quickly.

The team will be deployed on various community events and looks forward to providing another fine service to the Tredyffrin/Easttown area and to our neighbors.

A special thank you goes out to Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors/The Trident Group, Firstrust Bank, and the Office of State Rep. Duane Milne for their generous donations which made this possible. The team was fully equipped using these three funding source. Please support these businesses as they have supported their local emergency services.

Contact the station at 610-644-6050 or email emscaptain@berwynfirecompany.org if you think that our bike team can be of service to you.

The Radnor Fire Company regrets to announce the passing of Honorary Active Member Harold D. Legerton on Monday, June 16th. Harold was a 32 year member of the Radnor Fire Company serving 16 years as Chief Engineer and 21 years as a director. He was awarded the Charles E. Clark Memorial award in 1966. He retired as an Active Member in 1994.

Berwyn volunteers attended the funeral service on Friday, June 20th, with Tower 2 and joined forces with Tower 47 from the King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company to make an archway with the American Flag draped between the ladder trucks. This was a memorable site for family, friends, and the entire Radnor Fire Co. as the funeral procession made its way into the cemetery.

Station 2 offers its condolences and prayers to the Radnor Fire Co. and to Firefighter Legerton's friends and family.

Berwyn's Spa Car Wash sponsored an event to benefit the Berwyn Fire Company on June 7th. The Berwyn Fire Company thanks owner, Neil Jain, for his generous contribution.

Local residents stopped by for hamburgers and hot dogs which were also provided by the Spa Car Wash. Numerous Station 2 volunteers donated their time to make this event a success.

Brendan Brazunas was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief. Brazunas joined the fire company in 1991 and previously served as a Captain and Lieutenant.

Brendan is employed as a Corporal with the Upper Merion Twp. Police Department and is married with a daughter. His two brothers are also volunteers at the fire company.

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Shawn Savering was promoted to Fire Captain. Savering joined the fire company in 1992 and previously served as a Lieutenant and Chief Engineer.

Shawn is employed by the Media Fire Company as a Firefighter/EMT and is married with two sons. He was honored with the Temple K. Gregg Memorial distinguished service award in 1998.

Congratulations to Brendan and Shawn on their promotions!

During the week of May 19^th, Berwyn's EMS Providers celebrated National EMS Week. Throughout the week, the EMS leadership provided various functions and recognized our volunteers for all their hard work.

Featured Speaker Chief Billy Goldfeder, E.F.O., has been a firefighter since 1973 and a chief since 1982. He currently serves as a Deputy Chief of Loveland-Symmes Fire Department in Southwest Ohio. He is a contributing editor for Fire Engineering and a monthly columnist with Firehouse Magazine's "Close Calls" and a host of www.firefighterclosecalls.com.

Thank you to the 46 first responders who attended the training seminar and to Chief Goldfeder for an excellent presentation.

Participants came from the following companies:

Radnor Fire Co.
Paoli Fire Co.
Malvern Fire Co.
Goshen Fire Co.
King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Co.
Perkiomen Township Fire Co.
Media Fire Co.
Concordville Fire Co.

Line of Duty Death in Delaware County: Lt. Nicholas Picozzi, II
Berwyn Fire Co. Responds w/ Support

On Wednesday, March 5th, Lt. Nicholas Picozzi, II, 35, died from injuries sustained, while battling a house fire in Upper Chichester. He was a seven year member of the Lower Chichester Fire Department (Delaware County, Station 39) and is survived by his wife and two sons. His father and mother are both members of Station 39 as well.

Engine 2-2 relocated with a crew of 4 to Chester Heights Fire Co. (Delaware County, Station 71) during the fire due to the number of units committed at the fire scene.

To offer additional support, Station 2 sent an all-volunteer crew to cover calls in the Lower Chichester area during the viewing on March 10th from 6 p.m. - 6 a.m.

Engine 2-2 responded with Claymont Fire Co. (New Castle County, Delaware) Engine 135 on two calls during the standby.

The first incident was a brush fire in the area of I-95 and Blueball Ave. Both crews worked together and extinguished a 30' by 10' area of brush. The second call was for an electrical fire inside a house in the state of Delaware. A small fire was found in an electric socket and quickly mitigated.

For information about services or to donate to Lt. Picozzi's Memorial Fund, please visit www.lowerchi39.com.

The Berwyn Fire Company sends its thoughts and prayers to the family of Lt. Picozzi and to the entire Lower Chichester FD.

New Rescue/Pumper Added to Apparatus Fleet
2007 Pierce Enforcer placed into service as Engine 2-2

The Berwyn Fire Company is happy to announce that they have placed a 2007 Pierce Enforcer Rescue/Pumper into service as Engine 2-2. The unit is a replacement for the previous Engine 2-2, a Ferrara Rescue/Pumper. The apparatus features rescue-style compartmentation with roll-up doors, a 1500 GPM pump and 750 gallon water tank.

Glenmoore Fire Co. Volunteer Passes Away After Lifelong Cancer Battle
Father and Public Servant

The Berwyn Fire Company offers its sincere condolences to the family and members of the Glenmoore Fire Company on the passing of Assistant Chief Joshua Wuertz this past January.

Joshua D. Wuertz, 34, of Glenmoore, a police officer in North Coventry for almost 10 years, died of leukemia Saturday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Wuertz was first diagnosed with leukemia when he was 11. The disease went into remission and returned three times, and he had two bone marrow transplants, said his mother, Esther Wuertz. Through it all, she said, he excelled at life.

He was a cross-country runner on his track team at Twin Valley High School in Elverson and played softball on a church team as recently as last summer, his mother said. For 18 years, he was a member of the Glenmoore Volunteer Fire Company and served as assistant fire chief.

Mr. Wuertz earned a bachelor's degree from Millersville University and graduated from Reading Police Academy. He joined the North Coventry Police Department in 1998. He collected Hess model trucks and baseball cards and was an avid Phillies, Eagles and Flyers fan. In addition to his mother, Mr. Wuertz is survived by his father, Charles; his wife, Shannen Blevins Wuertz; a daughter, Lillyen; and a brother.

The family requests that no flowers be sent but would appreciate memorial contributions to the Wuertz Family Fund, c/o North Coventry Police Department, 845 S. Hanover St., Pottstown, PA 19465, or to the Glen Moore Fire Company, Box 221, 578 Fairview Road, Glenmoore, PA 19343.

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Berwyn Fire Company's dedicated group of volunteers and paid staff stayed busy this year answering 3,072 calls in the community.

For the second year in a row Berwyn's firefighters responded over 800 times to numerous types of incidents. Some of the types of calls answered were for house fires, fire alarms, auto-accidents, fuel spills, and electrical emergencies just to name a few.

The EMT's and Paramedics continue to see the demand of EMS increase dramatically in the area with over 2,200 calls responded too. Over 50% of the emergency medical calls required Advanced Life Support (ALS) transport.

The Fire Police were requested an all-time record number of times outside of their normal duties of responding on fire dispatches. They assisted numerous police departments in the area including the Tredyffrin and Easttown Police.

Official Call Volume Statistics

The Berwyn Fire Company regrets to announce the passing of Life Member Lawrence 'Larry' Adams on November 30th at the age of 91.

Larry joined the fire company after World War II in 1945 after serving in the military.

Due to his injuries sustained in the war, Larry could not actively run fire calls, but he contributed significantly behind the scenes.

Over the years he held the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and President. While President Berwyn's Ambulance service was founded in 1951 and the first fund drives were started under his administration.

Larry continued to actively help with the fund drive up until 2004. Often he would spend two to three hours opening envelopes and counting money.

He is survived by daughter Pam, wife of past Chief Vincent J. DiMartini, son, past Chief Elwood Adams and five grand children.

Larry will be remembered for the smile on his face as he would walk into the fire station and for his willingness to give back to his community.

Services will be as follows:

Viewing and service will be held at Mauger's Funeral Home on Monument Avenue in Malvern, Monday, December 3rd from 9:30 - 11 a.m. with burial to immediately follow at Great Valley Presbyterian.

As the temperature outside drops, families take to the indoors to keep safe and warm. What they may not realize is that turning up the heat can increase the risk of home heating fires.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly half of all home-heating fires occur during the winter months. The latest NFPA research shows that heating equipment was involved in 62,200 reported

U.S.

home structure fires in 2005, with associated losses of 670 civilian deaths, 1,550 civilian injuries, and $909 million in direct property damage.

"While these numbers are frightening, nearly all of these fires are preventable," said Chief Craig Peterson. "We can reduce the number of home heating fires in our community by taking some simple precautions and using heating equipment properly."

The Berwyn Fire Co. recommends some simple home heating safety tips, so residents can help keep our community safe and warm this winter.

1) Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.

3) Plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.

4) Inspect for cracked, frayed or broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.

7) Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home when one sounds, they all sound. Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

8) Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.

Feel free to contact the fire station at 610-644-6050 if you have any questions. Happy Thanksgiving!

Most of our residents have received their raffle mailing. It is very important that you get your voucher in by November 12th! The more tickets your buy, the higher your chances. We give away 35 Turkeys and 10 Bonus Oversized Turkeys just by pulling tickets at random! You will get a phone call when you win!

If you don't think your chances are high enough, don't worry! Come to the Berwyn Fire Company on Wendesday, November 14th at 7pm. We have 2 hours of Turkey-winning-fun to be had. Another 30 Turkeys will be given away. Most chances are only $0.50 each as we spin the wheel. Many Door prizes and some great food will be available as well to all who come out and support our fund raiser.

If you have any questions about your mailing or the event, please contact Mike Baskin, Chris Bullock or Chris Greisser at the fire company business line: 610-644-6050.

Berwyn Fire Company

Halloween Parade

Tuesday, October 30th

We are asking everyone to gather at the fire station at 6:00 p.m.

The parade will start at 6:30 p.m. beginning at First Ave. & Bridge Ave.

The parade will proceed straight down Bridge Ave. led by a fire engine and will end at the fire station.

Free food and drinks will be provided in the firehouse, while the Berwyn-Devon Business Association completes the costume judging.

All kids are invited to come dressed in your best costume and participate in this annual community event. Prizes will be given to those with the best costume in many different categories.

Firefighter Chris Bullock, Ambassador of Fun, can be contacted at 610-644-6050 with any questions.

Berwyn Fire Co. Announces National Fire Prevention Week
Open House & Fire Prevention Day Sat., Oct. 13th

The Berwyn Fire Company will be holding its annual fire prevention and open house event on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the fire station at 23 Bridge Avenue, Berwyn.

Berwyn Fire Co. Attends Tredyffrin 300th Celebration
Volunteers Provide FIRE/EMS Protection

Tredyffrin Township celebrated its 300th Birthday on Saturday, September 15th at Wilson Farm Park.

The Berwyn Fire Company had 12 volunteer FIRE/EMS personnel who donated their time at no cost to Tredyffrin Township during this event, which began at 8:00 a.m. with a 5K Run/Walk and ended with a spectacular fireworks show just after 9:00 p.m.

Congratulations to Tredyffrin Township on this historic milestone!

> Assisted the Tredyffrin Township Police Dept. with searching for 3 missing children. All were located quickly and reunited with their families.

September 11, 2001 Memorial Service
We will never forget our fallen FDNY, NYPD & PAPD comrades

The Malvern Fire Company hosted a public ceremony at their station in Malvern Borough, which honored our fallen comrades from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Six years have passed, but we must not forget the firefighters, police and EMS personnel who rushed into the Twin Towers to evacuate and rescue trapped civilians. We must not forget the families and those who responded to the Pentagon and to the crash of Flight 93 just outside Pittsburgh.

This anniversary highlights the bravery of those in died in the line of duty and reminds us all of the importance of planning and supporting the first responder community before a major tragedy occurs.

Please continue to keep all first responders and their families who support them in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you to the Malvern Fire Company for continuing to honor this day and allowing us to provide a fire standby crew with Engine 2-2.

In August, first responders converged on the Upper Main Line YMCA for the 5th Annual UMLY Emergency Services Day. This two-hour event highlights the summer camp season for all the day camps, which involves nearly 500 children.

A Vehicle Rescue Demo, Police K-9 Demo and Fire Extinguisher Training were just some of the activities that the kids got to see and participate with.

What started out as a small venture five years ago, as now evolved into a unique event, which aims to increase the awareness of emergency services among the youth of our communities in Tredyffrin, Easttown, Willistown, East Whiteland, Newtown townships and Malvern Borough.

There were 42 volunteers and 14 paid personnel who sacrificed their time and got a nice sun burn at no cost to the YMCA.

These are the following organizations that attended:

Chester County
Berwyn Fire Co.
Paoli Fire Co.
Malvern Fire Co.
East Whiteland Fire Co.
Valley Forge Fire Co.
Westwood Fire Co.
Chester County Haz-Mat Team

Tredyffrin Twp. Police Dept.
Easttown Twp. Police Dept.

Delaware County
Radnor Fire Co.
Newtown Square Fire Co.

Montgomery County
Gladwyne Fire Co.

Aeromedical Helicopters
PENNSTAR (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania)
SKYCARE (Brandywine Hospital)
JEFFSTAT (Thomas Jefferson Hospital)

Special thanks to Abel Brothers Towing, Signs and Wonders, WAWA-Strafford, Mr. Bottle Beverage, Neapolitan Deli, Party Land & Mario's Pizza for their donations!!!

On Tuesday, August 21st the BFC took delivery of 11 new Philips AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators). These AEDs allow for treatment of patients in cardiac arrest by shocking the heart back to a sustainable rythym. It is important that this be done within the first 10 minutes of a cardiac arrest to increase the chances of srurvival.

Berwyn now has AEDs on all fire trucks, the traffic safety unit, all ambulances, the chief truck, the command truck, EMS Captain vehicle, Fire Police Captain vehicle, as well as one in the firehouse.

Berwyn has also decided to donate two old AEDs to stations in Mississippi that lost all of their equipment during Hurricane Katrina in 2005..

Thanks to Firefighter Glen Morgan and the EMS Officers who assisted with this project.

On Tuesday, Aug. 21st, the Berwyn Fire Company's Rescue truck received its certification from the PA Dept. of Health as a Quick Response unit. This enables Berwyn to use Rescue 2 to provide medical care to the community when the ambulances are on other calls. The Rescue is equipped with various medical equipment including an AED.

Thank you to EMT Alanna Miller for stocking the supplies during her Conestoga High School senior internship at Berwyn, as well as, ALS Supervisor Doug Wilhelm for putting on the DOH stickers.

This is just another example of Berwyn continuing its excellent and cutting edge service to the community.

Paramedic/FF Doug Wilhelm puts the final touches on Rescue 2 - the PA DOH Medallions. Thanks Doug!

The Berwyn Fire Company and Radnor Fire Company squared off in a spirited softball game on a hot and humid afternoon on Sunday, August 26th. The sporting event was held at Filipone Park on S. Devon Ave. in Radnor Township.

We would like to thank the members of the Radnor Fire Company for barbequing up some great food. Over 40 first responders and their families participated in what is expected to become an annual event.

Station 2 looks forward to next years match up, but for now the coveted axe trophy will be prominently displayed in the backroom.

Next Up: The Tredyffrin Township Police Department

Final Score:

Berwyn: 14

Radnor: 6

The Berwyn Fire Company is currently accepting applications for a Full Time Firefighter/Paramedic.

Berwyn Fire Company offers a competitive salary and full, comprehensive, company paid benefits, for the qualified full-time employee. Shift is Monday-Thursday (6:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.)

Interested Firefighter/Paramedics should fax or mail resumes and references to: Berwyn Fire Company Attn: Sheryl Drach 23 Bridge Avenue Berwyn, PA 19312 Fax: 610-644-1830.

Ellen Dorley, a longtime EMT with the Berwyn Fire Company, died suddenly after being involved in an auto-accident, July 27, 2007.

She was the wife of Thomas F. Dorley and a devoted mother of Justin and Caroline Fregeau, Shilo, Tegan, Mary Caitlin, Carissa and Jorja Dorley. She is survived by her parents Dr. Edmund and Josephine McGurk. Also survived by one sister and 3 brothers.

Ellen was a dedicated member to the Berwyn Fire Company and was a selfless public servant covering many daytime volunteer ambulance shifts. She was active as the company Treasurer for nearly 6 years and helped to plan the fire company's 100th Anniversary celebration in 1994.

Ellen's husband Tom and sister-in-law Jennifer both served the Berwyn Fire Company as FF/EMT professionals for many years. Her brother Ted is the current Chair of the By-Laws Committee and has provided 19 years of volunteer service to the community.

She will be missed by all of those who knew her at the firehouse. We ask that you remember her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to The Dorley/ Fregeau Childrens Fund, PO Box 421, Glenside, PA. 19038.

Berwyn Firefighters Travel to Wagontown for Award
Commitment to Firefighter Safety & Citizen Protection Recognized

The Berwyn Fire Company was recently honored for its continued commitment to training and firefighter safety by the Chester County Department of Emergency Services at the Chester County Spring '07 Firefighter Graduation held at Wagontown Fire Company on June 26th.

The company was previously recognized by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner as a Participating Department in the Voluntary Fire Service Certification Program in 2005.

This program was developed to reduce and, where possible, prevent firefighter injuries and fatalities. According to the 2002 PEMA report, 'A Study of Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services', Pennsylvania has the largest volunteer firefighter population, around 70,000, in the country and saves taxpayers $6.0 billion in taxes annually. Eighty-eight percent of the fire companies in the state utilize volunteer staffing, while the other 12 percent employ fully paid staffs.

The certification program is set up at levels of 10, 50, 75 and 100 percent compliance. Once an organization is recognized, then it must re-certify every three years.

The Berwyn Fire Co. holds a silver level participation, which means that 75 percent of its firefighters have completed at a minimum Firefighter I training. The training is conducted under nationally recognized and sanctioned professional qualifications standards. This training consists of interior and exterior firefighting accompanied with CPR, First Aid and Hazardous Materials classes. The Firefighter I course totals 150 hours.

Since receiving this status in '05, Berwyn firefighters have worked hard and are closing in fast on the 100 percent mark for the 2008 re-certification process.

The Berwyn Fire Co. remains the only Fire Company in Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships to receive this distinction and is 1 of 13 organizations in Chester County to be be recognized with this special honor.

Chief Craig Peterson and Lt. Eamon Brazunas proudly representing the Berwyn Fire Company.

The Charleston Fire Department lost 9 firefighters during a large sofa warehouse fire on Tuesday, June 19th in South Carolina. The firefighters had rescued two trapped employees before they became trapped themselves in a collapse of the building, while searching for additional people in distress.

The Final Roll Call

(Rank, Name, Age & Time of Service)

Captain William 'Billy' Hutchinson, 48 (30 years)
Captain Mike Benke, 49 (29 years)
Captain Louis Mulkey, 34 (11.5 years)
Engineer Mike Kesley, 40 (12.5 years)
Engineer Bradford 'Brad' Baity, 37 (9 years)
Asst. Engineer Michael French, 27 (1.5 years)
Firefighter James 'Earl' Drayton, 56 (32 years)
Firefighter Brandon Thompson, 27 (4 years)
Firefighter Melven Champaign, 46 (2 years)

The Berwyn Fire Company sends its prayers and thoughts to all of those affected by this tragic event.

Donations for the fallen firefighter's families can be made at any Bank of America or send checks to the City of Charleston Firemen's Fund, P.O. Box 304, Charleston, S.C. 29402.

Main Line Chamber of Commerce Announces Scholarship Awards
Berwyn Volunteer Firefighters Receive Recognition

Evaluating the scholarship applications and selecting the recipients of the 2007 Foundation Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Scholarships was a very challenging task. The number of applicants was double that of the previous year. The exceptional quality of the applicants' credentials was outstanding.

More than 20 percent of the applicants were female and 20 percent of this year's applicants were EMTs. Applicants represented 14 different fire companies and ambulance corps on the Main Line and there were multiple applicants from nine of the 14 companies.

The Main Line Chamber Foundation budgeted $12,000 for the Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Scholarship program for 2007 but was able to increase the amount to $14,500. The application deadline was May 1, 2007. Once all applications were determined to be qualified, the review and selection process was conducted by a task force comprised of members of the Foundation Board of Directors. It was determined that the initial $12,000 allocated would be awarded in increments of $1,000 as planned and the additional $2,500 would be awarded in increments of $500 since there were so many deserving, extraordinary volunteer firefighters and EMTs in the scholarship award process this year.

With all of this background information said, The Main Line Chamber Foundation proudly announces the 2007 Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Scholarship recipients from the Berwyn Fire Company:

Christine Nemetz (Gettysburg College)

Helen Stead (University of West Florida)

This story and more information about the Main Line Chamber of Commerce can be found at www.mlcc.org.

Berwyn attended the Malvern Memorial Parade with Tower 2, Engine 2-1 and Amb. 2-1 on Sunday, June 3rd. Prior to the parade Station 2 firefighters responded to assist the Newtown Square Fire Co. with a reported building fire.

Despite the forecast of rain showers, the turnout from the community was excellent. The parade route made its way through the historic streets of Malvern and is billed as the oldest running Memorial Parade in America.

Nearly 1,000 people attended the annual event that honors our veterans and remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Please keep Berwyn FF Jim Spofford, 1st Lt. U.S Army, as well as all service men and women protecting our nation's independence in your thoughts and prayers.

Berwyn wins big at Westwood's 60th
4 awards were claimed by the BFC at Westwood's 60th Anniversary Parade

After more than a week of preparation, members of the Berwyn Fire Company headed West to participate in the Westwood Fire Company's 60th Anniversary celebration. Engine 2-1, Ambulance B, Traffic 2, and Command 2 made the trek to Westwood to be judged as well as participate in the parade along with marchers from the BFC.

When all was said and done, Engine 2-1 won first place for Best Appearing/Equipped Pumper (1980-1989), Amb. B won third place for Best Appearing/Equipped Ambulance, Traffic 2 won first place for Best Appearing/Equipped Fire Police Unit, and the entire company took home a second place Judges Award.

Congrats and thanks to all the members who put so much work in to the preparation as well as those who participated. Also, thank you to Chief Sly and the rest of the Westwood members for the invite - it was a great time and we look forward to seeing you all again soon!

The Berwyn Fire Company Color Guard

(L-R) FF Will Merriman, FF Chris Bullock, Lt. Eamon Brazunas & FF Mike Ford

Berwyn Fire Co. Annouces National EMS Week
Berwyn EMS Celebrates 57 Years of Service to Tredyffrin/Easttown Community

The Berwyn Fire Company is proud to announce the celebration of the 34^th Annual National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) week, May 20-26, 2007. The men and women of the Berwyn Fire Company EMS have been a staple of the community, responding to over 2000 calls in 2006. There are currently 45 volunteer and 9 paid EMS personnel that handle calls on a round-the-clock basis.

In 2002, the Berwyn Fire Company enhanced the service it delivers and assumed responsibility for providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) to a large section of Tredyffrin and Easttown townships. This service is yet another way that Berwyn Fire Company EMS is able to ensure that our community has access to top-notch care as quickly as possible.

EMS has moved from horse drawn carriages in the past, to Berwyn's first ambulance, a 1955 Cadillac, to today's units with modern life saving equipment and highly trained personnel. The officers at the Berwyn Fire Company would like to recognize our volunteers and career staff as well as all of the EMS services on the Main Line for their service and dedication.

The 6^th Annual Malvern Federal Savings Bank Berwyn Victory Run was a huge success, raising over $2,500.

The Berwyn Fire Company Running Team came out in full force to support the Berwyn Veterans Memorial. There were 228 people who participated in the 5K Race/Walk that benefits and honors our local heroes who have served our country.

The following first responders answered the call to run:

6^th       Eamon Brazunas
38^th     Kyle Kmetetz (Retired US Army-Purple Heart Recipient)
62^nd     Zach Valocchi
65^th     Mary Ellen Toscani
73^rd     Gabrielle Wasser
94^th     William Merriman
95^th     Nam Truong
99^th     Matt Valocchi
115^th   Alanna Miller
136^th   Liz Field
137^th   Matt O'Donnell

Thank you to the Station 2 Fire Police who provided traffic control during the race, along with the Easttown and Tredyffrin Police Departments.

For additional information about the Berwyn Veterans Memorial go to http://www.berwynveteransmemorial.com.

Devon Troop 45 Visits the Firehouse
Boy Scouts & Parents Learn About Fire Safety

Sixteen boy scouts and their parents visited the firehouse Monday night, April 9th, and learned about the dangers of fire and how to prevent it.

Many topics were discussed during the 2-hour visit, including Exit Drills in the Home, Common Causes of Home Fires, Smoke Detector Placement in the Home and Proper Fire Extinguisher Use (Pull-Aim-Squeeze-Sweep).

The evening culminated with a simulated oven fire that all the boy scouts learned how to safely extinguish with a dry chemical fire extinguisher.

Berwyn Firefighters Attend Structural Burn Training
Continuing Education Remains Top Priority

Berwyn firefighters traveled to the West Chester Fire Department Training Grounds on Tuesday, March 27th. While enroute, Tower 2 had a mechanical problem and the crew got stranded on Rt. 202 just about 2 miles from its destination.

After about 15 minutes Malvern FF Chris Totaro saw the crew in need of a ride and stopped to render assistance. Thanks to Chris the crew was still able to attend the training session that Malvern Fire Co. sponsored.

During the evening, firefighters got to fight a 1st floor fire, 2nd floor fire and basement fire. Throughout the evolutions proper ventilation practices were stressed, along with accountability and safety.

Although the fire situations are in a somewhat controlled environment, they provide a great opportunity to improve skills like hose advances and fireground communication.

The ladder truck will hopefully be fixed in the next two weeks and back in service. In the meantime our mutual aid companies will assist us in its absence.

2006 saw the men and women of the Berwyn Fire Company respond to 842 fire calls and 2,192 medical calls. This was one of the busiest years since the fire company was founded in 1894.