Training

The Bart Township Fire Company trains to PA State Fire Academy Levels. On the 2nd & 3rd Wednesday nights of each month, the Company holds an in house training refresher. The company trains in Basic Firefighting (166 hours), PA Vehicle Rescue Technician (48 Hours), Haz-Mat Operations (24 hours) plus other specialized classes such as Farm Rescue, Engine & Truck Company Operations, EVOC, Tanker Operations, Water Rescue etc. We spend over 3,000 hours a year as a company doing training in addition to fire calls and fundraising.

5/18/2009 - Tonight members gathered at the station for a 3 hour ground ladders refresher course. Instructors Bob Devonshire and Jason Greer reviewed ladder components, maintenance, proper ground ladder placement and throwing 16, 24 & 35 foot ladders. Members also had a chance to review and utilize Strasburg Fire Companies Truck (Quint) 5-10.

04/20/2009 18:30 - Tonight members gathered at the station for the monthly in-house training. Crews refreshed there skills performing RIT man down evolutions. RIT teams rescued a downed firefighter in the basement with the rescue tools, RIT bag and then carried the firefighter back out to safety. Thanks to Training Officer Larry Lucarino and Quarryville FC Rescue 5-7 for refilling the air cylinders.

11/12/2008 - For this weeks in house training, Sky Flightcare medical helicopter based out of Brandywine Hospital did an in-service fly in. Members gathered in the banquet hall for a presentation on the helicopter and how to setup a landing zone. At 20:00 hours, the helicopter landed in the grass field behind the station. Members had the opportunity to see inside the helicopter and ask questions. Special thanks to Air 3-9 from The Liberty Fire Company of New Holland for filling our in house cascade system this evening. Check out their new website.

9/27/2008 - This past Saturday 27 members gathered at the station for an 8 hour Managing Farm Machinery Entanglement Class. The class was paid for by a $2,500.00 grant from the PA Department of Agriculture, (FSOH) Farm Safety and Occupational Health Program . This class is the 3rd in a series of 5 classes and is a follow up to last years Introduction to Farm Emergencies & Managing Farm Tractor Rollovers. The morning started with classroom lecture and moved out back to the auction barn for tabletop exercises. After a great lunch provided by the Ladies Auxiliary, crews headed out to the field for hands on entanglement scenarios. Rescue 5-7 from Quarryville FD arrived with a crew of 7 to supplement Rescue/Engine 5-1-1 with cribbing, airbags, hydraulic tools and jacks. Crews split up into 4 groups and worked on removing patients from 2 corn pickers, a crimper and a hay bailer. After a rain soaked afternoon of machinery extrication, crews moved the apparatus back into the station to dry out and wipe down equipment. Thanks to the 2 local used farm machinery shops for donating the machinery for the class. Also thanks to Eric J. Rickenbach of Ag Rescue Training and his instructors Travis Martin, Randall Martin, Dave Foust and Irwin Hamm for providing us with excellent instruction. Thanks to everyone who came out and made this a great training.

8/20/2008 - Tonight we invited the Brothers from Station 5-10 Strasburg Fire Company to the station for some joint vehicle extrication. The night started off by each company reviewing each others apparatus and equipment. Crews then intermixed and worked together on vehicle extrication scenarios. Crews wrapped up then headed to the lounge for some snacks and fellowship. Thanks for coming down.

7/19/2008 - Strasburg FC requested assistance from there 1st alarm assignment for a simulated building fire at the Strasburg Railroad Museum. The ISO drill was held at the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center. Engine 5-1-1 drafted from a fold a tank at the scene, Engine 5-1-2 setup a fill site at the pond to fill tankers and tankers 5-1-1 and 5-1-2 shuttled water along with several other tankers. Thanks to all members who came out to participate on short notice and thanks to Chief Sam Terry of Station 21 Union FC of Oxford for providing a cover engine while we were at the drill.

6/18/2008 - The company is hosting a PA Department of Health vehicle rescue training class at the station. This is a 3 module 48 hour class. Module 1 basic vehicle rescue awareness 16 hours, module 2 basic vehicle operations 16 hours, module 3 basic vehicle rescue technician 16 hours. Firefighters are now working on the final Module 3. Station 5-1 has 8 members enrolled in the class along with members from Station 3-9 Liberty FC, Station 4-3 Gordonville FC and Station 5-8 Rawlinsville FC. Special thanks to instructor Bob Devonshire (Strasburg FC, Deputy) and Quarryville FC Rescue 5-7.

5/7/2008 - The company is hosting a PA Department of Health vehicle rescue training class at the station. This is a 3 module 48 hour class. Module 1 basic vehicle rescue awareness 16 hours, module 2 basic vehicle operations 16 hours, module 3 basic vehicle rescue technician. Station 5-1 has 8 members enrolled in the class along with members from Station 3-9 Liberty FC, Station 4-3 Gordonville FC and Station 5-8 Rawlinsville FC. Special thanks to instructors Bob Devonshire (Strasburg FC, Deputy) and Jamie Rohrer (East Petersburg FC, Chief).

4/26/2008 - This past Saturday, 16 members completed the 16 hour EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operators Course) at the LCPSTC (Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center). The course provides instruction for emergency personnel who will be involved in the operation of fire apparatus. The course content includes defensive driving, emergency response, vehicle maintenance and the driver training obstacle course. Members drove Squad/QRS 5-1 & Engine 5-1-2 through the obstacle course. Thanks to course instructor Rich Ressel.

4/5/2008 - Over 20 Bart Township Fire Company members and several members from the Refton Community Fire Company Station 5-9 completed the 16 hour PA State Pump Operations 1 course this past weekend. Crews spent Monday and Wednesday night in classroom lecture going over pump anatomy, pump panel layout and friction loss. On Saturday, Engine 5-1-1, Tanker 5-1 and Engine 5-9-2 traveled to the pond on Park Ave in Quarryville Borough to work on drafting. Crews were treated to a pizza luncheon at the station. After lunch, Tanker 5-1's portable water tank was setup to work on relay pumping. Thanks to PA State Instructor Neil Gunnet for teaching the class.

2/13/2008 - Tonight members finished up the Annual Haz-Mat Ops refresher class. The 1st portion, held last week, was classroom based and tonight's portion was hands on. The Lancaster County Hazardous Materials team Station 2-9 brought down Haz-mat 2-9-1, Haz-mat 2-9-2 and Containment Trailer 2-9 down to the station. Haz-mat team members, led by Chief 2-9 Ryan Miller, went over the apparatus and different technical haz-mat equipment the units carry. 2-9 members went over how to setup a decontamination area and ways to dike up spills, absorb chemicals and plug containers.

1/16/2008 - For this Wednesday evenings in-house training, members gathered for our annual SCBA refresher at the station. Members were checked off on various SCBA skills and tasks..

12/19/2007 - Tonight's in-house training involved several scenarios. Members performed a controlled burn on a shed outback of the station. Crews worked on deploying the new bumper line hose load and repacking it. The new bumper line configuration aides in quicker deployment with less hose entanglement. Members also utilized the new combination Elkhart Chief automatic/smooth bore nozzle, worked on pulling and repacking the side cross lays and reviewed ground ladders.

9/29/2007 - This past Friday evening and all day Saturday, members gathered at the station for a training session. The training was paid for by a $2,500.00 grant from the PA Department of Agriculture, (FSOH) Farm Safety and Occupational Health Program. Friday night entailed a 4 hour classroom lecture on the Introduction to Farm Emergencies. Saturday started off by touring a local Amish farm and then members broke up into groups. Crews worked on table top scenarios, patient care and setting up a picket system for stabilization. After a great lunch provided by the Ladies Auxiliary, crews headed out back for hands on scenarios. Rescue 5-7 from Quarryville FD arrived to supplement Engine 5-1-1 with cribbing, airbags and jacks for all the scenarios present. Crews worked on tractor rollover stabilization and extrication. Crews also worked on removing patients from tractors. Thanks to Eric Richenbach and his group of helpers for making it a great training session.

9/13/2007 - Tonight Todd Stahl of White Cap Rescue Training came down to the station and presented the Water Rescue Awareness class for 1st responders. The class reviewed various types of floatation devices, water rescue helmets and general information for anyone who may respond to a water emergency. Thanks Todd.

8/15/2007 - Tonight the Brothers from Station 4-2 Gap Fire Company came over and joined us for vehicle extrication exercises. The night started off by each company reviewing each others apparatus and equipment. Followed by a live airbag deployment ( airbag-video1 airbag-video2 ). Crews then worked together on vehicle extrication scenarios. We had the opportunity to use Gap's new Holmatro hydraulic rescue tools that they are slowly phasing into service. Crews wrapped up around 21:00 hours and were treated to snacks and ice-cream in the lounge.

8/15/2007 - The month of August has been set aside for in-house training refresher on vehicle extrication. Wednesday night crews practiced vehicle stabilization, using the cribbing blocks, rescue struts and air bags. This coming Wednesday night crews will be cutting apart the cars along with our neighboring rescue 4-2 Gap Fire Company.

7/25/2007 - Tonight the members practiced search and rescue on the maze setup in the outbuilding. Members were split up into 2 person crews and mask covers were placed over their face pieces to block out the light. Crews practiced rescuing a downed firefighter dummy, practiced on the RIT bag connections and crawling through the wall breach.

7/18/2007 - Engine 5-1-2, Tanker 5-1 and Squad 5-1 traveled to a local creek to refresh on drafting setup. During the dry seasons, such as the one we are in currently, the local creeks tend to dry up. Therefore, it requires a dam to be constructed with a ladder and tarp to ensure enough water for the engines to draft water.

4/4/2007 - The Wednesday night training crew split up this evening. The 1st crew on Tanker 5-1 assisted in a controlled burning of a shed. The 2nd crew laid out all 1,800 feet of LDH (large diameter hose) on Engine 5-1-1. They pressure tested, cleaned and repacked all the hose. Thanks to everyone who helped.

09/30/2006 - On Saturday, 9 members traveled to the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center to complete the practical portion of the structural burn class. Great job to all members in attendance.

08/16/2006 - Members from Paradise Fire Company joined us this evening for a joint vehicle rescue training scenario. Crews spilt up and worked on different extrication evolutions.

07/15/2006 - 5-1 members traveled to the LCPSTC (Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center) on Saturday. The temperature was in the mid 90's and very humid. The crews rotated between the new sked board setup, hydrant layout, smoke maze, propane tank and window simulators. Gap Fire Company arrived at lunchtime with Truck 4-2. Crews split and did truck work and the others worked the fire building simulator. Special thanks to Robert Fulton Fire Company for the engine company standby.

6/24/2006 - Members finished up the 16 hour State Certified RIT class Saturday. Several members from the Robert Fulton Fire Company were in attendance. Members setup our "custom' simulator for the exercises (Denver drill, wall breaches, entanglements). Thanks to instructor Captain Dave Howey of the Eden Fire Company. Also, special thanks to Lt. Brian Clark for bringing down Ronks Fire Companies Air 4-8 on such short notice to fill the cylinders.

10/19/2005 19:00 - 1559 Georgetown Rd acquired trailer for training on the new MSA 5200 TIC. Members trained in search & rescue, wall breaches and ventilation. A doll with a brick taped to it was used for the search object. The brick was heated with a flare so that crews could see it with the new TIC (thermal imaging camera). The trailer was then burnt down as a controlled burn.

7/11/2005 - Station 5-1 & 5-7 Quarryville members have been taking VRT training at the station over the past month. Jim Lingg has been the State Certified Instructor for the class.

4/30/2005 - Station 5-1 members performed evolution (wall breaches, search & rescue, ventilation) drills in an aquired abandoned trailer. Thanks to Training Officer Rich Ressel and his instructors for a great day. Also, a big thanks to Quarryville Fire Co. Rescue 5-7 for the cascade assist. Click here for a 30 second video clip of the training.

4/23/2005 - Station 5-1 members spent all day Saturday performing evolutions..(bail outs, wall breaches, mazes, large area searches, ventilation ) Thanks to Training Officer Rich Ressel and his instructors for a great day. I know it wore some of us out.... Also, a big thanks to Willow Street Fire Co - Rescue 5-12 for the cascade assist on such short notice

4/13/2005 - Station 5-1 members spent training night going over SCBA buddy breathing & RIT bag maneuvers. We have several more Wednesdays & Saturdays to go yet. Thanks Air 4-8 Ronks for the cascade assist.

4/19/2005 - Champ Blvd, Lancaster Co. Public Safety Training Center. Seven member of the company are taking the Essentials of Firefighting Class. Here are some pic's of members at the propane tank.

We were lucky enough to get a trailer donated by one of our members Manny Petershiem. Approximately 40 members showed up for training. We performed basic searches, search and rescues and fire extinguishing evolutions. By the end of the day, everyone was beat. Thanks to everyone that came out and participated. Special thanks to Ronks Air 4-8 for providing the air bank assist.

Crews from 5-1 & 5-7 Quarryville held a joint training session Wednesday night. Crews split up and went to the Smith Middle School for hydrant operations and ground ladder placement. The other crew went to the Presbyterian home pond for tower operations and familiarization on Truck 5-7.