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Annual Awards Banquet and a Working House Fire in Aston
Saturday April 19. 2008: Tonight, the members of the Chester Heights Fire Company, their guests and invited guests of our surrounding companies gathered at the Naamans Ballrooms in Upper Chichester for our annual awards banquet. After a delicious dinner, the awards kicked off. This year the top ten runners received job shirts from the company as a way to thank them for their dedication. In the special awards presentations of the evening, Assistant Chief Sam Iannucci was presented the Samuel Ward honorary Award for his unselfish dedication to the Chester Heights Fire Company. Past Chiefs Joan Ward and Ray Ferraro were each presented with a helmet shield proclaiming them to be Chief Emeritus.

All was not to be 100% serious though, as some of our newer members chose to continue to express their adoration to Chief Ward. Firefighters Rich Meyers and John Barbosa have recently formed the Larry Ward fan club, known as the Yo Lars, and were able to share with the members the new theme song, which is an adaptation of "I love Rock n' Roll" while those in attendance continued to dance the night away. Once the banquet wrapped up around 11:00 pm, many of those in attendance moved to Dexter's on the 5, located in Aston. Here, the members were able to continue to enjoy the evening while being entertained by the local band Ember, who was kind enough to play our requests even though many of them were played prior to arrival. While we were out enjoying the evening, Parkside covered the Borough of Chester Heights with no calls, sorry guys, who would have thought we would be on a working fire shortly after your departure. Click here for Banquet Pictures

Around 2:40 am, companies 72, 63, 71, 54 and RIT 57 were dispatched to Elm Avenue in Aston for a building fire. Within a minute of dispatch, fireboard re-dispatched the assignment as a working fire. Captain Mike Kokoszka was 1st on location and reported to have heavy fire showing and wires down on the property.  Rescue 72 arrived next laid a supply line and reported that they were going into an exterior attack only. Rescue 71 responded under the command of Chief Ward and was requested by 72 command to lay a second supply line from Mount Road and supply Truck 63. Crews from company 71 assisted with various tasks on scene for several hours under the command of 72-9A (D/C John Lloyd) and 72-13 (LT. Adam Kissell). Please click here for more banquet pictures. Pictures courtesy of Aston-Beechwood.

House Fire In Aston
On April 16, 2008, Rescue 71 responded to assist Aston Township Fire Companies (63 & 72) on a working Building Fire at 141 Morgan Road, Aston.  Rescue 71 then positioned themselves at the 2nd hydrant in front of 115 Morgan Road and was advised to lay in and supply Rescue 72.  Rescue 71 dropped 900 feet of 5" supply line and fed this directly into Rescue 72.  At that point of the fire, it was an all external attack with master streams and deluge guns.  Captain Kokoszka was assigned Safety Officer and later assigned to Manpower.  Our Crew was assisted by Parkside (45) in rolling and re-packing the 5" hose. Thank you 45! Rescue 71 became available at approximately 14:30 hours.  Coverup assignment was supplied by Ogden (55), thanks Ogden!

WELCOME HOME ENGINE 71
April 11, 2008: Just before 5:30 pm a major event took place in the Chester Heights Fire Company. Chief Larry Ward and Firefighter Sam Iannucci Sr. returned from Glick Fire Apparatus with a rather large delivery. With them was Engine 71, our much anticipated 2008 Pierce Quantum PUC Pumper. The PUC, introduced by Pierce in April of last year  is the first of its kind in Delaware County and is an evolutionary design that allows for a shortened wheelbase while still allowing for a maximum amount of compartment space. Now that the truck has arrived, we will be spending the coming weeks mounting equipment on it and training on its use so that we can put it into service and enhance our protection services to Chester Heights and the surrounding community. 

This truck is truly the result of the hard work and dedication of the members of the Truck Committee, which has been working on developing a new vehicle to suite our needs presently and in the future since early 2006. They are: Assistant Chief Sam Iannucci Jr. (chairperson), Chief Larry Ward, Deputy Chief Bill Ewing, Captain Mike Kokoszka, Chief Engineer Mark Laloup and Firefighters Jim Barnes and Ray Ferraro. Thank You guys, with out your hard work, dedication and vision, this truck would have never been possible. If anyone is interested in more information on the truck, please contact us via email at the email address listed above. Please click here for more pictures from the trucks delivery to Station 71.

Thanks To Parkside
Since our old Pierce Engine was sold earlier this year, we have been without a second pumper. The Claymont Fire Company was gracious enough to lend us one of their Engines but it had to have some mechanical work done on it so the Parkside Fire Company was nice enough to lend us Tac 45 to use as 71-2 until our new Engine goes in service in a few weeks. We have had the truck since March and it has come in handy. Thanks to everyone at Station 45 for letting us use the truck, we really appreciate it.

Monthly Drill
April 10, 2008: Tonight for our monthly drill, A/C Iannucci led the members in a vehicle rescue session. Members split up into two teams and practiced a variety of vehicle extrication techniques on an acquired station wagon that we would use to free a trapped person from a vehicle. After the drill, several members took advantage of the awesome spring weather we have been experiencing and put together the seasons first touch football game outside the station. Thanks to everyone for coming out.
 

Update on Engine 71
From March 29-April 1, 5 members of the Truck Committee traveled to Pierce MFG. in Appleton Wisconsin to view Engine 71. The crew spent hours going over the truck making corrections and additions and touring the Pierce Factory. At the end of the trip, they reported that the truck looks awesome. If all goes as planned, the truck should have left Pierce around April 3 and hopefully will be in the station later this week. Thanks to Chief Larry Ward, Deputy Chief Bill Ewing, Captain Rob Kaufman, Chief Engineer Mark Laloup and Firefighter Ray Ferraro for making the trip out there to see that our dream has become reality

An Old Friend Returns Home
The members of the Rutledge Fire Company recently brought by Engine 13-1 by for a visit to its former home. Engine 13-1 was formally 71-2 prior to its being sold to them in February. It was nice to see the truck lettered and stocked with equipment. Congratulations guys, the truck looks awesome!!

Engine 71 Update
Engine 71 is nearing completion at Pierce Manufacturing. In the next few weeks, members of the committee will be traveling to Pierce Hq. in Appleton Wisconsin for the trucks final inspection before it heads home. Here are a few pictures