The dates for the 2012 Ox Roasts are as follows:

25th Annual Winter Ox Roast - February 11, 2012

36th Annual Spring Ox Roast - April 28, 2012

64th Annual Fall Ox Roast - October 20, 2012

We hope you are able to attend this year!  Thank you for your support!

All of the members of the Witmer Fire Protective Association would like to send our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to our neighbors at Upper Leacock Fire Company as well as the family of Scott Marks. Scott was an active member at Upper Leacock and passed away on December 24th. More information as it becomes available.

While the hoiday season is a fun and happy time, those times can quickly be ruined by a holiday house fire. Many times, these causes can be just as quickly and easily be preventable by following a few safe tips. We at Witmer Fire encourage you to take a short amount of time and ensure all these tips are followed so that you may continue your safe and happy holiday season.

  

1. When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.

2. When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green; needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.

3. When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of foot traffic and do not block doorways.

4. When setting up light displays outside, be sure to use lights that are designed for outside use. Never assume lights are made for outdoor use. To avoid confusion, pack all lights in their original boxes year after year.

5. When setting up lights, check for any frays, loose or broken bulbs, exposed wires, or loose connections to avoid short circuits in light strings.

6. Never plug more then 2 normal sized strands of lights (100 bulbs or less) into 1 outlet. Avoid plugging 2 strands of lights into 1 outlet when possible. Overloading the outlet can create electrical shorts, which create an ignition source for fires in and around a christmas tree.

6. Always, always, keep your tree watered. A dry tree ignites and burns faster, which leaves little time for extinguishment and rapidly extends to furnishings and other fammable surfaces, causing the fire to become out of control.

While these tips may help you avoid fires, remember that anything is possible at any time without warning. Check your tree, lights, and other holiday decorations daily.

We hope you have a safe and very Merry Christmas!

 

 

Around 15:45, LCWC (Lancaster County Wide Communications) received multiple calls of an aircraft down in the area of Smoketown Airport (FAA S37). Engines 4-10-1, 4-10-2, 6-3-2 (Lafayette, for the foam), Rescue 4-8 (Ronks), units from 6-12 (LEMSA), Tanker 4-10 and Squad 4-10 were dispatched for an aircraft accident involving a single aircraft crash with 1 patient. Captain 4-10-1 went enroute and found a single engine Cessna 172 at the northwest corner of the Bards Garage property near the PPL substation. Engine 4-10-1 arrived and deployed a 2 inch foam line and fire extinguisher while the remaining crew assisted with patient care. The pilot was transported to LGH with non-lifethreatening injuries. 4-10 units were on scene for over 4 hours assisting the FAA with the investigation. Special thanks to Deputy 6-3 for taking the PIO (Public Information Officer)!!!

The Officers and Members of the Witmer Fire Protective Association offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Elsie M. Beachy. Elsie passed away on Monday October 17, 2011 at the age of 91. Elsie was a life member of the Witmer Fire Protective Association Ladies Auxiliary. She, along with her late husband Alvie, was instrumental in making our Ox Roast fund raisers what they are today. They were both dedicated volunteers and never missed an Ox Roast dinner.  Elsie could usually be found operating the coffee makers and making sure that everyone had hot coffee and tea with their meals.  Their committment has allowed us to continue to have the equipment and training we need to serve the Witmer community with fire and emergency services.
 
We are grateful for their service to the Witmer Fire Protective Association.

To Our Ox Roast Supporters -

The Witmer Fire Protective Association will be holding our Fall Ox Roast this Saturday, October 15, 2011.  The Ox Roast will start at approximately 11:30 am and runs until about 6:30 pm.

The menu is the same as always - Roast Beef, Filling, Potatoes, Sweet Corn, Gravy, Rolls & Butter, Cole Slaw, Peaches, Desserts and More!   The cost is $12.50 for adults and $6 for children ages 3-11 for family-style dining.  Takeouts are $12.50 each and are available via our drive-thru take-out service.

The Witmer Fire Station is located on Mount Sidney Road, between the Old Philadelphia Pike and Horseshoe Road.  The proceeds from this and future Ox Roast dinners will go towards debt reduction for the purchase of our 2009 Pierce Arrow XT Engine/Tanker.

Our street address for mapping websites and GPS units is 455 Mount Sidney Road, Lancaster, PA  17602.

We hope that you can join us for the Ox Roast and we thank you for your support of our fire company.

The members of the Witmer Fire Protective Association offer on sincere condolences to the family of former Company member Robert G. Sayres.  Bob passed away on Monday, October 10, 2011 at the age of 86.  Bob was a long-time Fire Police Officer with the Witmer Fire Protective Association.

Bob was a Navy veteran who served his country in the South Pacific as a sonarman first class on the USS Robert H. Smith, a destroyer/minelayer.  He was also a member of the Lafayette Lions Club and attended Salem Hellers Evangelical Reformed Church.

The funeral for Bob will be held on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 11:00 am at the Salem Hellers Evangelical Reformed Church.  Interment will follow at the Stumptown Mennonite Cemetery.

In the early hours of Wednesday September 21st, six dedicated Witmer firefighters made the trek to Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, PA for the 112th PA State Firemans Convention in our 2009 Pierce Arrow XT custom Pumper/Tanker. Four days of activities awaited the crew, including free training sessions and an appratus showcase with both modern and antique fire apparatus, including horse-drawn, steam-powered fire engines. The highlight of the long weekend, however, came late Saturday afternoon after the parade, which was held near Pocono Raceway. For the second year in a row, Engine 4-10-2 was named the Most Functional/Best Appearing Pumper/Tanker in the State of Pennsylvania. When all celebrations were thought to be over, Witmer Fire Protective Association was once again called to the stage to receive a trophy for Second Place for Best Appearing Pierce Fire Apparatus. Special thanks goes out to the crews who helped clean and prep Engine 2 prior to the convention, the crew who took time to take the engine to the convention, and the apparatus committee. However, our most gratitude and thanks goes to our community (to whom Engine 4-10-2 is dedicated to), for without their past and continued support, we would not have such a versatile and functional tool to serve them with.

The Officers and Members of the Witmer Fire Protective Association wish to offer our sincere condolences to the Lancaster Township Fire Department and the family of Lieutenant Keith Rankin. 
 
Lt. Rankin suffered a medical emergency at a fire training exercise on the morning of September 25, 2011 and passed away.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow firefighters at the Lancaster Township Fire Department.

All four East Lampeter Township Fire Companies (Bird-in-Hand, Lafayette, Ronks & Witmer) headed over to Olde Homestead Lane in the Greenfield Industrial Park for our quarterly township training. The topic this quarter was foam operations. Bird-in-Hand reviewed their CAFS (compressed-air foam system) capabilities on Engine 4-1-1 and Lafayette Fire Company reviewed the many types of foam and appliances that they carry as part of the Lancaster County Foam Task Force. Several foam evolutions were run, including the operation of a TFT Pro-Pack portable foam unit and Lafayette’s high expansion foam generator.
 
Witmer’s volunteers had a chance to operate the TFT Foam Pro-Pack as well as to test the two new TFT 95 gallons-per-minute foam eductors that are carried on Engine 4-10-2. We also had a chance to review the operation of the on-board foam educator system on Engine 4-10-1.
 
Engine 4-10-2 carries 20 gallons of Universal Gold Class B foam (in five-gallon pails) along with the necessary equipment to place two foam hand-lines in operation. Engine 2 also carries the TFT Foam Pro-Pack for smaller foam needs such as minor gasoline spills at vehicle accidents.  Engine 4-10-1 also carries 20 gallons of Universal Gold Foam; however it is in an on-board tank. Engine 1 can place one foam hand-line in service.
 
Thanks to the East Lampeter Township Fire Training officers for setting up and conducting this valuable training.

 The members of Witmer Fire Protective Association would like to congratulate the following members for their successful completion of the full Delmar Essentials program through the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center and hosted by the Witmer Fire Co:

Firefighter Melvin King

Firefighter Jake Lapp

Firefighter Justin Gossert

Firefighter Edward C. (Ted) Gallagher

Firefighter Daniel K. Brusstar


GOOD JOB to all of you!!!

**For those who are not aware of the time a new firefighter dedicates to basic training, this program began in January and was conducted in 4 modules (parts) 2 nights per week and several Saturdays. Each student was required to complete all 4 modules and demonstrate proficiency at numerous practical skills. The final class, which was held today was a live fire exercise in the burn building where each student got the chance to "put it all to the test" at a simulated structure fire.

On Monday evening Eden 204 came to Witmer Station to do show and tell on there Tiller/Ladder truck, also on our Engine 4-10-1 and Engine 4-10-2 it was a very interesting evening, Thanks to the 204 guys for coming out.

Today a crew from 4-10 took Engine 4-10-2 to the Lancaster county convention in Millersville, PA   where it took first place as Pumper/Tanker over 1800 Gallon of water. Thanks to all the guys who spent a few nights cleaning Engine 2 and its equipment.

Around 14:59 Hours On Thursday Afternoon Station 4-10 (Witmer) Was Dispatched to assist station 4-1 (Bird-in-hand)  on a second alarm building fire. Engine 4-10-1 was assigned to a tanker fill site, Tanker 4-10 supplied Engine 4-1-1 with water, Engine 4-10-2  shuttled water to the scene and Squad 4-10 assisted with traffic control.

At 7:05 am on Saturday July 31, the first-alarm assignment was dispatched to 458 Mount Sidney Road for a reported dwelling fire. The assignment consisted of Engines 4-10-2 and 4-10-1 (Witmer), Engine 4-1-1 and Tanker 4-1 (Bird-in-Hand), Truck 6-3 (Lafayette), Rescue 4-8 (Ronks), Tanker 5-10 (Strasburg) and Medic 6-12-8 (LEMSA).   Chief 4-10 (Latschar) arrived on scene and determined that there was fire located above a ceiling light fixture in the kitchen. With this report, Command 4-10 (Deputy Chief Bono) requested an additional engine and 3 tankers for water supply operations.  Engine 4-10-2 was first to arrive and stretched 2 attack lines into the structure. Truck 6-3 assisted with opening up the ceiling and ventilation. Engine 4-10-1 laid a supply line to Engine 2. Rescue 4-8 had the RIT assignment.   Tanker 4-1 set up for water supply on Mount Sidney Road, although the supply line was determined to not be needed.  The fire was contained to the area directly above the light fixture, although the fire had completely burned through a 2x4 truss. There were no injuries. Units on scene included Engine 4-10-2, Engine 4-10-1, Engine 4-1-1, Engine 6-3-1, Truck 6-3, Rescue 4-8, Tanker 4-10, Tanker 4-1, Tanker 5-10, Tanker 4-3, Tanker 4-4, Squad 4-1-1 and Medic 6-12-8. All units cleared the scene after approximately 1 ½ hours.

Command – Deputy 4-10 (Bono)
Operations – Chief 4-10 (Latschar)