Crews from western Pa responded to five different structure fires on Thursday.
Just before 10am crews responded to Dille Run Road in Morris Township in Washington county to battle a residential structure fire. The two story log cabin home was destroyed, and the fire was fueled by high winds. The Observer-Report has more at this link
Morris Twp (Washington Cnty) photo courtesy Observer-Reporter
By Tony LaRussa – Trib Total Media
When North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue launched a program this year to prevent problems that could lead to hospital stays, officials knew finding the money to fund it might be a problem.
Grants and insurance wouldn’t pay for such a program, which involves paramedics visiting people in their homes to conduct wellness checks.
But rather than raise money for its new Community Paramedicine program with hoagie sales, bingo or other traditional fundraisers, the paramedics decided to try something different.
Shane Spielvogle, executive director of North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue, said the department’s billing specialist, Kelly Pirl, suggested kickball.
Pirl said she learned about adult kickball through social media and signed up to play with a league that holds games in North Park.
“Some of the fire stations have golf outings as fundraisers, which is great, but not everybody plays golf,” Pirl said. “But pretty much anybody can play kickball. It’s an easy, inexpensive game and a whole lot of fun.”
By Paul Peirce / photo by Sean Stipp – Tribune-Review
North Huntingdon police dogs Vegas, Colt and Nero on Thursday showed off new threads — Kevlar vests designed to save their lives.
The K-9 officers were sporting protective gear provided through a New England foundation and a retired law enforcement officer.
The department’s K-9 unit handlers — Sgt. Kari Bauer and officers Bill Sombo and Jeremy Nichols — gathered with their respective German shepherds to thank Vested Interest in K9s, a nonprofit group in East Taunton, Mass., and retired New York City police officer Madeline Hamersley, who lives in Maine.
Bauer prepared the grant application last November. Just days later, a foundation representative and Hamersley, one of its benefactors, both telephoned to report the application was approved for two dogs.
Bauer still chuckled Thursday as she told reporters about Hamersley’s reaction upon learning North Huntingdon has three canine officers. “No way I’m going to let that third dog go unprotected,” she said.
By Steph Chambers – Tribune-Review
No one was reported hurt in a mobile home fire at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Wallace Trailer Court along Route 993 in North Huntingdon, fire officials said.
A cat that was trapped inside the burning structure died, said Larimer fire Chief Bill Hardy.
No one was home when firefighters arrived, Hardy said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by township police.
By Tony LaRussa – Norwin Star
Paramedics in North Huntingdon have added a new service that goes beyond responding quickly to calls for help and transporting patients to hospitals.
They are trying to prevent problems that could lead to an unnecessary hospital stay.
“We felt that some of our residents might be experiencing gaps in the medical treatment that they are receiving,” said Shane Spielvogle, executive director of North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue. “So we came up with a way to use our personnel to try and fill in those gaps.”
The new Community Paramedicine program will send paramedics to residents’ homes to conduct “wellness checks” that include blood-pressure screenings; monitoring manageable diseases such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, emphysema and asthma; discussing proper ways to manage medication; and ensuring that residents are receiving proper nutrition, said John Tirpak, the emergency service’s operations director.
By KDKA
At least two people were injured in a house fire in North Huntingdon Township Monday night.
It started around 9 p.m. at a home in the 200-block of Cherry Lane.
Officials say two firefighters were injured, after being hit by a hose.
Back up was requested from additional fire companies.
No word on any additional injuries or what may have caused the fire.
By Amanda Dolasinski / photo by Barry Reeger – Tribune-Review
As radios buzz in the background, North Huntingdon police dispatcher Jaclyn Robinson coolly takes information and connects officers on the street to residents in distress.
Controlling three separate, simultaneous conversations can be a juggling act, but Robinson commands the radio with ease and quickly assigns officers to the proper location with vital information before they even step out of the vehicle.
“We handle everything from barking dogs to armed robberies,” she said. “There’s no way of knowing what you get next.”
This month, North Huntingdon police dispatchers received a new, computer-based radio system. The modern system costs about $65,000, which was part of the 2013 township budget. It replaces a system so old replacement parts had become obsolete.
“It’s an antiquated push-button system,” Robinson said. “Things are starting to break inside, and we can’t get the parts.”
Repairs on North Huntingdon’s old system became costly. A fan was set up to blow cool air on the console so it didn’t overheat.
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