The members of Manoa Fire Company hope that everyone has had an enjoyable summer this year. With the Labor Day Weekend now behind us, the fall season is beginning along with the new school year. With the new school year comes school buses, and that means children will be entering and exiting buses all over town. All drivers need to be sure to watch for stopped buses and yield to kids crossing the roadways.

With September also comes the 9th year since the attacks on New York City and Washington DC. 9/11/01 marked a black eye in US history, much like the attacks on Pearl Harbor decades ago. The Manoa Fire Company currently has four of its members serving in the Armed Forces, with one leaving the service less than a year ago. This weekend we ask that everyone remember the thousands of people, including the 343 FDNY firemen, who lost their lives 9 years ago. We also ask that you keep the men and women serving over seas in your thoughts, as they have not forgotten those lost at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Stay safe this fall, and have a good school year.

At 1924hours Companies 56, 34, Ladder 35, and Medic 108 were dispatched for the Dwelling Fire in the 1000 block of Garfield Avenue.  56-9 (Chief Norman) arrived and reported smoke showing throughout a 2&1/2 story twin and advised Squad 56 to go in service with an 1&3/4.  Crews of the Squad arrived and pulled the line up into the 2nd floor bathroom and discovered a burned out vanity mirror and plaster.  Crews hit the hot spots with the line while Ladder 35's crew began ventilation of the 2nd floor and attic.  At 1937hours 56-9 placed the fire under control and all crews on location began cleaning up some of the mess within the home.  All units were available and in station before 2000hours.

Just a few minutes after 1100hours, Squad 56, Montco Ladder 24 (Gladwyne), and Montco Ambulance 313-5 (Narberth) were alerted to cover Station 15 (Radnor) while their crews operated on a house fire in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County. The Squad covered for approximately 2 hours, running no calls during our stay. Squad 56 was back in the township by 1330hours.

On Monday evening a group of about 25 members, friends, and family got together and attended the Phillies game against the Houston Astros.  The crowd of guys and gals met at the station and then headed down to Broad Street to battle the oddly cold and wet August night air to watch 9 innings of good Philadelphia Baseball.  Even though the Phillies couldn't pull out a well deserved win, all the guests had a good time hanging out at the park.

During the early morning hours today Station 44 (Springfield Fire Co.) began the long and difficult battle with a fully involved house fire on Beatty Rd in Springfield. All units were immediately advised that this would be an exterior operations fire, and 44Cmd began calling in gear and units for the long haul. Station 44 received a full cover assignment, bringing to their station Rescue 56, Pipeline 58, and Tower 34. All three apparatus arrived at Station 44 around the same time, and remained there for about four hours. During that time in station no additional calls were handled by the crews of the Haverford Township Bureau of Fire. Once crews from 44 arrived back in house, HTBF crews helped restore the apparatus so that the tired members of 44 could try to get some needed rest. Covers were released and all Haverford Units were off radio around 0630hours.

Members of the Manoa Fire Company have been working hard checking out other departments sites and seeing what different details we liked from each.  After hours of research and planning, the details of the new site have been submitted to FireCompanies.com and the crew there have began the process of creating our new site.  We hope to have the new ManoaFire.com up and running in a few days, and hope that everyone comes to visit the new site.  Be sure to check back in soon!

The Manoa Fire Company regrets to announce the passing of Life Member Richard 'Dick' Stewart.  Richard was a member for 30 years, serving as a firefighter and EMS Captain and responding to numorous Ambulance Calls during the day as he worked the night shift.  Richard had retired to Florida, and attended every anual banquet he could.

Do to the recent increase in vehicle entrapments, the officer staff decided that a quality night of Hurst Tool training was in order. This night allowed the less experienced members of the department get some tool time at an "accident" that did not require the speed that a real emergency requires. With the training environment set, the senior members were able to explain in detail how things were done properly at the scene, and more importantly why things were done so that the less experienced could understand.

Today the runs started at 05:50am for the building fire response at Barnaby's of America 1901 Old West Chester Pike.  HTPD and Medic 108 arrived and reported the cause to be the outside misters on the deck and 56-9B cancelled the assignment.  At 08:20 hours the rescue assignment  of Rescue Companies 56 and 38, Engine 34, Medic 108 and Ambulance 34-7 were dispatched to West Chester Pike and Naylors Run for an accident with entrapment.  Medic 108, 34-7 and 56-9B arrrived at same time and had a 2 vehicle accident with 2 subjects trapped.  Per Medic 108 Ambulance 56-7, Ambulance 15-7A and Medic 103-7 were added to the response and Pennstar was put on standby. 56-9B advised the Rescue Companies upon arrival to stabilize the one vehicle, remove the roof, and doors on both driver and passanger side. Squad 38 and Rescue 56 arrived performed the orders given and had the 2 subjects extricated in 12 minutes. Engine 34-2 Stretched a precautionary 1 3/4" handline to provide protection to crews working on scene and secured the batteries. While on scene the building response for 1901 Old west Chester was dispatched once again. HTPD confirmed once again the outside misters and 58-12A cancelled the assignment.  Ambulance 56-7A also handled a run during the accident while 15-7A handled EMS coverage for the township.

At 1227hours Company 56 and Ambulance 34-7 were dispatched to the area of Eagle Rd and Maryland Ave for an MVA with Injuries, possibly a vehicle into a house. 56-9 (Chief M. C. Norman) arrived to find a car with one occupant pushed through the exterior wall of a 2 Story S/F/D. 56-9 advised crews at Station 56 to roll the Rescue first and to be prepared for shoring and stabilization operations upon their arrival. Crews from 34-7 and Medic 108-9A began patient care and removed the patient from the vehicle to be transported to a local hospital. Crews from Rescue and Squad 56 began the process of building a temporary support wall within the home to help keep the second story from collapsing down. Upon completion, crews stood by as the vehicle was safely removed from the hole in the home. At about 1350hours, 56-9 turned the home back over to the home owner and units were made available from the scene. Also on scene was Haverford Car 1, along with 56-7A which transported a second patient to a local hospital.