April 1, 2025​

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Just like that, the first quarter of 2025 is in the books! And let me tell you, 2025 picked right up where 2024 left off - it's been a busy first quarter! How busy? Well, by now you know I'm a numbers guy, so lets check out the first quarters from the last 5 years: 2021-Q1 118 calls, 2022-Q1 169 calls, 2023-Q1 116 calls, 2024-Q1 116 calls, and 2025-Q1 155 calls! As you can see, we've had the second busiest first quarter in the last 5 years. Just for fun, I looked back over the past 10 years: we've averaged 128 calls in the first quarter and this year's first quarter is the second busiest over the past 10 years as well!

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Here's the breakdown of calls for service for 2025-Q1:

- Fires: 17

- Rescue & EMS: 96

- Hazardous Conditions: 7

- Service Calls: 6

- Good Intent Calls: 27

- False Alarms/Calls: 2

TOTAL: 155

TOTAL INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES: 928

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We have been consistently averaging 6 personnel per call for the past few years, which is great! This number can be skewed down for less critical emergencies where perhaps only a couple of responders are needed. But in many cases where structure fires, bad accidents, or priority medical calls come in, we have been seeing double digits in responding personnel!

 

So aside from calls, let's touch base on everything else that's happened so far this year. I know lots of folks have been staying tuned in to the new engine/pumper apparatus that we approved last year and anxiously awaiting news. The new engine, which we will be calling Wagon 12, will be arriving at the firehouse within the next week!!! President Joey Wasik, First Assistant Chief Matt Amoroso, Second Assistant Chief Brad Wyke, and I flew out west to Brandon, South Dakota, for a few days back in mid February to go through the final inspection of the new rig. Check out some of the pictures below of the Wagon before the graphics were put on - it's looking great! Once it arrives at 12 House, we will start training on the operations of the vehicle as well as outfitting it with all the necessary equipment. Wagon 12 should be in service

by early May of this year!

 

Our team participated in the American Lung Association's annual Fight for Air Climb on March 22 in downtown Pittsburgh where we each climbed 838 steps (42 floors) in full turnout gear! Our team raised $775 for the American Lung Association! With that being done, we now start looking to the Tunnel 2 Towers annual 5k run/walk that will take place in September. We truly enjoy getting out there to participate and helping to raise funds for great causes like these!

 

We've had lots of trainings already this year, too! We held an Active Threat class at the Fort Cherry High School working with some experts in the field, Man vs. Machine class with 22 of our firefighters learning some out-of-the-box techniques for rescuing victims of machinery incidents, and several in house trainings. We have FIVE students currently taking the EMT-B class! We also had the three departments of the Fort Cherry Fire District send representatives to the Fort Cherry Elementary Center to do fire safety talks and show-and-tell with our trucks and equipment with the K-6 students.

 

We recently were awarded some grants, too! We were awarded $5,000 from the Range Resources Good Neighbor grant through the Washington County Community Fund which will be put towards a new battery operated fan for Wagon 12. We also received just under $4,000 from the Act 13 Unconventional Gas Wells Fund which will be used to procure new safety vests, safety glasses, and extrication gloves. We received a grant of $500 from the PA American Water grant which will be used to put warning lights on the back of Brush 12 to enhance visibility.

 

We've also been preparing for some events happening in the next several weeks. We have our annual Good Friday Fish Fry on April 18 from 11am-7pm - you can call in your orders, place them online, or walk in! And we will have dine-in, delivery, and pickup available! Then on Saturday, May 3, we will be hosting our third annual Ladies' Night Out! This has become a really fun event that we look forward to every year!

 

Alright, it looks like I've typed up a short dissertation, so I'll wrap it up. But you certainly get the idea - it's been a wild first quarter of 2025! As always I want to thank our dedicated and hardworking volunteers that keep us moving. This is truly a team effort and each person selflessly contributed to our mission. And a HUGE thank you to all of YOU - our incredible supporters! We wouldn't be able to do all that we do without your love and support.

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Stay safe!

- Philip R. Boggs, Chief 12