A bill in the Pennsylvania Statehouse would make sure all active-duty firefighters have access to the State Worker's Insurance Fund, being denied access to compensation from this fund is a problem some volunteer companies have faced when members got hurt on the job.
Volunteer firefighters injured while fighting a fire have access to the State Worker's Insurance Fund, but that line gets blurred when they get hurt doing other jobs for the fire company.
"What there was a little question about was the people that support the fire company through raising funds at their carnivals," said Jerry Ozog, Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute Executive Director. "And chicken dinners, and those type of things."
Senate Bill 94, introduced by State Sen. Scott Martin, would make it clear who exactly is covered by the State Workers' Insurance Fund, also known as SWIF, when they're hurt.
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VIDEO: A fire destroyed a business and two apartments in Wayne County. It happened around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday at Backdraft Sports Bar & Grill on the Hamlin Highway. Smoking wreckage was all that remained of the business near Hamlin just a few hours later. "I was like 'Oh my God,' it's gone I mean there's nothing left to it. It's gutted totally," said Sandra Faulkner of Lake Township. The business was closed when an employee finishing up inside said he saw an orange glow from the patio area. He tried to fight the flames with a fire extinguisher, but that did not help. Two people living in two apartments on the second floor above the fire got out safely. Fire officials said crews responded within minutes and knew immediately the fire was massive. "We saw a glow in the sky as we came through Hamlin Corners, we knew we were going to be engaging a large fire," said Fire Chief Steve Price of Hamlin Fire and Rescue.
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This time next year will be special for the township's first responders.
Members of the Springfield Fire Company attended the township meeting on Tuesday night to announce a celebration of their 100th year in service.
Robert Smythe Sr., chairman of the 100th Anniversary Committee for the fire company, announced that on June 9, 1920, the Springfield Township chartered its first and only fire company. On June 9, 2020, the Springfield Fire Company will have been in service for 100 years.
“For 100 years, members of our fire company have been standing guard, sacrificing their personal time and safety to protect the people and property of Springfield Township,” Smythe said. “Though the names and faces of our members may have changed over the last century, their dedication to this community and the traditions they have instilled remain constant.”
Delaware County Daily Times
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VIDEO: Six people were forced from their home early Wednesday morning after a double-block home caught fire near Hazleton.
It happened on Hollywood Boulevard in Hazle Township just before 2 a.m.
Fire crews said it all started with a vehicle fire and spread to the double-block home.
A man inside woke his sleeping family and neighbors.
"Thank God to my neighbor who woke me up, they knocked on my wall really fast," said Leslie Lugo of Hazle Township, who escaped the fire.
Fire officials said everyone made it out safely -- the couple living on one side, a couple, their baby and young son on the other side, too. In total, six people and their pets all OK after a scary situation.
"It's great that everybody got out safe and somebody smelled the smoke and had the chance to get out," said neighbor Ed Hayes.
The vehicle is a total loss and the duplex badly damaged.
WNEP-TV Newswatch 16
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The Gregg Township Volunteer Fire Department was given a donated water pumper to help them have the equipment they need, to save lives. But it wasn't the first donation they were given.
In January, Gregg Township firefighters were at a fire, trying get water from their pumper...it wasn't working.
Scott Breon, Chief for the Gregg Township Volunteer Fire Company says they took it in to be repaired.
Port Matilda donated their water pumper to Gregg Township, but when firefighters practiced using it, there was an accident.
"They were pumping water and the truck actually managed to get itself into gear, and it ran away from the guys outside trying to pump," Breon, said. "Luckily no one was injured, it did some damage to a utility pole and it tore the door off of our newly donated engine."
Still, without a pumper Gregg Township had to use a special unit which only held 300 gallons of water, instead of the 1,000 they needed.
That's when Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Department donated their pumper, free of charge.
WTAJ-TV We Are CentralPA.com
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Multiple crews responded to a kitchen fire in a house on Butternut Street in Ferguson Township.
Alpha Fire Company, along with Ferguson Township police and other emergency personnel responded to a call of a kitchen fire at 9 am this morning. Officials say there were able to put the fire out within 19 minutes, and no damage was done to the outside of the house.
The kitchen was completely destroyed.
No injuries were reported but fire crews had to resuscitate a cat that remained in the house during the fire.
With the help of new animal oxygen mask from the Bellefonte Moose Lodge, firefighters were able to successfully resuscitate the cat. The cat is doing well now.
WTAJ-TV We Are CentralPA.com
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