The Reiffton Fire Company, now part of the Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Department, received official notification from Congressman Gerlach's office and from FEMA that their 2009 SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant was APPROVED!

The grant amount over a four-year period is over $176,000 to help protect the residents of Exeter Township, St. Lawrence Borough, and surrounding communities!

In 2009 the ETVFD has received over $300,000 in grant awards!  Since 2002, the ETVFD has received just shy of $1,000,000 in grant awards to help support the fire service in Exeter Township and St. Lawrence Borough!

Here are some of the highlights of the grant award:

1. $122,000 to supplement a 24/7/365 "in-house" volunteer firefighter staffing program in place within the ETVFD.  The money will be used in conjunction with our current volunteer incentive program.

2. $46,000 for marketing to help recruit new volunteers to the ETVFD.  This marketing will include TV ads, billboard promotions, print ads, etc.

3. $6,700 for a citizens "Fire Academy" to help recruit new volunteers for the ETVFD.  This program will be offered to a limited group of Exeter Township and St. Lawrence Borough residents.  The group will go through a scheduled program to learn about the volunteer fire service and what firefighting is all about.

4. $5,500 for Junior Firefighter Recruitment and Retention to the ETVFD.  This program will include Junior Firefighter Advisors and aggressive in school programs to help get the younger generation more involved to replenish the volunteer system. 

We are very excited about this grant being awarded and we would like to than FEMA, our state and local officials, and especially the members of the ETVFD for their hard work and dedication to the department!

According to FEMA's website, we are one of five fire departments from Pennsylvania to receive this grant award so far in 2009.  See the attached link.

Congratulations to all the members of the ETVFD!  Get ready to help get all of the awarded programs up and running to improve fire service to our residents.

Around 23:50 hours on Sunday, August 29th, Company 25 was dispatched to Orchard View Road in Exeter Township for a reported smoldering cigarette in mulch with a haze in the residence.  With in-house staffing in place, Brush 25, Engine 25, and Rescue / Engine 25-2 immediately went responding.  Deputy 25 and Chief 25 were also on the assignment.  When units arrived on the scene it was evident that the smoldering mulch fire had spread to the garden style apartment complex.  The full structure assignment was requested bringing in companies 1, 7, 23, 64, and 49 for RIT.  Company 25 crews went to work with three handlines to control the fire that had spread from the exterior to the first and second floors of two residences.  Incident command starting releasing the units and company 25 cleared the incident in just over two hours.  See the Reading Eagle Attached to this story.

At 06:50 hours on Monday, August 30th, companies 1, 4, Engine 25, and 5 for RIT were dispatched to Woodvale Avenue in Mt. Penn for a reported basement fire.  The police department arrived on the scene and reported fire coming from the eaves of the house.  Deputy 1 requested the 1st alarm, which brought in Rescue 25, Tower 25, and Company 7.  Crews from Engine 25, Engine 1, and Engine 4 went into service with search and rescue, fire attack, and overhaul.  The fire in the basement was contained by a "melted" water pipe in the basement with minor extension to the first floor.  Crews cleared the scene in about 1 hour.  See attached Reading Eagle Article.  

The fire on Woodvale was the 2nd "working" fire we had at this residence in less than 6 months.  See the attached article from the ETVFD archives. 

Company 25, Exeter EMS, and Exeter PD have worked together to develop a new response protocol for accidents with "unknown" injuries within Exeter Township and St. Lawrence Borough due to the success of the ETVFD staffing program.  When an accident with unknown injuries is received by the communications center, Exeter EMS and Rescue 25 will report normal flow to the scene until the assignment is upgraded.  The policy just took effect on Wednesday of this week and crews received their first incident Sunday morning. 

Company 25 was dispatched to the 5200 block of Oley Turnpike Road for an accident with unknown injuries.  Additional reports indicated that a vehicle struck a utility pole and the pole was split in half, but still no indication of injuries.  Deputy 25 and Safety 25 arrived on the scene and confirmed one patient entrapped in the vehicle with injuries.  Due to the new response format, Rescue-Engine 25-2 and Rescue 25 were already enroute and arrived within seconds of the initial entrapment report.  Crews worked to free the patient and assisted EMS with patient care and packaging.  All units cleared the scene in less than 30 minutes.

In August, the Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Department spent a lot of time at the Berks County Fire Training Center working on hoseline advancements, search and rescue operations, and other basic firefighting functions.  The crews worked together to simulate "real life" emergency situations by having simulated dispatches, crew assignments, and responses.

Attached is information on Berks County Municipal and Fire Taxes.

Companies 25 and 49 (Amity) got together on Tuesday night to work on vehicle rescue situations.  The crews worked at the ETVFD training site on Rt. 562 in Exeter Township.  The training site provides approximately 4 acres or workable space for firefighters to train within the township.  Members from both companies responded to simulated accidents and supported each other on the incidents.  After each scenario, crews got together and critiqued their work.  Everyone had a great time learning and working together and we look forward to working with Amity in the future. 

The ETVFD is dispatched to most rescue assignments throughout the township on their own (Rescue 25 and Rescue / Engine 25-2); however, on the far Eastern ends of the township Companies 7 (Birdsboro) and 49 (Amity) are dispatched to assist due to their proximity to the incident.   It is important we continue to work together to ensure proficiency.

At approximately 1205hours Co. 25 was dispatched to 5600 Perkiomen Ave in the Walmart parking lot for a reported vehicle fire. Rescue 25 along with DC25 (E. Lessig) immediately went responding. Upon arrival crews encountered a fully involved sedan with negative exposures to any surrounding vehicles or structures. Crews worked quickly to extinguish the flames.

Today, Lt. Andrew Addison tied the knot to Ashley McConnaughhay. The ceremony and reception were held at the beautiful Stokesay Castle off of Spook Lane in Lower Alsace Township. Everyone in attendance had a great time. Congratulations from all of the Officers and Members at the Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Department to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Addison.

Check out the Exeter Township Fire Department on Facebook! Search "Exeter Township Fire Department" and add us today! Pictures and news are updated often. Comment and give us feedback on how we can better serve the community!

Christmas came a bit early for some members of the Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Department thanks to a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant. 35 members received brand new Turnout gear including Jacket, Pants, Boots, Gloves, Nomex Hood, and Helmets. Over the last several years the Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Department (previously Stonersville and Reiffton Fire Companies) have been very successful in securing Federal and State level grants. In all, the ETVFD has secured over $600,000 in grants!