Excelsior No. 1

100% volunteer since 1891........

  ........118yrs of Pride and Dedication  

Early sunday morning Excelsior No.1 alerted for a structure fire. County advised of a caller reporting flames showing with additional calls. Asst. Chief McCloskey 22-2 arrived on the scene and reported a working chicken coop on fire. Quint 2251 arrived on the scene and pulled two lines. Tanker 2221 picked up the hydrant at the end of the driveway. RE 2231 staged and supplied lighting and manpower. Additional mutual aid units staged in the area and sent manpower to the scene. Units cleared and returned to service by 4am.

This year Irvona fire company hosted the 117th annual Central District Volunteer Firemans Convention. 30+ members, family and friends of the Excelsior volunteers attended this years convention over the three days. Camp Excelsior was set up with 12 campers and a central dining hall with a fully functional kitchen. (complete with dishwasher, fryer, griddle and grill) Excelsior brought home three awards. Rescue/Engine 2231 won the 1st place rescue/engine award, the volunteers recieved 1st place marching group 20+ members and as a whole the department recieved a 3rd place Fire Prevention award. Central District 2010 will be held in Clymer. 2011 hosted by Kane FD and Excelsir Fire Co. No. 1 will be welcoming everyone back to Bellwood for the 2012 Central District Vol. Firemans Convention.

Tuesday afternoon county struck box 24-1 alerting Sinking Valley (24) and Excelsior No. 1 (22) of a reported garage on fire. The Excelsior Volunteers were on the street within minutes with the Quint, Tanker and Rescue/Engine.  Engine 2411 arrived and advised of a working fire. Quint 2251 staged in the driveway behind E 2411. Tanker 22  set up at the end of the driveway and supplied E 24. The rescue/engine staged. All manpower assisted crews from 24 with fire suppression and overhaul. Tanker 2321 (Pinecroft) assisted with additional water. Co. 24 remained on the scene for additional overhaul and investigation. Chief 2401 released mutual aid apparatus.

Monday afternoon box assignment 22-2 was dispatched for a reported structure fire. Rescue/Engine 2231 was on the street responding mutal aid to a investigation  when the building fire was dispatched. The RE redirected to the building fire, arrived on the scene and stretched a 1 1/2" handline to the firefloor. Crews encountered moderate smoke with visible fire in the master bedroom. Quint 2251 arrived on the scene and set up on the A/D corner. Crew from the quint assisted interior as the OIC 22-4 (Johnson) established command. Crews worked to extinguish the fire and started opening up. Command advised Engine 2313 to pick up a hydrant on Lowther street and lay in. Tankers 2322, 2121, Engine 2111 and Rescue 3338 staged and sent their manpower to side A. All crews worked together and command marked control within 20 minutes. Rescue 33 (Hookies) had RIT. Command scaled the incident back and held RE 2231 for mop-up as the balance of the box was placed in service.

Friday afternoon Excelsior RE 2231 and Tanker 2221 dispatched to a car fire on the interstate. RE w/ 6 Tanker w/3 arrived on the scene just behind engine 2111 (Tipton). Crews stretched two handlines and worked  to extinguish the fire. Fire police controlled traffic while crews operated.  Units returned to service within the hour.   

Tuesday evening just as members were finishing a company meeting Excelsior No. 1 dispatched to assist Co. 21 (Tipton) with a reported structure fire. Full House, Quint 2251, Tanker 2221 and Rescue/Engine 2231 hit the street within minutes. Asst. Chief Miller (2102) arrived and advised of a working fire. Quint 2251 took position on side A. Crew stretched 2 handlines as the masterstream was placed in service. Tanker 2221 set up a water supply behind the quint and feed both Engine 2111 and Quint 2251. The rescue/engine provided lighting and cascade. Crews worked to open up the second floor and roof area. Excelsior returned to service by 1am.  Co. 23 (Pinecroft) covered station 22. 

Tuesday evening the volunteers of Excelsior No. 1 recieved a shipment of hose. Through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program the Excelsiors were able to purchase new 4" LDH for every rig in the station and also pick up a few more sections of 1 3/4" attack hose. Station 22 is now using Mercedes Mega-Flo LDH. No more heavy rubber 4"

Hose purchased from Mercedes Textiles through Moul Enterprises.

Friday evening while the volunteers of Station 22 were relaxing around the firehouse, box 22-2 dispatched for a reported working garage fire one block from the firehouse. Asst. Chief McCloskey responded direct and arrived to find a 2 story apartment over garage with smoke showing. Quint 2251 arrived and set up on side A of the structure. Tanker and Rescue/Engine staged on 2nd street. Crews split, stretched a handline, opened up and checked for extension. Command held the box to Excelsior Units and placed the assist depts in their station on standby. Units remained on the scene for extensive overhaul.  

Monday evening units from Excelsior and Tipton (Sta. 21) were dispatched for an outside fire. Additional information advised of a dumpster fire behind the Martin Oil gas station on Pleasant Valley Blvd. Captain Abbott 2205 first on the scene confirmed a working fire. Rescue Engine 2231 arrived and knocked the fire with a handline. Tanker 2221 arrived and setup to supply the rescue/engine. Engine and Tanker 21 staged in the area. Crews checked the building and command placed the box in service within the hour.

Monday morning 20+ members of Excelsior gathered at the firehouse to participate in the annual Memmorial Day Parade. This year as always the members proudly marched down the streets of Bellwood to honor our fallen heros. After the parade a crew of 4 traveled with Quint 2251 to the United Fire Company (Logan Twp Sta. 18) to assist them with flying a large American Flag. Crew returned to station mid afternoon.

Thursday  March 30th the volunteers from Excelsior recieved equipment funded by the Federal Assistance to Firefighters grant program. A total of 15 new Scott 4.5 AP75 SCBA w/ Pak Tracker/ DEBSS, QD Regualator, Face piece and voice amplifiers. 30 High Pressure 30min Cylinders and a Scott Eagle Imager 320 thermal imaging camera.  Also with grant money recieved from the Pennsylvania Firefighters Assistance Grant the Excelsior FC placed into service a Scott RIT-Pak and Pak-Tracker SCBA Locator.         

 Equipment purchased from Mid-Atlantic Fire and Air of Reading PA.

Sunday morning units from Excelsior No. 1 and Pinecroft were dispatched for a reported accident with one vehicle into a house. Asst. Chief McCloskey arrived on the scene and confirmed the accident to be within a 22-2 box area. Rescue/Engine 2231 arrived on the scene and investigated the structure. Crew from 2331 controlled leaking fluids. Crews remained on the scene till the vehicle was removed from the structure.

Thursday evening 15+ Excelsior Volunteers along with members from Tipton-Antis (21) and Logan Twp United Fd (18) finished up EVOC training. Over the past few weeks members spent there evenings learning defensive driving tactics and laws dealing with Emergency Vehicle operation. Once the book work portion of the class was finished, students then gained experience behind the wheel. Driving was completed both on the open road and within a designed course.

Wednesday March 11, 2009 the Excelsior Fire Company No. 1  Rescue/Engine 2231 recieved its certification from the Pennsylvania Deptartment of Health.  Excelsior No. 1 is the 4th fire department in the 7 county South-Central EMS Region to be Recognized as an ADVANCED rescue.

 Wednesday afternoon units were dispatched to the area of N. Tuckahoe and N. 4th street for a reported mva involving a telephone pole.  Chief McCoskey 22-1 arrived on the scene and reported one vehicle into a pole, pole was broken with neg. wires down. RE 2231 arrived on the scene. Crew split to secure the vehicle and control leaking fluids. Fire Police controlled traffic. Box in service within the hour.

Wednesday evening 15+ members of Exceslsior No. 1 and guests from Tipton-Antis (21), Newburg (12) and Phoenix (10) got together for our yearly Haz-Mat Operations Refresher. Instructor Joe Adams spent the evening reviewing haz-mat operations. After a break from the mind strains, the members were greated by a fresh hot plate of brownies and cookies prepared by one of our members. Then on to practical excercises of spill control and containment which ended the evening of training.   

Early sunday morning the volunteers of Excelsior No. 1 were dispatched to a MVA involving one vehicle with a utility pole sheared off. Rescue/Engine 2231 w/ 7. Chief 2301 first arriving advised of wires down and the road to be shut down at E. 6th Ave and Stadium Drive. Co. 23 (Pinecroft) closed E. 6th Ave on their end. RE2231 arrived on the scene and assisted EMS with patient removal. Once the scene was secured the proper phone, cable and power companies were notified. RE2231 crew was assisted by 2331 (Pinecroft). Fire Police continued to close the road till released by the utility companies around 4:30am, 3 hrs after the inital call.

At 16:55hrs  Rescue/Engine 2231 along with Fire Police were dispatched for a reported vehicle roll over with injuries on SR 865 inside Cambria County. RE 2231 responded with 7. Once on the scene, crew split to assist with patient care, stablize and check the vehicle. Patient had self extricated themself. 2231 was met on scene by Reade Twp (Cambria 63). It was determined the accident was in Blair County. Once control was marked, Co. 63 was released. Fire Police controlled traffic while the crew waited for PSP and the towing company.

Wednesday morning Excelsior No. 1 dispatched with Tipton (St. 21) for a reported vehicle fire on I-99 north of the Grazierville exit.  Rescue/Engine 2231 first on the street with 6. Captain Abbot 22-4 reponded direct and advised of a working fire. RE 2231 arrived on the scene, pulled a line and  aggressively attacked the fire. Tanker 2221 reponded and staged behind the rescue engine. Engine 2111 (Tipton) arrived and assisted with manpower. Crews used foam from the Pro-Pak on RE 2231 to suppress all remaining fire. Fire Police from 22 controlled traffic while crews worked at the scene.

Around 4:15am Excelsior No. 1 dispatched for a mva on Route 865 near the county line. EMS arrived on the scene and confirmed patient confinement. 22-2 McCloskey responded direct. Rescue/Engine 2231 with 6 responded on the alarm.  Once on the scene the crew from the rescue stablilzed the vehicle and removed the passenger side door to gain access to the patient. Patient care was handled by the ems crew. Fire crews controled the scene till PSP arrived then assisted with vehicle removal. Units cleared the scene within hrs.

On October 4, 2006, the Excelsior Fire Co. No. 1 of Bellwood PA received its recognition letter from the Fire Certification Advisory Committee of the State Fire Commissioner's Office as a Participating Department of the Pennsylvania Fire Service Certification Program at the 50% Level (Bronze). Excelsior No. 1 is one of the few VOLUNTEER Departments to receive the 50% level in Blair County. We are very proud of our members who worked so hard to achieve such an upstanding certification.

Excelsior No. 1 online since  Feb 2006

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