Newsletter

Story By Gina Morton of the Daily Item

After three years of training, 38 volunteer firefighters have been acknowledged for their hard work and dedication to the community. The Mifflinburg Fire Company received the state Department of Heath and Bureau of Medical Services' highest level of recognition for its voluntary rescue project. The State considered the fire company's effort, manpower, equipment and crew. The station has added a heavy rescue truck, the only one in Union County, and one of only three in the area, said Jean Rice, of Susquehanna Emergency Health Services Council Inc. The truck cost $500,000, Fire Chief John Heiges said. Tod Steese, president of the Mifflinburg Fire Company, said a large amount of money was needed to get the equipment where it is today. "It's unbelievable amount of money," he said. "We had support from six political subdivisions and the community for help." The truck includes safety lights lining the doors, extra pulleys, ropes, entry tools with attachments, an inflatable boat and much more. "The rescue truck has way more equipment than required," Ms. Rice said. In addition to the advanced rescue truck, members of the fire company spent "thousands of hours of training," Ms. Rice said, to the reach the advanced level of training. Volunteers were training in areas such as an emergency vehicle operating course, rope rescue, basic vehicle rescue, HAZMAT training, water rescue, mountain training and ice rescue. "Each requires hours of training, "Mr. Heiges said. "The minimum is 16 hours, and the maximum is 40." Dick Wenner, rescue testing and certification coordinator, said this is a three-year program. After that time, the company will have to be recertified and reinspected again. "We make sure everything is on the unit, " he said, "that all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted. They will be able to apply again in three years and be recertified. Ms. Rice said the decision to train was voluntary. "It was important to do because there are no other vehicles like it," Mr. Heiges said. "It's also a pride issue. We can be proud of".

A LIFESAVER — Mifflinburg Hose Company Chief John Heiges displays one of the smoke detectors firefighters will be offering to community members during April. The firefighters will be going door-to-door in parts of the Mifflinburg area conducting voluntary smoke detector inspections and installing the life-saving devices in homes that do not have them.

MIFFLINBURG — “Justifiably Proud” is the slogan of the Mifflinburg Hose Company.   Chief John Heiges recently outlined several initiatives the department is launching to help ensure members remain “Justifiably Proud” of their fire company and its strong commitment to protecting the community.  Heiges said the department is finalizing plans to build a substation on the grounds of the Buffalo Township Sewer Authority in Mazeppa. He added the building will feature a two-bay garage that will house one fire engine.  Volunteer firefighters are currently in the process of completing a federal grant application. If approved, grant moneys will fund the purchase of a used fire engine for the station.  Heiges stressed there is a need for the substation as volunteers will be able to reach emergencies in the Mazeppa area faster than the firefighters who respond from the Mifflinburg station.  The chief added 11 volunteers from the Mazeppa area have joined the department in recent years in anticipation of the new facility.  Heiges could not provide a timetable for the completion of the project, but said the department hopes to have the new station up and running as quickly as possible.  He said a number of fire department members will be volunteering their time to help with the construction of the building.  John Walter, fire department treasure, said the department is also set to launch its annual fund drive. As part of the drive, an organization called Municipal Marketing Services, MMS, will mail flyers seeking donations to each home in the department’s coverage area.  According to Walter, the fire company receives a stronger response to its mailings than any other fire company that works with MMS. He noted the department generally receives a 30 percent response rate to the flyers. Most fire companies only receive a 10 percent response, he noted.  Money raised will go to purchase new trucks and equipment for the department.  Tod Steese, Mifflinburg Hose Company president, added the department relies heavily on public support.  “The community is unreal in the way they back their fire department,” he added.  Next month, firefighters will be going door-to-door in the Mifflinburg area to offer new smoke detectors to residents. The effort will be targeted to select neighborhoods in and around the borough.  Heiges said the firefighters will also be inspecting existing detectors to make sure they are functioning properly, and are equipped with fresh batteries.  He noted the firefighters will offer one smoke detector per home while supplies last. Firefighters will also install the new detector in hallways near bedrooms.  “We are doing this for firefighters’ safety and for people that are here in the Mifflinburg area,” Heiges added.  The chief said when a home doesn’t have working smoke detectors, the residents are more likely to become trapped inside when flames break out. Firefighters must then risk their lives to enter the burning house to rescue the occupants. Heiges noted 26 firefighters have died in fires in the U.S. this year. In northeastern and central Pennsylvania, 18 people have died in fires this heating season because they did not have working smoke detectors in their homes, he said.  “If you have working smoke detectors, and they’re properly placed, you should have time to gather your kids and dogs and get out,” Heiges added.  The chief stressed that the department will have a fire truck in each neighborhood they visit with the smoke detectors. He said residents should not let anyone into their home unless they can see the fire truck. Firefighters will also be dressed in uniform when visiting the neighborhoods, he noted.  Anyone interested in having the fire department check their smoke detector, or having one installed, should call the fire station at 966-1591. The department is also seeking individuals and businesses interested in donating batteries or smoke detectors for the program.

MIFFLINBURG -- If you see the Mifflinburg Hose Company firefighters and their trucks coming to your house, don't be alarmed.   Fire Chief John Heiges Jr. said members of the station soon will be going door to door, offering batteries and smoke detectors to residents. The group also will check existing smoke detectors to make sure they are working properly.  Heiges said the company gets free smoke detectors each year, and about 80 were received this year. "The reason for this is firefighter safety," he said. "They are being killed at an unbelievable rate."   This year alone, 26 firefighters have been killed across the nation.  Tod Steese, president of the Mifflinburg company, said at least 18 fire-related deaths have occurred during the past several months in central and northeastern Pennsylvania.  "It's very frustrating to us as firefighters when there are no working smoke detectors in a home where lives can be saved,"  Steese said. "We all know this. It's a fact lives can be saved with working smoke detectors."   Heiges said specific dates haven't been set for when the group will venture out.  "We want to let the public know to not just let anyone in," he said. The volunteers will wear their uniforms, and a fire truck will be visible.  "When people see a fire truck in their area with a bunch of firemen, don't be afraid," Steese said. "We want them to come out and talk to us. We are here to educate. If we save one life, it's worth it." Heiges said the International Property Maintenance Code recommends one smoke detector on each floor of a home, with the exception of an unoccupied attic. There should be one detector in the second-floor hallway adjacent to the bedroom and one in each bedroom. If a detector continually goes off, Heiges said it's probably in the wrong location. "People say every time they make toast and shower, it goes off," he said. That's a good indicator it's in the wrong spot.  "We just want to bring it to the forefront so people are aware and remember how important it is to have smoke detectors," Steese said. "The smoke is what kills, not the fire." The company is accepting donations of batteries and smoke detectors for the distribution.  Anyone interested in making a donation may call the station at 966-1591.

MAZEPPA -- The Mifflinburg Hose Company is looking to open a station in Mazeppa.  Fire Chief John Heiges Jr. said the company hopes to build there in the near future. A three-acre area on the sewer plant property would be leased.   "It won't be just for that area,"  Heiges said. "It will assist the department."   Mazeppa is the Mifflinburg station's responsibility, and the distance and on-scene time is not quite up to par, he said. It is about an eight-mile distance, or 10-minute drive, to reach Mazeppa from Mifflinburg.   "There's no time line for (construction)," he said, "but plans are complete."  The station would house one truck, and Heiges said a used piece of equipment is being sought. A federal grant application is being prepared.   Eleven men have joined the station from that area.  The chief said he hopes the firefighters will be able to build the station themselves, which would help keep costs down.  "We don't know where the money is coming from yet," he said, "but we will keep working hard. It's our main focus."  One way for residents to help fund the project is through the coming annual fund drive.  John Walter, treasurer, said a mailing soon will be sent out to every address in the coverage area. It states what the department is funding that year and asks residents to make donations.  "No fire company has a percentage of returns like we have," Walter said, referring to the 32 percent return rate.

The Mifflinburg Hose Company No. 1 is located in Central PA in the town of Mifflinburg, Union County.  We are a completely volunteer organization responding first due to 100 square miles of urban, agricultural and Bald Eagle State Forest.  We are also called upon from neighboring departments for mutual aid within the county and also adjoining counties.  we respond to a variety of incidents ranging from house fires, motor vehicle accidents, rescue assignments and even a growing number of ATV accidents.  The growing number of incidents deep in the mountains of Central PA has forced us to look at the Winter Rescue Challenges we are now facing.

In early 2004, the Mifflinburg Hose Company started taking steps to add the only Fire Department owned Winter Rescue Equipment in Union County.  We were assisted monetarily by the Mifflinburg Community Ambulance Association, Ladies Auxiliary of the Mifflinburg hose Company and William D. Yohn, former Deputy Chief and long standing member of the department.  Two Polaris touring sleds were purchased and also a Rescue-Boggin capable of being pulled behind one of the sleds.  the Rescue-Boggin can accommodate a full sized backboard or stokes basket and also has room for one medical person to ride while transporting the patient to the nearest blacktop road.  Also, a 4 sled enclosed trailer was purchased to be pulled behind our 4WD Brush Truck.  The trailer will have a Command Center table, generator, lighting, medical supplies and a 100-watt Motorola high band mobile radio.  One of the sleds will also be equipped with a 100-watt Motorola high band radio ensuring us that no matter where we go with this equipment we can be self-sufficient.  We are willing to make this equipment available anywhere in the Bald Eagle State Forest.  Anyone interested in seeing this new equipment is welcome to do so.  Feel free to call or stop by our Fire Station.

The Mifflinburg Hose Company No. 1 donated their 1978 Chevrolet Fire Engine to the Mountain Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company of Crawford, Tennessee.

The Mifflinburg Hose Company No. 1 learned through a local resident, that the Tennessee Department serves a fire district with only a brush truck and a very minimal tax base income, to protect its citizenry.

After discussion with several elected officials of their political subdivision representatives and multiple business leaders, the Mifflinburg Hose Company No. 1 voted unanimously to donate their fire engine to this needy department.

Chuck Klose, a long time member of the Mifflinburg Hose Company No. 1, graciously donated his personal tractor-trailer to deliver this fire engine to Crawford, Tennessee.  Mr. Klose's leasing company, Greentree Transport, assisted with the insurance liability of the delivery.  Mr. Klose was accompanied by Assistant Chief Larry Brown, Jr., also of the Mifflinburg Hose Company No. 1, on March 13, 2004.

911 Checklist Courtesy of Collegeville, PA Fire Department! Click HERE!

The Life of a Volunteer Firefighter HERE!

What are they talking about?  Firefighting terminology HERE!

Ya ever wonder who St. Florian is?  He is the patron saint of firefighters.  Click HERE to find out why.