On December 7th, 1736, the first organized fire department in the United States "Union Fire Company" was formed in the state of Pennsylvania by Benjamin Franklin. In a Pennsylvania Gazette article of 1733 Franklin noted how fires were being fought in Philadelphia. "Soon after it [a fire] is seen and cry'd out, the Place is crowded by active Men of different Ages, Professions and Titles who, as of one Mind and Rank, apply themselves with all Vigilance and Resolution, according to their Abilities, to the hard Work of conquering the increasing fire." Franklin suggested a "Club or Society of active Men belonging to each Fire Engine; whose Business is to attend all Fires with it whenever they happen." Visit Franklin's Philadelphia to read more about the rich history of the start of fire fighting in Pennsylvania.
SHARON, Pa. -- A family was left homeless and a firefighter was injured Sunday morning by a house fire in Sharon.
The exact cause of the fire at 127 Second Ave. wasn't clear, but firefighters said it started near a wood stove in the living room of the two-story house and spread to two upstairs bedrooms and the attic.
HAMILTON --
Two people escaped unharmed after fire swept through a Hamilton duplex early Monday.
The fire was reported at 668 Belle Ave. just before 2 a.m.
One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was transported to Fort Hamilton Hospital for treatment.
Damage was estimated at $60,000 to the structure and $20,000 to the contents.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
A firefighter was seriously injured after a fire appliance rolled onto him at the scene of a road accident.
Five people were reported to be trapped when a car overturned outside the Castell-y-bwch Inn, in Henllys, near Cwmbran, at 3.45am on Saturday. All five had safely got out of the vehicle when fire crews from Cwmbran and Malpas arrived.
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Feb. 7--A Columbus firefighter remained hospitalized today after suffering a heart attack at a house fire last night.
Lt. Mike Polaski, 61, was in critical condition in the intensive-care unit at Riverside Methodist Hospital, Battalion Chief David Whiting said.
"He's going to be there a couple days," Whiting said.
Polaski, a 37-year Fire Division veteran who works out of Station 16 at Weber and McGuffey roads in North Linden, was the first officer on the scene at 1831 Roberts St.
INDIANAPOLIS
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About 20 people were left without homes after a large apartment fire on Indianapolis' northeast side late Sunday night.
The fire broke out just before 9 p.m. at the Avalon Lake apartments, near Binford Boulevard and Graham Road.
Firefighters said a man was heating grease on the stove when he left to go to the store with the stove still on. When he returned, the fire burned out of control.
Everyone got out of the apartment building safely, but 11 units were heavily damaged.