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Blawnox Fire Company Hosts River Rescue Event
The Herald
By Mary Ann Thomas
Staff Writer
July 29, 2010
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Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company water rescue unit will help host Allegheny County's first large scale water rescue exercise for the Region 13 Homeland Security Task Force on Saturday in the Blawnox portion of the Allegheny River.
Emergency personnel from eight to 10 southwestern Pennsylvania counties are expected to participate in water rescue drills just off of Sycamore Island, which will serve as a home base.
Region 13 is one of nine Homeland Security Task Forces in the state and was most recently activated for security for the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh last September.
"We'll see teams coming together, working together, sharing experience and knowledge to be better prepared to use their skills to save someone in a flash flood or another water emergency," said Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief Bob Full, who is also chairman of Region 13.
Although the Region 13 Task Force was set up with a Homeland Security mission, the emergency responders are trained for all types of hazardous events. "We have a lot of critical assets on our waterways to secure," he said referring to the four rivers, numerous marinas, drinking water sources and industries.
"Since we don't' have a terrorist attack everyday," Full said, "We recognize being an all-hazard organization that we're good for other things like storms and chemical spills."
Full is assessing the capabilities and equipment available for flooding and other water-related emergencies throughout the region.
During Hurricane Ivan in 2004 when 95 municipalities in the region were under states of emergency, Full had to secure extra help for water rescue equipment and personnel in the first 24 hours of the emergency.
"It was unbelievable to me that the waters could come up so quick. All those streams throughout Allegheny County had come up and we needed every boat," Full said.
"We had to put in requests to surrounding counties for help," he said. "We were rescuing people out of cars, trees, second floors and we had boat crews from as far away as Johnston, Fayette and Mercer counties. That was a real wake-up call," Full said.
Given the spread-out resources for water rescue several years ago, it wasn't surprising that Blawnox Volunteer Fire Co., which has been providing river rescue for 12 years, beefed up its capabilities with more training and new equipment over that last three years.
Other than City of Pittsburgh, Blawnox has the largest river rescue unit in the county, which now includes five boats and 17 personnel certified in water rescue, according to George McBriar, chief of the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company and a board member of Region 13's water rescue committee.
The borough's water rescue unit fields more than dozen water rescue and emergency calls a year, McBriar said.
Most recently, the Blawnox unit retrieved the body of woman found floating by a pleasure craft on the Penn Hills side of river last Wednesday. The Blawnox unit also found the bodies of the two fishermen who died near the dam in Harmarville in April.
The Blawnox water rescue volunteers ran a practice of the watercourse last week to prepare for the training event this Saturday.
The course includes a slalom ski area that requires a boat operator and a passenger to navigate around obstacles.
Although it sounds similar to the recreational slalom skiing, it's not sport. Emergency responders have to be able to maneuver around and avoid, say, floating cars or debris during a real flood, McBriar said.
Emergency crews will also practice transferring personnel from one boat to another — not an easy task in raging floodwaters.
"It's actually a trained thing," said McBriar whose volunteer staff travels around the state for water rescue seminars and drills.
Another important exercise is what McBriar calls the "body roll." Crews will practice using a net to hoist someone from the water to a rescue boat.
"It's difficult to get a body out of the water, alive or dead," McBriar remarked.
Saturday's training exercise will provide a refresher course to emergency responders.
"We're looking for them to practice to use the rescue skills that they learned may have not used recently," McBriar said. "And for us, we will be able to practice our skills in working with other rescue units who have the same training, but we've never worked together before," he said.Blawnox OKs $2.1 Million Renovation For Building
Click on the thumbnail above to view a larger photo.The Herald
By Mary Ann Thomas
Staff Writer
October 1, 2009
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Blawnox Borough is set to pay for a $2.1 million renovation to the borough building and fire hall along Freeport Road.
The price tag, according to borough officials, will not equate to a tax-rate increase for borough residents.
Council unanimously agreed to the project that will add about 10,000 square feet to the building's existing 7,500 square feet to house borough administration, public works, police and the volunteer fire department.
The renovation includes the addition of an elevator and stair tower and a new fire department garage with the public works department expanded into the basement.
Built in 1939, the two-story, brick building has had few renovations, according to borough officials. And through the years, departments such as the volunteer fire company have outgrown the building, they said.
Council President Sam McNaughton half-joked that the borough has been working on renovation plans for its building since 1977.
Mayor Tom Smith said flatly of the current fire department garage: "It's not safe."
There's only four inches of clearance in the front and back of the main truck when parked in the garage, according to Smith.
"And the kitchen in your home is probably bigger than our police department," said Smith of the one-room police station.
In April, council hired N. John Cunzolo Associates of Pittsburgh for $10,000 to study the borough's best options for more space.
The architectural firm proposed renovating the existing building rather than constructing a new facility, which would have cost 50 percent more than a renovation, according to Ryan Pierce, vice president of architecture at N. John Cunzolo Associates.
"We're giving them a project for what they can afford to spend," said Pierce.
"The borough's number-one priority was not to have to increase taxes," he said.
So the firm worked "backward" to develop a project within the borough's budget, according to Pierce.
His firm is working on a final design and is producing multiple alternates for bids so the borough has more flexibility to keep construction costs down, Pierce said.
The borough is working with Joe Muscatello of Boenning Scattergood Inc. of Pittsburgh on financing.
Muscatello told council that the borough could roll its outstanding debt plus the renovation costs into a $2.9 million bond issue over 30 years, which would limit the borough's debt service to about $175,000 a year.
As Muscatello explores financing for the project, the architectural firm is working on designs for the renovations.
If there are no delays, construction could start as early as May of 2010, with completion of the project coming in July of 2011.Blawnox River Rescue Readies For Wave Of New Calls
The Herald
By Mary Ann Thomas
Staff Writer
May 7, 2009
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Among the din of the Allegheny River lapping onto empty docks that clang with each coming wave, members of Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company ready their multiple watercrafts for another season of river rescue.
Among the best-outfitted crews in the lower Allegheny River communities, Blawnox's river rescue unit responds to distress calls to watercraft going over the Highland Park dam to assisting in finding bridge jumpers.
The unit even assists in natural disasters, helping rescue flood victims in the Millvale flood in 2004.
"There's a lot of people on the water and its important that we provide those rescue services," said George McBriar, chief of the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company.
The unit is docked in the Allegheny River at a private dock in Blawnox and covers calls from Harmar to Aspinwall and O'Hara Township, one of the busiest pools on the rivers, he said.
Blawnox's fleet includes one 24-foot pontoon boat outfitted with a pumper that can spray a jet of water up to 40 yards, a speed boat, one new water ski with a second one on the way and an inflatable rescue boat. The fire department has a small truck dedicated to hauling watercraft and equipment for river rescue.
The company has put together its rescue watercraft, equipment and gear slowly through the years with small grants.
Recent additions include a side sonar device that can detect objects in the water on the side of the boat, adding to the existing sonar detector that scans directly below the boat.
The Blawnox department is the only fire department accredited by the state Fish and Boat Commission in the lower Allegheny River for "swift water rescue."
Maneuvering a watercraft in strong currents and other perilous conditions takes some training, according to squad members.
Last year, the Blawnox firefighters attended 80 hours of river-related training. The river rescue operations is made up of 12 firefighters certified for emergency boat operations, swift water rescue, and advanced line system.
"Our guys could get a line from here to that island," said McBriar, pointing to an island about 50 yards away.
The river rescue unit started out small with only one pontoon boat but as more watercraft has crowded the river, more help was needed.
The Blawnox department fills a much-needed niche.
"Sharpsburg has the aerial truck, Guyasuta does all land-based rescues and nobody has the ability to do what we do on the river," said McBriar of neighboring volunteer fire companies.
River rescue fields about 10 to 15 calls a year.
Recent incidents include a boater who fell asleep in the path of a barge.
When the gargantuan vessel blew its warning horn three times, a nearby resident phoned 911 and river rescue was on its way.
The boater was unharmed.
Last year, a boat salesman was test-driving a vessel with a potential customer, and was explaining the function of the gadgets on the instrument panel.
The salesman wasn't paying attention and inadvertently went over the Highland Park dam. "Luckily, they landed right, but I don't think the guy bought the boat," said McBriar.
Although there are comical mishaps, there are serious fatalities on the river and the Blawnox unit often is called in to lead or assist in search and rescue missions. The Millvale flood was particularly scary, according to some of the officers.
The current was so strong that they had to tether their rescue boat to a rope so the water wouldn't overtake them.
The first priority for the river rescue workers always is personal safety.
"If you're not safe, you can't rescue anybody," said Pam Stephens, a lieutenant with the fire department.
In difficult waters, controlling and maneuvering a vessel is difficult, according to Ed Benaglio, fire company captain. "It's a lot different than sitting in the bath tub."
And when driving a boat, one cannot merely travel in a straight line from point A to point B, said John Simmons, assistant chief. "You have to account for where the current wants to take you."
According to McBriar, river rescue will continue training personnel and keeping its fleet ready for another season of action.Blawnox Firefighters Getting New Gear
The Herald
By Mary Ann Thomas
Staff Writer
March 5, 2009
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded a $95,000 grant to the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company.
According to fire company Chief George McBriar, the money will pay for much needed turn-out gear for volunteer firefighters and a high-pressure breathing air compressor.
"The gear we have is nine years old and it is time to change it," said McBriar. "We would have not been able to get this without the federal grants," he said. "It's a big deal for us."
The fire company is currently pricing 30 sets of clothing and gear to equip each active firefighter with a new pair of bunker pants and coats made from fire-retardant material and liners to keep them comfortable in hot and cold conditions.
The new high-pressure breathing air compressor, costing $40,000, will increase breathing capacity for each firefighter by about 30 percent, McBriar said. The old system was donated and this is the first time that the fire company will purchase the special air compressor, he said.
The air system is used by firefighters who are going in or near a structure that poses any breathing hazards. "The new system will allow firefighters to carry more air with them," McBriar said.
The compressor is already ordered and McBriar expects to settle on turnout gear in the next several months.
The fire company responded to more than 250 calls last years, most of which were fire-related calls for mutual aid to Sharpsburg, Aspinwall, Harmar and other communities.Quick Response Gets Quick Kudos From Businessman
The Herald
By Bethany Hofstetter
Staff Writer
July 3, 2008
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Eight fire departments and emergency responders were thanked for their quick response and success in putting out the June 20 fire at the Royston-Chase Corp. in Blawnox.
Gregg Pelagio, vice president and general manager of Chase Corp., presented each of the eight fire departments who responded to the fire, and the Blawnox police, with an "Unsung Hero Award."
"As a country we all look up to the football players, the hockey players, the movie stars," Pelagio said, "but the firefighters, they're the real stars of this world, they're really the heroes."
The company presented about 100 firefighters from Blawnox, Aspinwall, Guyasuta, Sharpsburg, Harmar, Fox Chapel, Millvale, and Pleasant Valley and the Blawnox police department with medals, plaques, T-shirts, hats and a reception on June 24.
Blawnox Fire Chief George McBriar said the fire had the potential to be especially dangerous because of the chemicals that the company uses. However, the fire departments had the flames under control in about 20 minutes and were able to extinguish the blaze in an hour.
Pelagio said as he watched the firefighters take off their gear he saw that many were wearing shorts, or business clothes under their fire fighting suits.
"I saw them taking off their gear, and I said "'Wow, they must have just come from cutting the grass,'" Pelagio said.
"They just drop what they're doing."
The quick response of the fire departments saved much of the building, Pelagio said, and parts of the affected building are back up and running.
McBriar said he was surprised by the celebration. Although McBriar admits he doesn't feel like an "unsung hero," he is grateful for the recognition for all of the hard work the volunteer firefighters put into the job everyday.
"We just go in and do our job, but this guy gave us so much consideration," McBriar said.
"He went to a lot of effort, and I think I felt better that the recognition was there for the all the departments."Blawnox Attracts Dedicated Firefighters
The Herald
By Misty Chybrzynski
Staff Writer
June 19, 2008
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Luckily for borough residents, Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company boasts a high volunteer turn-out rate.
That good fortune extends to the surrounding areas, as well as anybody utilizing the region's waterways because the fire company also is state-accredited as a swift water rescue operation.
George McBriar, fire chief, says his department is the lucky one -- to have so many volunteers is unusual for the area.
"We're fortunate to have a lot of members," McBriar says, noting that it also has a costly side effect. "But the more members you have, the more you have to outfit, so it does cost some money."
The equipment is costly, with the self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) costing about $7,000 each and a set of firefighting pants and jacket costing more than $1,000 each. The department also outfits its members with water gear.
The department receives some money from the borough, which budgets a certain amount per year and "takes care of us when we need anything," McBriar says. "The borough is always very good to us."
Firefighters also sell raffle tickets, host a Cash Bash along with Aspinwall Volunteer Fire Department, organize a golf outing and mail a solicitation letter to the community. The letters generate about $12,500, McBriar estimates.
But the money still is tight, with the cost of equipment continually increasing.
One of the ways local departments ease the impact of equipment cost is by sharing amongst each other. Departments often respond to the same calls along with Blawnox VFC.
The department received state accreditation for swift water rescue last year, and is currently working on receiving its second level of certification.
It responded to about a dozen water rescue calls last year.
Last year, the department responded to 267 calls. It responded to about 115 already this year.Two Blawnox Firefighter's Honored With Proclamation
On December 20, 2007 Blawnox Mayor Tom Smith presented Blawnox Captain Ed Benaglio and Firefighter Bryan Krause with a proclamation from Sen. Jim Ferlo. On December 29, 2006 Captain Benaglio and Firefighter Krause rescued a 16-year-old girl suffering from cerebral palsy from her burning house in O'Hara.
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