Skippack Fire Company

The Skippack Fire Company does not have the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines administered yesterday at our fire station were delivered by the Skippack Pharmacy. Please contact them with any questions regarding additional vaccine availability. We were happy to allow yesterday’s event to take place at our station as a community service. Again, please contact the Skippack Pharmacy directly with any and all questions surrounding vaccinations. Stay safe and healthy! RX: (610) 584-6979

Pick 1 winner for our hydrant shoveling contest? No...we picked 5! All winners have been contacted. Anna, pictured below is one of the 5 selected. Thank you Anna and everyone for their support! Please continue to remember your hydrant after every snow event. PS...we heard more snow is coming tomorrow. Stay safe and healthy.

What does the closest fire hydrant to your house look like right now? Every minute, every second that we can save in getting there as rapidly as possible to get water on a fire is paramount. A three foot radius shoveled around a fire hydrant with access from the road will help us help you faster. Check out these before and after pictures of a fire hydrant on Mensch Road in the township. Tux showed off his work after cleaning the area around the hydrant. Let us know what hydrant you shoveled in Skippack Township and we will pick one winner to receive a Skippack Fire Company t-shirt. One random winner will be selected on Thursday. Attach a picture next to your clean hydrant. Have fun with it, but remember to always keep safety in mind near the street.

Skippack Fire Company Fire Report: January 2021 Members In Service For 127.8 Hours 2 Vehicle Accident Rescue 18.18% 1 Automatic Fire Alarm - Officer Only 9.09%... 1 Building Fire - Residential 9.09% 1 CO Alarm 9.09% 1 Electrical Fire Outside 9.09% 1 EMS- Cardiac Arrest 9.09% 1 Grass Fire 9.09% 1 Odor of Gas Inside 9.09% 1 Smoke Detector Activation 9.09% 1 Vehicle Accident w Injuries 9.09% 11 Total 100% 10 Skippack 90.91% 1 Lower Salford 9.09% 11 Total 100.00%

With a winter storm in the forecast for tomorrow afternoon into Monday, the Skippack Fire Company reminds you that these storms can cause dangerous and sometimes life-threatening conditions. Blinding wind-driven snow, extreme cold, icy road conditions, downed trees and power lines can all wreak havoc on our daily schedules. Home fires occur more in the winter than in any other season, and heating equipment is involved in one of every six reported home fires, and one in every ...five home fire deaths. Take proper precautions to keep you and your family safe. This would include having working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Portable generators are useful during power outages, however, many homeowners are unaware that the improper use of portable generators can be risky. The most common dangers associated with portable generators are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, electrical shock or electrocution, and fire hazards. According to a Consumer Product Safety Commission report, half of the generator-related deaths happened in the four coldest months of the year, November through February, and portable generators were involved in the majority of carbon monoxide deaths involving engine-driven tools. Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, propane, etc. do not burn completely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are potential sources of CO. Carbon monoxide incidents are more common during the winter months, and in residential properties. Finally, in the event of a fire seconds count...be sure to shovel out your closest fire hydrant and keep it clear of snow and debris.

When you’re decorating your home for the holidays, electrical safety usually isn’t the first thing on your mind. But it’s important to make sure your electrical decorations are safe for your home and don’t pose a fire hazard. Broken wires, improper hanging methods, and overloading outlets can cause problems. According to the ESFI (Electrical Safety Foundation International) 25% of holiday fires are caused by decorations. That’s about 860 home fires. Don’t let your home be one...Continue reading

If you see this guy today, wish him a Happy 8th Birthday! Happy Birthday Tiller!

The Skippack Fire Company would like to thank all those who have made contributions to the fire company this year. This year has been unique and challenging for so many. We truly appreciate all the support we have received from in-kind donations to monetary donations to words of encouragement and support. The fire company has worked hard this year to adapt to changing times around the pandemic to not only keep you safe but also our members. Throughout the pandemic, we have re...mained 100% operational and are committed to that goal as we closeout 2020 and look to a brighter and healthy 2021 for you, us, and all. This is important information for those who have already donated or intend to do so this year: Following special tax law changes made earlier this year, cash/check donations of up to $300 made before December 31, 2020, are now deductible when people file their taxes in 2021. For those still interested in donating to the fire company you can do so online through our web-site PayPal account link at https://www.skippackfire.com or by mailing a check to the fire company at: Skippack Fire Company 1230 Bridge Road PO Box 1 Skippack, PA 19474 As a 100% volunteer organization, we ask for your continued support whenever possible. The Internal Revenue Service recently reminded taxpayers of these special provisions that will allow more people to easily deduct up to $300 in donations to qualifying charities this year. Under this new change, individual taxpayers can claim an "above-the-line" deduction of up to $300 for cash donations made to charity during 2020. This means the deduction lowers both adjusted gross income and taxable income translating into tax savings for those making donations to qualifying tax-exempt organizations. More information on this IRS, Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, can be found at the links below or by contacting your financial representative or accountant. Again, no matter how you support us we are forever thankful. Wishing you and your families love, peace, and joy this holiday season and a beautiful and healthy New Year. https://www.irs.gov//how-the-cares-act-changes-deducting-c https://www.irs.gov//special-300-tax-deduction-helps-most-

Skippack Fire Company was dispatched for a commercial building fire early Thursday morning at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) Phoenix. The call for service at 01:22 reported an active fire in the laundry room. Chief 86 arrived on-scene at 01:30, established Command 86, and reported a heavy smoke condition with staff reporting the fire was believed to be out. Command requested a working fire dispatch at 01:37. At 01:52 Command requested a special call for three add...itional engines to the scene. Firefighters battled the smokey fire in the laundry room of the prison, while aided prior to their arrival by the building's fire sprinkler system and the prison's, Fire Emergency Response Team (FERT) as they worked to contain the fire. Multiple laundry bins filled with clothing were on fire and then melted together within the structure. An extensive operation to remove the bins, clothing, and smoke from the building took place after the bulk of the fire was confirmed to be knocked down. Command 86 declared the fire under control at 02:15. Crews inside the building and in close contact with the bins and clothing worked to decontaminate (DECON) prior to returning to their stations. Skippack Fire Company units on scene in addition to the Chief included the Deputy Chief, Squad (with the Battalion Chief), and Tanker (with the Captain) 86. Assisting Skippack Fire Company on-scene was: Skippack Emergency Medical Services, Trappe Fire Company Ambulance, Harleysville Fire Company, Limerick Fire Department, Lower Frederick Fire Company, Lower Providence Township Fire Department, Perkiomen Township Fire Company, Towamencin Volunteer Fire Company, Trappe Fire Company, Worcester Volunteer Fire Department and the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal. The cause of the fire is under investigation. All units cleared the scene available by 03:53. Photo credits: Ted Hodgins

Thank you to Santa Claus and all his elves for visiting every street in Skippack today. Santa even stopped on Easter Ave, looking for the Easter Bunny, but he must have been out. Santa thanked all the folks that did come out to wish him and the Skippack Fire Company a Merry Christmas. It was a long day starting at 9:30 this morning and just ending...but Santa must get back to the North Pole. Thank you Santa and our Skippack Community family. Merry Christmas to all!

On our list for Christmas is a well-watered tree, and this video from NIST fire researchers shows exactly why.

Santa Claus is coming to Skippack! The Skippack Fire Company is pleased to announce that Santa Claus has reached out to us on a Zoom call today with some of his elves. Santa is now planning a trip from the North Pole this year to Skippack, Pennsylvania so he may take part in a special 2020 Skippack Fire Company Santa Run! Although Santa is not able to come to the station for our annual "Pictures with Santa", he wanted to do something special this year only for all in Skippack... Township. Santa and his helpers will be riding a Skippack Fire Company fire truck through neighborhoods within the township. Santa's elves are still working out the details of his trip with the Chief, but Santa is planning his trip for Saturday, December 19th starting at 9:30am. Although we don’t have exact times for each neighborhood, the firefighters on the call have assured us that the lights and sirens on the fire truck will help announce his arrival in your area. Due to COVID, this will be a contactless Santa Run (Santa will remain on the fire truck) and we ask for proper social distancing throughout the day. We hope everyone has a great time! The elves on the Zoom call asked us to just make sure Santa gets back to the North Pole healthy and in time for Christmas! Check back for more details coming soon! Merry Christmas!

Skippack Fire Company was dispatched Saturday afternoon to assist Skippack Emergency Medical Services on a fall victim requiring a direct fly to an area hospital based on the extent of injuries. The call for service for Skippack Fire Company came at 16:07. Crews established a landing zone for PennSTAR 4 behind the firehouse in the parking lot between the training grounds and the station, Goddard School and Painting With A Twist. They also assisted with packaging and loading ...the patient with the EMS and flight crew. Responding on the call for service were Chief, Deputy, Squad (with the Battalion), Tanker (with the Captain and Utility (with the Assistant) 86. Skippack Fire Company crews returned available at 16:57.

Santa will be coming to Skippack shortly. We will be updating this thread through out the event as to which neighborhood he will be coming to.

The forecast for Saturday calls for a high temperature of 34 degrees, partly to mostly cloudy skies and a visit from Santa Claus in Skippack, Pennsylvania. Santa Claus is coming to Skippack Saturday! This Saturday! Santa! The Skippack Fire Company is pleased to announce that Santa Claus will be here in Skippack, all the way from the North Pole so he can take part in a special 2020 Skippack Fire Company Santa Run!... Santa and his helpers will be riding a Skippack Fire Company fire truck through all neighborhoods within the township. Santa's trip around Skippack is starting at 9:30am Saturday. Although we don’t have exact times for each neighborhood, the lights and sirens on the fire truck will help announce his arrival in your area. One of Santa’s elves will be running Skippack Santa Command at our station and will be providing updates here on our Facebook page throughout the day as to where Santa is and where he is heading. Due to COVID, this will be a contactless Santa Run (Santa will remain on the fire truck) and we ask for proper social distancing throughout the day. We hope everyone has a great time! We have committed to making sure Santa gets back to the North Pole healthy and in time for Christmas! Merry Christmas!