Friendship Fire Company Diving-Rescue Unit

We would like to congratulate some of our new members on completing their PA Fish and Boat Commission Water Rescue and Emergency Response Course (FEMA Course 15-32935). Earlier this month Aimee, Alex, Cole, Glenn, and Joshua spent 2 days doing classroom and practical hands-on training that covers planning, medical considerations, rescue equipment, self-rescue, and shore-based rescue techniques. This course meets or exceeds National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1670 operator level guidelines. In water training was done on the Schuylkill River near Kelly's Lock Overlook. We would also like to thank our WRER instructors and hosts from Keystone Water Rescue Inc. as well as our instructors from Friendship Fire Compant #2. Their dedication to service and training means the new members are well trained, knowledgeable, and ready to go!

Last Wednesday, Lieutenant 77B/Lead Pilot Denis Brenan and Lead Pilot Rick Rotondo attended a drone demonstration put on by Billy Kyle at the West Chester Fire Department Training Center. Billy is a local drone & technology expert based in SEPA. Our pilots were able to inspect and fly DJI's new public safety drone, the Matrice 30T. This is a drone that can handle high wind speeds, heavy rain, and navigate through the dark with a dual camera payload (infrared/thermal & standar...d view) and attached lighting. Other first responder benefits include interactive software that allows pilots to mark objects such as people or vehicles out to nearly 5000 feet so rescuers on the ground, using the same software, can then use GPS to arrive at that exact marked point. This is an exceptional piece of equipment that can assist in saving lives. Montgomery County Department of Public Safety was also on location and showed the group one of their 4 Fotokite tethered drones. These drones can operate for hours or days at a time without the need to change batteries. This can be incredibly useful during long-running or large scale incidents. Thank you Paul Widmayer for setting this up!

We are currently accepting bids on our former Utility 77, a 1989 Dodge Dakota pickup truck with 18,550 miles. It is being sold in as-is condition with no warranty expressed or implied. Full details are in the attached info-graphic. We will be accepting secret bids through May 10th, 2022 and the winning bid will be published on Tuesday, May 17th, 2022. Bids may be submitted to Chief Scott Hamrick at: [email protected]. Thank you.

UPDATE!! Skyler has been reunited with her family. Thank you to everyone who shared this post - it was seen by more than 50,000 people! That is incredibly he...lpful when trying to spread the word quickly in situations such as this one. ***MISSING CHILD*** We are trying to locate Skyler Grey. Skyler is a 14 year old female that left her home in the 100 block of Forge Hill Lane around 5:00 PM today and hasn’t been seen since. Skyler has brown hair, brown eyes, is 5’4 tall and weighs about 140 pounds. We do not know what she was wearing when she left or which direction she traveled after leaving home. Her cell phone is turned off and attempts to reach her directly have been unsuccessful. If you see Skyler, please call 911 immediately. Please share this post so we can reach more people in our area and bring Skyler home safely. If you have information on Skyler’s whereabouts - you can contact us at 610-935-2440. All information will be kept confidential.

Every month, our entire team conducts a simulated operation. It brings our team closer together while allowing us to practice essential skills and train for actual emergency situations. Last month, our divers practiced evidence recovery in the Schuykill River near the Upper Schuylkill Valley Park. Our team of divers and tenders worked together with their shore communications crew to successfully recover the objects. Due to recent rains, our divers experienced a significant ...current when they were in the main river channel. One of our Captains utilized Boat 1, a 2019 14-Foot Inmar Boats Military Duty Search & Rescue Series, to teach one of our newer members about boat handling and upstream safety. They provided protection for our divers from any boats on the river while our Lieutenant of UAV Operations was able to fly overwatch with our Autel Robotics Evo 2 Dual. He was also able to continue our research into using a thermal camera to search for people and divers underwater.

We at Station 77 wish all of you a happy, healthy, and safe New Year. Good riddance 2020!

Here ya go, folks! Watch where you’re parking tomorrow!

We want to take a moment to express our gratitude to all of our nation's veterans. Thank you and God bless.