When the alarm rang at the Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna firehouse shortly after 7:00 a.m. Dec. 30, 2021 firefighters assigned to Defense Logistics Agency Truck 69 were dispatched to 813 Bridge Street, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, for a four-unit apartment building fire.
Flames from a rapidly growing fire on the first floor at the front of the building left two victims trapped on a second-floor rear balcony. DLA Susquehanna firefighters jumped into action, using a 28-foot ground ladder to rescue the people and a pet from the balcony on the rear of the building.
Fire rescue
“I am extremely proud of the men and women of the Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna Fire Department. These firefighters are true professionals whose expertise, dedication to duty and outstanding work ethic have earned them tremendous respect from their peers, the community, and their leadership team,” said Fire Chief Barry J. Shughart, DLA Installation Management Susquehanna.
DLA’s Truck 69 worked alongside firefighters from Fairview Township and New Cumberland Volunteer Fire Departments, arriving on the scene simultaneously within four minutes of the alarm and immediately jumping into action. Like a well-oiled machine, firefighters arrived trained, equipped, and prepared to initiate actions to rescue victims and stop the fire.
containment of the fire
DLA firefighters forced entry into the structure, resulting in quick extinguishment of the fire to the apartment of origin
Initially, flames prevented crews from accessing the locked building. While this could have been catastrophic, off-duty DLA Susquehanna Fire Captain John Fogg was driving by the incident and stopped to assist. Fogg used a pressurized water extinguisher to help slow the fire spread until crews could gain access to the locked building. In a matter of seconds, DLA firefighters forced entry into the structure, resulting in quick extinguishment and containment of the fire to the apartment of origin.
While the fire was extinguished within 10 minutes, one person was taken to the hospital and nine people are displaced from their homes. The Truck 69 crew also assisted with a salvage and overhaul operation, resulting in the recovery of several hundred dollars of personal items.
Emergency response
“My team and all of the firefighters involved in this incident did a great job. Their actions without a doubt saved lives and property,” said Shughart.
In 2021, DLA Installation Management Susquehanna firefighters responded to 694 emergency calls which included 399 fire-related incidents and 295 emergency medical incidents. Of the calls, only 169 were on the Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna installation and 525 were mutual aid calls in Cumberland, York, and Dauphin Counties.