Cherry City’s 2020 in Review
We begin this review of 2020 with a video put together by our own Captain Nick Skalos, simpy titled “Cherry City Year in Review 2020”. Below is a brief synopsis of what happened over the year within the world and our Company, and also a review of our calls for service. Let’s pray for a better, safer, 2021!
This year has been tough on everybody. With the initial surge of CoVid-19 back in the late winter, life as we knew was drastically changing. Governors were putting restrictions on where people could go, restricting restaurants and capping the number of people that could congregate indoors or outdoors at any given time. Sports were cancelled or delayed, from kids leagues through the professionals.
We felt things especially hard here at Cherry City, with initially suspending our weekly Bingo. As time went on, we had to cancel our Cash Bash, Easter Flower Sale, and eventually, the Street Fair. We had to look at some other means of pulling in some type of revenue to keep the company running. One of our neighbors, who owns Heavenly Cuisine Catering, approached the company and suggested that we can help each other. We could offer dinners for anyone who wanted to come and pick it up! We held numerous dinners throughout the summer and helped to offset some financial burden we lost with the closing of our fundraising activities. We also began some monthly raffles that have been successful in alleviating the burden as well! Great job by everyone stepping up to help!
Cherry City also lost a few members of the family this year. Back in June, Jim Landman, our in-house chef, passed away peacefully at home. If you ever ate at the street fair, Jim was the guy in charge of the kitchens and who prepared the awesome Hot and Sweet Sausage! Jim will be surely missed by many as he was hard-working and dedicated to the Company. In December, we lost the oldest living Life Member and former Fire Chief, Steven Hregdovic, who was our Chief back in the late 1960’s. Gentlemen, we salute you for your many years of remarkable service to the Cherry City Volunteer Fire Company. Rest Easy, Gentlemen, We’ll Take It From Here.
As for calls, we are again pushing 300 for the year. Nearly 14% of our call runs have been for fires (buildings, vehicles, brush). 20% of our calls have been rescue or EMS related calls for service. 2/3 of the calls that we ran were for hazardous conditions, smoke investigations, severe weather issues, etc.
The volunteers have continued to be dedicated to training, logging in over 2200 hours this past year, despite CoVid being in the air. Many hours were covered for topics such as Fire Suppression, Truck Company Operations, Vehicle and Rope Rescue. Near the end of 2020, the Volunteers started reviewing a new working guideline for firefighting. The North Hills Joint Operating Guideline gives units throughout the North Hills of Pittsburgh a standard across the board on utilizing apparatus and personnel for calls. This includes streamlining accountability boards and instructing first-in, second-in and other apparatus on their jobs when arriving on scene, eliminating the need to tie up the radio asking for orders. We will continue to train on these guidelines with other companies into 2021 and beyond!
2020 Review of Calls for Service
1/13/2020 – A vehicle crash that ended to catching one vehicle on fire closed Rt 28 South this morning just prior to the Millvale exit. Crews from 260 and 149 extinguished the fire quickly, helping police get the roadway reopened quickly.
2/9/2020 – 03:10 : Millvale, Cherry City, Ross-West View EMSA and Millvale police were dispatched to Rt 28 at the 40th Street Bridge for a vehicle crash with Reported one trapped. EMS advised they had good access to the patient, but the vehicle was unstable. FD units stabilized the vehicle for EMS to extricate then remained on scene for a lengthy cleanup of a large debris field.
2/17/2020 – The Cherry City Volunteers were dispatched to the 1200 Block of Evergreen Ave in Millvale around 4:30AM for a report of a pickup truck that struck multiple buildings and a driver unresponsive in the vehicle. Police arrived on scene and determined that the male was conscious, however needed a medic. A gas line to one of the structures was sheared and Peoples Gas was called out. It was determined that there was minor damage, non threatening to the integrity of the structures and owners were made aware.
3/17/2020 – At 10:15 this morning, we were dispatched into Millvale for a car that drove into the house next to Hardee’s.
4/22/2020 – 17:37 – Crews were dispatched to the Fox Chapel Mews for a kitchen fire. Upon arrival, the truck set up to assist with ventilation and for possible rescues. The fire was knocked down quickly, however it took tome to get the smoke out. 2 People were transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
Photos Courtesy of First Due Photography
5/9/2020 – 15:32 – Calls started coming into the Allegheny County 9-1-1 Center for a house on fire on Wilson St in Etna. Police arrived on scene shortly after dispatch reporting a working fire in the rear of the house and that all occupants were out and accounted for. 149 Chief (Porter) arrived on scene and reported that there was a 2nd house starting to be involved along with the first house. Undercliff and Etna engines arrived on scene and had water on the fire within 6 minutes of being dispatched. 260 Truck rolled with 6 and took a position in the rear of the house, allowing for ladder operations. Cherry City crews were split, handling ventilation operations on the exterior and overhaul operations on the interior of the main fire building. This fire reached 3 alarms and was placed under control within an hour.
Helmet Cam Video From Captain Nick Skalos
6/16/2020 – Around 7:30 this morning, Cherry City VFC, Etna VFD, Shaler-Hampton EMS and Shaler PD were dispatched to the 100 block of Seavey Rd for a report of a vehicle crash. Upon arrival, it was found to be a single patient in a vehicle over a hillside with the patient trapped in the car. With a two phase extrication to begin, Cherry City called for help from Bauerstown VFD, Millvale VFD and Aspinwall VFD. Initial crews got to the patient in the vehicle and began extrication while the auxiliary companies assisted in the rope evolution. The patient was in the care of EMS in their ambulance in about 40 minutes from dispatch.
7/14/2020 – At approximately 12:30 today, the Cherry City Volunteers were dispatched to assist into Millvale for a spill of about 100 gallons of Sodium Bisulphite, which is a corrosive material used in cleaning large pipes. We assisted with evacuation of a few homes in the immediate area as well as preventing the material from entering the sewer system. The Allegheny County HazMat Silver Team (430) was called out to assist with the beginning of cleanup and Weavertown, Inc. was called in to complete the cleanup job. Cherry City was clear from the scene at about 4:30PM and the road was re-opened at 8:30PM.
8/23/2020 – 02:14 – Company 260 called out at the request of police for assistance in a moderate sized containment detail. Upon arrival, crews noticed heavy damage to the vehicle. The car had gone through 3 cutouts on Rt 28 that construction crews were working on, each one was about 8″ deep and about 8′ wide. Needless to say, the vehicle was undrivable and the oil pan was ruptured. Cherry City stood by with police until the vehicle could be removed.
9/23/2020 – Cherry City was alerted for a house fire on North Ave in Millvale this evening. The fire was contained to the outside of the residence and there were no reported injuries.
9/24/2020 – Calls were pouring into the Allegheny County 9-1-1 center for fire coming from the roof at Hardees. Cherry City took the ladder truck to the side of the building and checked for extension after a quick knockdown.
9/25/2020 – Tonight, crews responded to a large fuel spill on Evergreen Avenue secondary to an accident. The incident required several rescue companies, county hazmat, and an environmental clean-up team. Thank you to all of our mutual aid companies for their response.
10/6/2020 – Cherry City VFC was dispatched for a RIT Team into Elfinwild’s district for a reported house fire. Police arrived on scene with smoke showing. Fire was contained to the basement area of the residence and the 260 Go-Team were not utilized.
10/8/2020 –
05:46 – A call came into the Allegheny County 9-1-1 center for a house on fire in the 900 Block of Victory Rd in Shaler. 260 RIT team was dispatched to the scene. The bulk of the fire was knocked down on the outside of the house and there was some minor extension into the house. 260 RIT Team were not deployed and all crews returned home. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is Investigating
11/22/2020 – 18:35 – Units were dispatched to the 100 block of Lincoln Ave in Millvale for a vehicle that overturned. All occupants were out of the vehicle and there were no injuries. Cherry City Rescue Squad assisted with mitigating hazards
16:54 – On this last day of 2020, Crews were dispatched to the 200 Block of Parker St for a working Chimney Fire. Captain Nick Skalos arrived on scene and had smoke showing from the chimney and 2nd division. 260 Truck took the Kohler St of the structure and took one crew in to investigate and a second crew to ladder the building. 259 Engine handled primary water supply and 149 Engine had a backup water supply. 264 Truck took the front of the structure and went to the roof to check the chimney. 260 Truck interior found no extension into the house. The fire was contained to the chimney. Big thank you to all companies with the rapid and professional response as always!
