The Waynesburg Franklin Twp VFC responded to a reported structure fire at 185 West Elm Street in Waynesburg Borough.  Fire was extinguished.  Assisted on scene by Jefferson VFC, Waynesburg PD, and EMS Southwest.

At the Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company's August Meeting, the Company recognized the retirement of Robert W. Fox.  Mr. Fox joined the fire company on May 6, 1948.  He officially retired on January 6, 2011.  Mr. Fox was a member of the Company for over 62 years and served as President for 28 of those years.  The Company thanked Mr. Fox for his years of service to the company and the community.

Over the past couple of months the Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company welcomed 5 new members to our roster.  Those new members are Mike Wade, John Gump, Dan Fox, Trent Hopkins, and Mike Caldwell. 

We are finally able to allow everyone to view or download a copy of the picture tribute video that was put together by Beth Barnhart.  We can't say enough how grateful we are for the time, effort, and thought put in to this by Beth.  To access the video, click on the 85th Anniversary page on our website and it will lead to a link.  To play the video, click the link called "85th Anniversary Video Download".  To download the video, Right click the link "85th Anniversary Video Download" and choose save as and you can choose where to save it on your computer.  Once all of the pictures come in from the photographer from the evening, we will be placing them on the website also.

The Waynesburg - Fraknlin Twp. Volunteer Fire Company will celebrate its 85th Anniversary with a dinner at the Waynesburg University Dining Hall.  The Fire Company was formed on March 4th, 1926.  We will be posting some pictures from the dinner later on next week so stop back.

The fire company responded to a reported crash on Interstate 79 Southbound at the 12 Mile Marker to a car in to a tractor trailer.  Two people were transported for injuries.

Waynesburg Franklin Twp Volunteer Fire Company assisted PA State Police and Wades Towing at a commercial vehicle crash.  Fire Department contained a small fuel leak and provided fire control while the towing company dragged the truck back onto Interstate 79.

The Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company participated in a charity softball game with the Waynesburg Borough Police and Waynesburg State Police.  Proceeds from the game will go to Morgan Yoney, a sixteen year old who recently had a liver transplant along with a double lung transplant.  The police won both games.  The fire company would like to thank Tom Ankrom, Waynesburg Borough Police Officer, for organizing this event.

We would like to thank the volunteer umpires, vendors, member's families, and the community for supporting this event.  A special thanks goes out to Debbie Hoy for taking pictures during the game.

Author:    Herald Standard Staff
Published: June 22, 2010

WAYNESBURG - When Waynesburg police Officer Brian Tennant was diagnosed with a stage-three glioma on his brain stem, Greene County emergency responders joined forces to provide aid to the patrolman. The Waynesburg Borough Police Department scheduled a Greene Ride to raise money for Tennant, who is also a volunteer fire fighter for Company 61 in Waynesburg and EMS Southwest employee.

 The Greene Ride is a motorcycle ride that will meander through the rural hills of Greene County on Saturday, Tennant's 27th birthday. Fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, police motorcycles and other emergency response vehicles will accompany the motorcyclists.
 
"I'm amazed at the outpouring of support from my community and my coworkers," Tennant said. "I never imagined that Id spend my 27th birthday fighting cancer, but I'm so grateful to have the community supporting me."
 
The 70-mile ride, which will begin at Waynesburg Yamaha Dealership on Route 21, is expected to take about 2 1/2 hours to complete.
Registration will be held 10 a.m. to noon. Following the ride, there will be a dinner catered by Hot-Rods at the Waynesburg Veterans of Foreign Wars post on East Lincoln Street. Non-motorcyclists are invited to meet the bikers at the VFW but are required to purchase a meal ticket during the 10 a.m.-to-noon registration. Tickets for motorcycle riders are $25 and $10 for a passenger. Meal tickets for non-riders are $10. Organizers said bikers and non-bikers are encouraged to pre-register for the ride by contacting the police department at 724-627-8113.
 
There also are will be T-shirts sold, and there will be a raffle to win a 2010 Harley Davidson Fatboy motorcycle.
 
The $20 tickets will be available at the Greene Ride and also may be purchased by contacting the police department. The raffle will take place Aug. 31 and will be decided by the Pennsylvania Lottery's Big 4 game.
 
For more information, call the police department at 724-627-8113.

The Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company was given an Outstanding Citizenship Award by the Pennsylvania State Police. The award was given for the fire company’s response to gasoline tanker that was on fire on Interstate 79 in Washington Township. The fire occurred on February 23, 2010. PSP Waynesburg Barracks nominated the fire company for this award.                                                                                  

The incident had a positive outcome that would not have been such if it were not for the coordinated response provided by PSP Waynesburg, the Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company, PennDOT, numerous mutual aid fire companies, and other support organizations. I big thank you goes out from the Fire Company to each and every one that helped with this response.

The Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company has a very positive relationship with the personnel at the Waynesburg Barracks. This relationship enables the fire company and the Troopers to work professionally and respectfully with each other at emergency scenes.

Again we wish to thank the Supervisors, Troopers, and other staff at the Waynesburg Barracks for nominating the Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company for this Award.

The Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department participated in an Annual Safety Training for 3rd grade students at Waynesburg Central Elementary School.  Fire personnel instructed students on general fire safety activities.  The Fire Department utilized the Washington County Fireman's Association Fire Safety House to conduct the training.  We would like to thank the 3rd grade teachers and students along with the Greene County Extension Office for setting up this safety training.  We would also like to thank the Washington County Fireman's Association for allow us to use this trailer.

The Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company responded to a reported structure fire on North West Street in Waynesburg.  The fire was located around a light fixture in the 2nd floor bathroom.  Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company provided assistance.

The Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company and the Carmichaels Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Company were asked by the Rices Landing Volunteer Fire Company to assist with hanging a United States Flag for the Funeral Service of Remo Bertugli Sr.  Mr Bertugli was a member of the Rices Landing VFC for more than 60 years and also served as Greene County Sheriff for 12 years.

Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company responded to a working kitchen fire at 115 Jefferson Road.  Fire was extinguished and house ventilated.  The Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company provided mutual aid.

This is the third grant awarded to our Fire Company through the AFG program.  In 2006, the Fire Company was awarded a $60,800 grant for new turnout gear and Hurst Vehicle Extrication Tools. In 2007, the Fire Company was awarded $188,813 grant for the purchase of our Mobile Live Fire Training Simulator.  The total amount given to our Fire Company from the federal government through this program is $ 334,401.  I have included the press release from Senator Casey below. 

Casey Announces Over $332,000 in Fire Grants Going to Southwestern Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded $332,853 to eight fire companies in southwestern Pennsylvania.

“Firefighters are our friends and neighbors and they work tirelessly to ensure our safety. It is critical that we do everything in our power to provide them with the necessary tools and resources to perform their job,” said Senator Casey.  “This money will provide valuable assistance to the fire departments of southwestern Pennsylvania.”

Federal funds are awarded through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program (AFG) which aims to strengthen the Nation’s first responders’ ability to protect the health and safety of the public as well the responders’ themselves. The grants are available through the Operations and Safety program area of the AFG. This is the 3rd  round of AFG grants for Fiscal Year 2009.

The grants are going to fire companies in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, an area that was represented by the late Congressman John Murtha who passed away on Monday.

Fire DepartmentCityAmount

Fairfield Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 New Florence $19,333

Vintondale Volunteer Fire Company  Vintondale $46,598

Seward Volunteer Fire Co.   Seward  $13,641

Pleasant Unity Volunteer Fire Department Pleasant Unity $64,130

Bobtown Dunkard Twp. Volunteer Fire Dept. Bobtown  $39,900

Portage Volunteer Fire Company   Portage  $11,377

Saltlick Township Volunteer Fire Department Indian Head $53,086

Waynesburg-Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Co. Waynesburg $84,788