Monthly Calls

2010
Monthly Calls

Jan  43
Feb  
Mar  
Apr  
May  
Jun  
Jul  
Aug  
Sep  
Oct  
Nov  
Dec 47 

Total

90

January 
2010 Calls
QRS: 17
Fire: 14
MVC: 6
Other: 6

Calls by
Year

       2009
       386
      2008
       461
2007
459
2006
378
2005
350
2004
361
2003
267
2002
265
2001
199
 
   
       

State of the Art Apparatus

To provide the highest level of protection for the  community, the Guyasuta VFD maintains state of the art firefighting apparatus.  Learn about it...

We Appreciate Your Support

The Guyasuta VFD's ability to stay at a high level of readiness depends on you.  Through your continued support GVFD has been able to provide the very best in fire and rescue protection.  Donate today...

The Firefighters

The Guyasuta VFD's greatest asset is its volunteers.  Currently there are 35 active members including three live-ins and five members from the Westinghouse Brigade.  Meet them:
Officers, Members, Live-ins,
Westinghouse Brigade...

Guyasuta News

Want to know what's going on in and around the firehouse?  Keep up to date.  Read the Guyasuta VFD Newsletter.   Read on...

Join Our Team

The Guyasuta Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) is always looking for new members.  There are many opportunities where you could lend your expertise to help our department.  We meet every Wednesday at Station No.1, located at 1341 Old Freeport Road at 7:30 P.M. Stop by or drop us an e-mail for more info...

The GVFD sponsors a unique Live-In Program that provides students rent-free accommodations in return for service as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician. Learn more...

Under 18? Then consider joining our Junior Fire Fighter Program. Junior Fire Fighters  assist the line firefighters on many calls and it's a great way to learn more about the fire service and what our department is all about. Work Permit Required for Junior Fire Fighter Program.

Download Membership Application

 

 

The Guyasuta Volunteer Fire Department is located in O'Hara Township, PA, six miles from downtown Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River.  The department provides fire suppression, vehicle/technical/trench rescue, and a Pennsylvania licensed QRS Service.  Learn more...


  Safe Winter Travel

Winter conditions call for different driving tactics.  Ice and Snow, Take it Slow - slower speed, slower acceleration, slower steering, and slower braking.  Give yourself extra time to reach your destination safely.  It's not worth putting yourself and others in a dangerous situation just to save time. 

  • Drive with your headlights on.
  • Drive for conditions. Don't get overconfident with four-wheel drive. It won't help you stop any faster.
  • Winter road conditions result in longer stopping distances. Drivers should allow additional room between their vehicles and others. 
  • Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots.  These all have potential to develop black ice that makes driving hazardous. 
  • Avoid abrupt actions while steering, braking or accelerating to lessen the chances of losing control of the vehicle.
  • Look farther ahead in traffic. Actions by other drivers will alert you to problems and give you extra time to react.
  • Trucks take longer to stop.  Don't cut in front of them.
  • Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on snow surfaces. Don't let your car make a bad decision for you.
  • Stopping on snow and ice without skidding requires extra time and distance. If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don't have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the pedal. Either way, give yourself plenty of room to stop. 

    “When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished.  What he does after that is all in the line of work”. 

        Edward F. Croker 

     


Highway Incident Scene Safety Course

January 2009

Members of the Guyasuta were joined by firefighters from the Blawnox VFC (111), Emerson Fire Brigade (314), Sharpsburg VFC (265), Rural Ridge (175), Cheswick (121), Sharps Hill VFD (263) and Springdale Borough VFD (273) in participation of the PA State Fire Academy Highway Scene Safety & Traffic Control certification course. The course outlines State and Federal mandates for scene safety, personnel safety, and traffic diversion procedures for incidents and traffic accidents on roadways.  The course itself is mandated for companies like Guyasuta Fire & Rescue who are accredited in the Advanced Level of the Voluntary Rescue Service Recognition Program through the PA Department of Health.


Vehicle Struck By Train at River Road RR Crossing

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Guyasuta Rescue Squad 219 responded to a reported train versus vehicle accident at the River Road crossing in O'Hara Township Tuesday evening.  The vehicle was found to be unoccupied and reported stolen from an earlier police report in a neighboring community. 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Box Truck over hillside Route 28 in Harmar Township

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Rescue Squad 219 was alerted to assist Harmar Twp VFC (166) with a rental truck that veered off of RT 28 landing into a wooded area near the Harmar Exit.  Upon the arrival off Harmar crews they found no entrapment and called off mutual aid rescue services.  1 patient was transported for injuries by EMS.

 (Photo By Donnie Trebac)

 


Body Recovery in Harmar Township

Thursday, December 17, 2009

The body of a homeless man was found deceased on a hillside leading to the Allegheny River near the Hulton Bridge train underpass.  Crews from Guyasuta Rescue Squad 219 assisted Harmar Twp VFC in using specialty equipment to recover the man's body after the police investigation was complete.

News Video Footage (WTAE Channel 4)


Fox Chapel Yacht Club Fire

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

An apparent electrical fire caused damage to a yacht docked at the Fox Chapel Yacht Club in O'Hara Township Tuesday evening.  Crews from Guyasuta VFD were assisted by Blawnox VFC and Aspinwall VFD in accessing and extinguishing the blaze.

Video from the fire (Video by Scott Bailey)


November 2009 Physical Rescue

Monday, November 30, 2009

Rescue Squad 219 used a rope evolution to rescue a Fox Chapel Police Officer and then lower him to Freeport Road.

Below Left: Officer Rob Katich is lowered to safety. Right: Fox Chapel Chief Dave Laux shakes hands with Guyasuta Fire Fighter Duncan Phillips

The following is from a WPXI News report:

The incident happened just after 11 a.m. along Linden Avenue.

Investigators said the incident started out as a robbery call with reports of the suspect having a gun.

Fox Chapel Patrolman Rob Katich slid 30-feet down the side of the hillside near Freeport Road after hitting some mud.

Rescuers had to rappel to save Katich from the first ledge and get him safely to the second.

Channel 11 News cameras caught images of Katich getting to safety on his own power, slightly banged up.

“If you’re up there, you’d understand it’s very slippery and unfortunately, he lost his footing approximately 30-feet onto a ledge,” said Fox Chapel Chief David Laux 


Dry Chemical Smothers Fire at Royston Chase Specialty Coatings

Monday, November 16, 2009

Firefighters yesterday used a dry chemical to battle a blaze at Royston Chase Specialty Coatings.

No one was injured in the fire, which erupted about 1 p.m. at the plant along First Street.

Borough Fire Chief George J. McBriar said the blaze resulted from an accident.

The chief said an employee was cleaning a part on a piece of machinery and dropped it.

The part had a coating on the end, and the employee was heating the coating to remove it, the chief said. When the piece fell, it ignited a cloth-like material and the blaze quickly spread, the chief said.

The plant has its own dry chemical fire suppression system, which McBriar said did a good job of controlling the blaze in the main part of the facility.

However, the fire shot through a tower at the plant. McBriar said firefighters were forced to control the blaze in the tower.

Crews could have used water, although it might have been dangerous for them because of a water and chemical mix splashing back at them, the chief said. For that reason, they used the dry chemical.

The dry chemical crews used is the substance in fire extinguishers.

The chief could not offer a damage estimate.

Five fire companies from Allegheny County responded, the chief said.

Royston manufactures materials that prevent corrosion. Those materials are used in highway construction and in other industries.

Awarded to University of Pittsburgh 

Follow the 'About Us' link above to our Newsletter for all the info..... 

Mike Dortenzo, EMT-B, Chief, Guyasuta Volunteer Fire Department, O’Hara Township takes part in the FEMA FIRE grant project at the University of Pittsburgh, department of emergency medicine’s specially-designed Emergency Responder Human Performance Lab. Assisting him is David Hostler, Ph.D., NREMT-P., research assistant professor, University of Pittsburgh Department of Emergency Medicine and Guyasuta volunteer firefighter and Jennifer Seitz.


Guyasuta VFD & Fire Prevention Week Presentation

Station 219 gave a fire prevention week presentation to the students of Fox Hill Preschool.  The students were able to interact and ask questions to the firefighters regarding fire prevention and safety.

October Physical Rescue

Station 219 was dispatched to assist with the extrication of a patient in a tree stand who suffered a gun shot wound.     

Training

 

Pin Job at Powers Run and Freeport


Pin Job on Freeport Past Powers Run

Allegheny County 911 struck out Rescue 219, Engine 111 and Parkview EMS for a Motor Vehicle Crash at 0830. Upon arrival Captain 219 reported a two vehicle crash with major damage to a SUV w/ one female entrapped. The crew from Rescue 219 removed the driver side door on the Mercedes to free one occupant. Engine 111 stretched a 1 ¾ line for fire protection. Parkview EMS transported one female to UPMC Presby and pronounced one deceased at the scene.

 

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Guyasuta Volunteer Fire Department
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412-963-7577
 1341 Old Freeport Rd, Pittsburgh, PA
President@guyasutavfd.org