It seems like just yesterday the West Grove Fire Company apparatus were rolling down the hill on Prospect Ave in the Memorial Day Parade. The unofficial start to summer was upon us. The parade goers showed their gratitude for our service with applause and thank you’s. Exactly what the members needed to prepare for a busy summer season. Since then the department responded to 137 fire calls, including two structure fires and several mutual aid calls from neighboring departments for assistance. There were 505 EMS calls. Unfortunately some of these calls were serious motorcycle accidents, major car accidents, and sadly, critical pediatric cases. The department handled these calls proficiently and with the best possible outcomes.

Despite the vacation season, the company maintained manpower averages in line with the rest of the year. The officers are grateful to all the members that volunteered additional hours to keep our crews full. Despite these additional hours we still continued training with several highlights including Rapid Intervention, Vehicle Extrication and a School Bus drill. Many members and officers used time off from their jobs to attend workshops and conventions in order to keep the company informed on the latest technology and techniques. We added 2 new members to our ranks and recruited 3 more for membership approval.

We did find time to relax and have some fun this holiday season. Some of us traveled around the U.S. and out of the country. Some showed our thrill for adventure by hitting the amusement parks or taking to the sky in one form or another. We welcomed two future firefighters to the world and some older ones celebrated another year of experience. We participated in holiday parades and firework displays. As the summer came to a close we saw several of our members leave for college and military service. We wish them good luck and know that they will work hard at reaching their goals. We remind them that they will always have a home at the “22 House”.