HIGH WINDS PROMPT MULTIPLE CALLS AND TECHNICAL RESCUE FOR WVFC
 
November 6, 2025
 

In the past 24 hours, the WVFC ran 9 calls for service including a major technical rescue.

11/5/25
5:37am: 9340 Old Route 22 - Bethel Twp.: Ladder 47 was cancelled en-route after being dispatched for a bin of shavings on fire from a previous building fire. Assisting the Bethel Fire Co.
9:15pm: 328 E. Penn Ave - Wernersville Borough: Ladder 47 was cancelled en-route for an odor of smoke at the Speedway Gas Station. Assisting the Western Berks FD.
9:41pm: Phoebe Berks Health Center - Wernersville Borough: Ladder 47 cancelled en-route for a fire alarm investigation. Assisting the Western Berks FD.
9:48pm: Bethany Rd. & Ryeland Rd. - Heidelberg Twp.:  Tree brough down electric wires and the roadway was closed until the utility companies could take care of the situation.
10:02pm: 125 W. Penn Ave, - Wernersville Borough: Ladder 47 was cancelled en-route responding after wires were arcing next to a building. Assisting the Western Berks FD.
10:14pm: Penn Ave & Robeson St. - Robesonia Borough; Fire police assist for traffic light out.  Assisting the Robesonia Fire Co.
10:25pm: 313 Hill Rd.; Heidelberg Twp. - Companies 26 & 47 investigated an odor of smoke inside the home and found a small fire that was out.  Assisting the Robesonia Fire Co.

11/6/25
00:55am: 678 Furnace Rd. - Heidelberg Twp.: Rescue (See below)
01:07am: C&S Wholesale, 336 E. Penn Ave.  Companies were dispatched for a fire alarm activiation which was caused by a power outage.  Assisting the Robesonia Fire Co.

Early this morning just after members returned home to try and grab some sleep, the rescue assignment consisting of Companies 26, 47, Rescue 18 (Western Berks FD) and Western Berks EMS was dispatched for a tree on a house with a subject trapped.  Crews arrived and confirmed a large tree fell through the roof of a home, into a 2nd floor bedroom, trapping a subject who was in bed.

Ladder 47 set up the main aerial and provided lighting and assessing the roof from above while crews entered the home to assess the situation inside.  Due to the mechanism of the entrapment and length of the expected extrication due to stabilizating the tree, bed and shoring the house, additional resources and manpower from numerous mutual aid companies were dispatched to assist including collapse units from Boyertown Area Fire & Rescue.  Personnel utilized numerous types of stablization equipment including airbags, chains, struts, shoring and a large amount of cribbing to stabilize the tree and bed and eventually were able to raise the tree enough that personnel were able to extricate the subject.  During the extrication, a Tower Health trauma surgeon was on scene assisting EMS units as a precaution.  The subject was extricated at 0251 hours and transported to a local hospital with unspecified injuries.  A rotator heavy wrecker had been requested to the scene and set up for operations but was not used as the subject was extricated prior.

Chief 26 had Heidelberg Command.

Thanks to all these agencies who provided assistance.  

Western Berks FD (Rescue and Utility 18-2)
Newmanstown FD (Rescue 34)
Spring Twp. Fire Dept. (Rescue 85)
Boyertown Area Fire & Rescue (Collapse Units)
Richland FD (Engine & Squad 33 for manpower)
Western Berks EMS
Tower Health EMS
South Heidelberg Twp. Police
Spittler's Towing for a Rotator Heavy Wrecker