Swarthmore Fire & Protective Association Report (April 13-26, 2020)

Engine 14-1, the attack pumper (center), flanked by engine 14-2 (right) and tower 14. The photo was taken with a 12-mm fisheye lens. The photographer, Andy Shelter, writes, “The trucks were all parked normally. It’s just the lens that makes it look that way.” Photo: Andy Shelter

April 13-26, 2020

In this two-week period, the ambulance responded to 21 calls for medical assistance, to Swarthmore, Rutledge, Morton, Springfield, Nether Providence Township, and Rose Valley. The calls were for a variety of emergencies, including respiratory difficulty (COVID-19), cardiac emergency, diabetic emergency, elevator rescue, overdose, laceration, pediatric emergency, and dead on arrival.

In addition, the fire company responded to:

• One automatic alarm, on Oberlin Avenue in Swarthmore, for a kitchen heat detector.

• Three building alarms, including one for working dryer fire, one for the smell of smoke from a basement circuit panel, and one for smoke in a basement.

• Two wire alarms, including one on Sylvan Avenue in Rutledge for a fire at the top of a utility pole.

• Three mutual aid calls to Morton-Rutledge and Nether Providence Township.

As can be seen in the EMS dispatches, COVID-19 is a real emergency in our back yard. The fire department urges residents to follow the mitigation guidelines recommended by Gov. Tom Wolf.