Join us on Saturday, October 8th, from 12pm – 3pm for the annual Fire Smart Day at the Elmwood Park Zoo. This is a family-friendly day consisting of activities to promote fire safety and prevention. Our fire trucks, fire safety house and other fire equipment will be in the parking lot for kids to explore. We’ll see you there!
NORRISTOWN- The Norristown Fire Department has earned a Class 2 rating by the Insurance Services Office (ISO)- the second highest possible rating for fire protection services in the country. This Public Protection Classification (PPC) program places the Norristown Fire Department in the top five percent of the approximately 40,000 fire departments nationwide, with less than 400 graded as a Class 1 and less than 2000 graded as a Class 2. The review was conducted by ISO staff and included site visits, records examination, and operational observations. It’s also considered an analysis of the structural fire suppression delivery system of the Norristown community. 4 major areas evaluated include:
• Emergency Communications
• Water Supply
• Fire Department assessment including fire service personnel, fleet, and training
• Community Risk Reduction
The scale of a PPC rating rangers from 1-10, with Class 1 being the highest rating. Improving the PPC from a Class 3 to a Class 2 should favorably affect commercial and residential property insurance rates for all property owners in the municipality by helping insurers identify communities that invest in their firefighting services. “I’m thrilled to receive this notification. It represents the foresight and commitment of the Council in prioritizing public the public safety of our residents and the team’s dedication to carrying out their vision. I appreciate Chief O’Donnell’s excellent leadership of demonstrably one of the finest firefighting operations in the nation,” said Municipal Administrator Crandall O. Jones. “This is the second time in six years that we improved our public protection classification, in 2016 we went from a Class 4 to a Class 3, the first improvement in over 40 years.
This latest accomplishment directly reflects the dedication, compassion and professionalism that every member of the Norristown Fire Department displays every single day in this community,” said Fire Chief Thomas O’Donnell.
Norristown Fire Department is a full-time department running approximately 1,300 emergency calls a year with 23 accredited, career firefighters and over a dozen volunteer firefighters.
The Montgomery County Office of Public Health is pleased to announce the return of in-person car seat checks beginning in August 2022. They will be held on the first Wednesday of every month at the Montgomery Hose Fire Company at 201 W. Freedley St. For more information click here.
During the week of April 24th, Firefighters from the NFD attended a week long international conference in Indianapolis, Indiana where they participated in world class training, checked out the latest and greatest in firefighting equipment, and met and learned from many of the greatest firefighters from across the country. We are extremely grateful to have this opportunity and are looking forward to attending next year!
Today the NFD, Family and Friends celebrated and congratulated Deputy Chief Richard Lockhart on his 35th year on the job with the Norristown Fire Department. Thank you for your dedicated service to the Norristown Community!
On Tuesday afternoon on March 15th, Norristown (A Platoon) and surrounding companies were dispatched to the 700 Block of Chain St. for a dwelling fire. Norristown units arrived within minutes of dispatch with smoke showing. Crews found a small bedroom fire on the 3rd floor of the residence. Again, thank you to all mutual aid companies who assisted on scene and to those who covered the municipality during the incident.
For the 2nd time in two days, Engine and Quint 27 (A Platoon) were dispatched in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 13th to assist Station 61 (Norriton Fire Company) on Hancock Ave. on a dwelling fire. Engine and Quint 27 arrived shortly after dispatch with smoke showing from the front door. The initial crew made entry and extinguished a 2nd floor fire while additional crews ventilated and began overhaul. Norristown crews operated for just under the one hour mark.
In the early morning hours of Saturday, March 12th, Station 27 (C Platoon) and surrounding mutual aid were dispatched to the intersection of Walnut St. and E. Airy St. for a dwelling fire. As units were responding, County reported receiving multiple calls for a house on fire, and Norristown Police on scene with fire showing in the 400 block of E. Airy St. Captain 27 arrived and confirmed a 2 story middle of the row with fire showing from the 2nd floor. Quint 27 and Engine 27 arrived and stretched into the original fire building, knocking down the bulk of the fire within several minutes. With the possibility of fire running the cockloft, the 2nd alarm was struck bringing additional units to the scene. Norristown units operated for just over 3 hours. No injuries were reported.
During the incident, stand-by companies responded to the 100 block of W. Airy St. for a reported dwelling fire. Crews arrived and found a small fire in the residence, which was quickly extinguished.
Thank you to all mutual aid companies who responded to the scene and who stood by at Station 27B, handling all in town calls, while crews were operating on E. Airy St.
On the afternoon of Thursday, March 3rd, Station 27 (A Platoon) was alerted to respond to the intersection of W. Wood St. and Markley St. for smoke in the area. Shortly after the initial dispatch, Montgomery County Communications was receiving multiple calls for a dwelling fire in the 300 Blk of W. Wood St. Engine 27 arrived on location and confirmed 2 properties were involved in fire. Assistant 27 had W. Wood St. command and quickly upgraded the call to a working fire and requested the 2nd alarm. Firefighters from surrounding municipalities responded and fought the blaze for over two hours. No injuries were reported.
On Saturday evening, February 12th, Station 27 (C Platoon) and surrounding mutual aid were dispatched to a reported building fire on the unit block of West Main St. Quint, Engine and Assistant 27 responded and arrived on location finding fire in the ceiling of an upper floor apartment. Crews quickly knocked the fire, ventilated, and overhauled the affected areas. Thank you to all companies who responded to the scene and covered the municipality while crews were operating.
The Norristown Fire Department is pleased to announce the purchase of a 2023 Pierce Enforcer Heavy-Duty Rescue Engine from Glick Fire Equipment Company, Inc. The truck is slated for delivery during the summer of 2023.
The Norristown Fire Department had the privilege to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on January 17th with its 4th annual smoke detector blitz. On this day of service, on duty personnel, in partnership with the American Red Cross, visited homes in the 800 – 1300 blocks of Dekalb St, testing and installing smoke detectors.
Free smoke alarms are available through this program. Any Norristown resident needing a smoke alarm, is encouraged to call the smoke alarm hotline at 610-270-2870, or should complete the free smoke alarm form.
On the morning of Sunday, December 26th, Station 27 (B Platoon) was dispatched to a reported vehicle fire in the parking lot of the Auto Zone in the unit block of E. Main St. AC27 arrived to confirm the police report of a working fire, with an exposure problem to the building. Crews quickly extinguished the fire, and checked the building for any possible fire extension. Units cleared the scene in about 30 minutes.
The Norristown Fire Department is proud to announce that 3 of our firefighters received the Award of Valor in Emergency Response from the National Liberty Museum for their actions during Hurricane Ida in saving a life. The awards were on December 15th during a virtual presentation. Congratulations FF Ryan O’Donnell, FF Anthony Molchany and FF Robert Spitko!
For additional information about the award and the National Liberty Museum, please visit their website here: https://www.libertymuseum.org/programs-events/awards-program/awards-of-valor/
During the busy December Council Meeting, following the awards, the NFD was pleased to witness the swearing in of Firefighter Robert Peterson. Congratulations Robbie and we are looking forward to working alongside you during a long and successful career.
