Brownsville chamber busy with events
BROWNSVILLE – The next few weeks will be busy for the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce, with the annual river cruise set for next Tuesday and the Independence Day celebration just a few weeks away. This year’s river cruise will honor Ray Koffler, the owner of Tru-Copy Printing in Brownsville. The boat from the Gateway Clipper fleet will leave from the Brownsville Wharf at 7 p.m. June 17. Tickets for the cruise are available at the chamber office, located at Bowman Insurance and Real Estate on Market Street. Scott Bowman said sales for the cruise have been steady, though there are still tickets available.
Chamber President Frank Ricco said there are plans for a concert prior to the fireworks July 3 at Patsy Hillman Park. There will also be a display of all-terrain vehicles by Gerald Trainer, who would like to open an ATV park and trail system in Patsy Hillman Park. He is in the process of negotiating a contract with the park board, Brownsville Borough and Luzerne Township, which own the park.
The Hiller Volunteer Fire Department will also be showing off its new truck at the fireworks display. Hiller Fire Chief Pat Ballon was the guest speaker at Tuesday’s chamber meeting. He said area residents can get a full demonstration of the new compressed air foam truck’s capabilities at an open house at the fire hall June 28 from 1-4 p.m.
Ballon said the department will demonstrate putting out a car fire and using extrication tools. Ballon said the foam can suppress a fire in about one-third of the time that it takes to put out a fire conventionally. Less water is needed to put out a fire using foam, Ballon said.
“Foam is nothing really but soap,” Ballon said. “Compression makes it seven times more effective.”
Ballon said the foam helps the water stick where it is needed, preventing flare-ups in areas the firefighters have already addressed. The compressed air foam lasts up to 24 hours, Ballon said. Because it uses less water, it also means an individual firefighter can handle a hose normally handled by three firefighters because of the weight of the water. A hose filled with foam weighs only 33 pounds, Ballon said.
Ballon said that with a foam truck, firefighters also don’t have to worry about finding a hydrant. “You could put an entire house fire out with your tank,” Ballon said.
Ballon said the reduced water usage cuts back on the amount of water damage caused to a house. He said that it takes about 3,000 gallons of water to put out the typical kitchen fire, often causing more water damage than fire damage. The foam truck uses only 30 gallons of water to put out the same fire, Ballon said, with much of the water dissipating into the air as the foam evaporates.
Ballon said the same equipment can be used to spray a special decontamination foam to fight anthrax. The Hiller Fire Department has notified the state that it is interested in serving as a federal decontamination unit. Ballon said 12 members of the department have volunteered to undergo the extensive training required for the unit. If approved, the Hiller unit could be sent anywhere in Pennsylvania on two hours’ notice, Ballon said.
Ballon said so far 17 members of the Hiller department have been trained at the Pennsylvania Fire Academy to use foam fire suppression. Additional training will be taking place in the fall along with Washington Township, which recently purchased a used foam fire suppression truck.