Rheems Fire Department

05/29/2026

Congratulations to our firefighter Hunter Martin and the entire Elizabethtown Class of 2026 on your graduation! Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have paid off, and this achievement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

Hunter, your commitment both in the classroom and in serving the community is something to be proud of. We thank you for your dedication and wish you and all of the graduates nothing but success and happiness in the years ahead.

05/25/2026

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, originated in the years following the Civil War. The holiday was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John A. Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, who called for a nationwide day of remembrance on May 30, 1868.

The purpose of Memorial Day is to honor and mourn the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It’s a solemn day of remembrance, distinct from Veterans Day, which honors all who have served in the military.

04/19/2026

Last evening, we had our 44th annual awards banquet. We celebrated another year of great success and honored those who went above and beyond. Below are the awards that were presented:

Unit Citation - Grain Rescue
-AFC Justin Barnes
-FAO Ladd Robinson
-FF Matt Bigler
-FF Grant Ruhl
-FF Brock Ruhl

Unit Citation - CPR Save
-AFC Justin Barnes
-FF Dwight Martin
-FF Kevin Cox

Presidents Award
-Charles Stanford

Chiefs Award
-Charles Stanford

Officer of the Year
-Grant Ruhl

Member of the Year
-James Deiter

Junior of the Year
-Hunter Martin

Training Awards
1st - Keith Kretzing
2nd - Nat Kotzmoyer
3rd - Grant Ruhl

Members were also recognized for benchmarks in years of service:
-Kevin Kretzing - 35 Years
-Ladd Robinson - 30 Years
-Chantel Langan - 30 Years
-Tammy Brandt - 25 Years
-Beth Wilson - 20 Years
-Doris Schanz - 20 Years
-Bob Schaeffer - 20 Years
-Shannon Barnes - 15 Years
-Grant Ruhl - 5 Years
-Nick Ressler - 5 Years
-Tim Kreider - 5 Years

Special thanks to Maytown-East Donegal Township Fire Department for providing coverage for a few hours!

Lastly, as always a year in review video was created, capturing some of the emergencies, training and general activities through 2025, and can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/EyBcFezkTYs

Congratulations to all the award recipients, and we look forward to another great year serving our community and those around us!

2026

03/24/2026

Thankful for the opportunity to take a tour of Rheems Elementary School which is being renovated and will now house Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning.

Yesterday, members of the Rheems Fire Department toured CHS Elizabethtown, and we learned a few of them actually attended grade school in the building! There was plenty of reminiscing about their memories there, along with excitement about seeing the space filled with children again.

Moments like this are a powerful reminder that our Centers are rooted in community, honoring the past while building opportunities for the future.

Learn more about CHS Elizabethtown: https://bit.ly/47hAQq2

03/07/2026

⏰🌸 Spring Ahead & Check Your Smoke Detectors! 🔥🏠

Don’t forget — when you spring ahead and set your clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time tonight, it’s also the perfect reminder to check your smoke detectors.

✅ Replace the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
✅ Test each alarm to make sure it’s working properly
✅ Check expiration dates (most detectors last about 10 years)
✅ Make sure you have alarms on every level of your home and near bedrooms

So as you move your clocks forward tonight, take a moment to protect what matters most. Taking a few minutes today can make a life-saving difference for your family.❤️🏡

02/06/2026

01/27/2026

Winter Weather notes for our followers:

- Over the next few days, you may see people on our pond. THIS IS A TRAINING EVENT!! Ice skating, or walking on our pond by the public while it's frozen is prohibited. Please do not put yourself or responders in danger by walking on ice!

- Help us help you. If you can't see the fire hydrants, neither can we! If you have one near or on your property please take a few minutes to clear around it so it's accessible in the event it's needed for an emergency.

01/27/2026

Just before 3pm yesterday, the engine and tanker were dispatched to assist Elizabethtown Fire Dept Station 74 with the report of a detached garage on fire. Units from 74 arrived to find a well advanced fire with extension to the home. Engine 70 arrived second due and pulled a back up line to the house, once extension to the home was controlled the crew then worked with Engine 74 to bring the garage fire under control. Tanker 70 supplied Engine 74 for the duration of the incident.

While crews were still cleaning up, they were again alerted to a first due fire in the Shady Oak neighborhood just after 5pm. Chief 70 arrived to find a dryer on fire and spreading on the second floor. Engine 70 stretched to the second floor, and reported the fire knocked within two minutes of arrival. Assisting units arrived and operated with Engine 70 checking for extension in the dryer vent and ensuring no spread or smoke conditions in the adjoining homes.

01/23/2026

With winter storm alerts currently stretching a staggering 2,000 miles across central, southern, and northeastern portions of the United States, it's a good time to make sure you know how to operate a generator safely in the event of a power outage. Some safety tips to keep in mind include:

📏 Keep generators at least 20 feet away from your home
🏠➡️ Direct generator exhaust away from buildings
🚨 Ensure there are working carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home
⛽️ Avoid refueling a generator while it's running or still hot

Download our free Generator Safety tip sheet to learn more: https://nfpa.social/4iSazRY

01/22/2026

With the Winter Storm Warning this weekend, we are asking the community with your assistance. Clearing snow from fire hydrants involves removing snow from the hydrant itself and creating a clear, shoveled 3-foot radius around it, plus a path to the street, to ensure firefighters can access water quickly in an emergency; the nearby property owner is typically responsible (neighbors can step in and assist), and doing so saves crucial minutes that would otherwise be spent digging it out during a fire.