Kutztown Community Fire Company

06/01/2026

2nd Alarm Barn in the 1st Due

At around 05:30 LCDES sent out the 1st alarm assignment on E Rosebud Rd for a reported Barn Fire.

Units went responding with a visible column for miles out, Chief 40 arrived with a working barn fire. Deputy 32 arrived and requested the 2nd alarm and established East Rosebud Command with a 40x80 barn well off.

SQ40, arrived and was assigned the B/C corner to protect an adjacent structure. E32 and E31 each arrived and laid in both driveways while TW31 followed to setup for master stream operations. E40 and W31 each took and established a dumpsite at their respected lanes while E33 and BE28 setup to fill tankers on Deep Run Rd. and at Mt Zion's fire dam respectively. Crews from 32, 31, 40, and 33 placed multiple lines in service and were able to successfully save the adjacent structure. Once the bulk of the fire was knocked down incident was scaled back while the heavy equipment operators worked to unload the barn which was nearly half full of hay.

Huge thanks not only to our mutual aid companies but also to the area farmers who provided equipment to empty out the barn and dismantle the burning remnants.

There will be visible smoke from the field near the barn for days as the hay continues to smolder.

Units: E32, PT32

Mutual Aid: E31, W31, TW31, SQ40, E40, BE28, E33, SO33, L20, T30, PT30, T40, PT43, PT47, T57, T41, T48, T42, BT28, BT47, BT52, BT52-1, T35, BT27, T14

https://www.kutztownfire32.com/news/25/2nd-Alarm-Barn-in-the-1st-Due

Photo Credit to the original Photographer’s

05/31/2026

Kutztown Hosts Rural Water Drill

Yesterday Kutztown hosted the annual ELCO drill in the form of a rural water movement drill. This drill involved 13 local fire departments including every ELCO department, simulating a large commercial fire in a non-hydranted area of our first due. This drill consisted of two fill sites by E33, and E34 located at Dutch Valley Food Distributors, and Mt Zion Fire Company's Fire Dam. At the incident location on Houtztown Road, E32 on the "A" side of the structure assumed "fire attack" while TW31 and W31 assumed the same on the "C" side of the structure these units were supported by Berks Engine 28 and SQ40 who each had their own dumpsite. Each engine laying in to the "Fire" scene dropped a clappered siamese, allowing tankers to nurse the line while each dump site was being built out, and provided for no interruption to water flow once dumpsite transitioned from a nurse tanker operation to a proper dumpsite.

Units originally staged at station 32 until being dispatched as a 1st and 2nd alarm assignment as well as a special call for additional tankers. During the training a number of metrics were being collected at both fill sites and dump sites. All together we moved 198,200 gallons of water at the fire scene averaging 1650 gallons per minute. Fill site data shows that tankers were being filled at an average of 1130gpm with the average tanker being at the fill site just under 3 minutes showing incredible efficiency at the fill sites.

Rural water supply drills are essential because many communities including two thirds of our area lacks access to fire hydrants, requiring firefighters to transport water to emergency scenes using tanker trucks and portable tanks. These exercises help our department and our neighbors practice establishing a continuous water supply, improve firefighter safety, test equipment and procedures, enhance coordination with neighboring agencies, and build operator proficiency. Regular rural water movement training ensures firefighters can deliver the large volumes of water needed to effectively suppress fires, protect lives, and reduce property loss in areas without municipal water systems.

We thank all attending departments and look forward to improving on our next drill.

Units: E32, PT32

Mutual Aid: W31, E33, E34, SQ40, BE28, TW31, BT28, T30, PT30, T40, T41, T42, PT43, BT52, BT52-1, T48, T35

https://www.kutztownfire32.com/news/24/Kutztown-Hosts-Rural-Water-Drill

Keystone Hook & Ladder Company No. 1
Neptune Fire Company
Mt. Aetna Rescue Fire Co #1
Mt. Zion Community Fire Company
Fredericksburg Fire Co. #1
Glenn Lebanon Fire Company
Newmanstown Volunteer Fire Company
Rural Security Fire Company
Marion Fire Co. of Stouchsburg
Goodwill Fire Company No. 1 of Myerstown
South Lebanon Fire Department
Schaefferstown Volunteer Fire Company
Myerstown Fire Police 30

05/29/2026

05/28/2026

05/11/2026

Attack 32 will be on display at the Glick Fire Equipment Company booth in Harrisburg for Fire Expo Friday and Saturday! Be sure to stop in and take a peek!

05/09/2026

In the last 24 hours Kutztown members attended a live burn with the Keystone Hook & Ladder Company No. 1, conducted driver/operator training with new drivers in training, and attended a touch-a-truck at Shady Oaks Family Campground.

Interested in joining send us a message or give us a call at 717-866-5200.

05/05/2026

1st due fire, big thanks to our mutual aid partners!

05/03/2026

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Fire Police Captain Glenn Miller.

Captain Miller’s dedication, service, and commitment to protecting our community will never be forgotten.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow brothers and sisters during this difficult time.

04/29/2026

PT32 assisted Mt. Aetna Rescue Fire Co #1 just before 4:30 this morning for a silo fire. PT32 arrived 3rd due and set up to supply E28 until released.