At 2144hrs on Thursday evening, Station 18 was alerted for a Ladder and Engine assist Stations 28/32 on a Working Residential Fire. The ladder and engine responded quickly with a total of 13 members. Upon arrival, the crew of Ladder 18 conducted a search of the second floor and threw multiple ground ladders as well as getting control of an attack line on the first floor. The crew of the engine conducted a primary search of the bravo exposure and then went to work with the crew of the ladder on fire attack. Chief 18 arrived and assisted with patient care on a burn subject that was in the rear yard and assisted ALS with packaging and transport. The crews from the ladder and engine operated until 2315hrs when cleared by command. Good work to all companies on the fire ground.

As the snow was beginning to fall on Wednesday night, Station 18 was alerted to a box alarm for a residential gas leak in the Jefferson Farms Community. Rescue and Ladder 18 responded as well as the Deputy. Crews found a gas leak as a result of cut copper piping inside a house that was being renovated. Crews secured the gas service to the residence and ventilated. Companies on scene were Rescue 18, Ladder 18, Ladder 28, Engine 32, Rescue Engine 22, and Engine 20.

In 1960, the Good Will Fire Company purchased and took delivery of a brand new 85' Peter Pirsch aerial. The unit was bought for $48,000 by the fire company. The new truck featured an 85' aerial, 750 GPM pump, a 200 gallon booster tank, 227' of ground ladders, 1000' of 2 1/2" hose, 100' of 3" hose, and 600' of 1 1/2" hose as well as a generator and large spot lights for operations at night. The new ladder truck was delivered to the fire station on the evening of May 6, 1960 during the New Castle County Volunteer Fire Chiefs Association meeting that was being hosted at Station 18. The truck saw service around New Castle and throughout New Castle County until 1976 when it was sold to a fire company in Maryland. The Peter Pirsch was replaced by a 1977 100' Seagrave Aerial.

Good Will Fire Company Open House Demonstration. One structure was protected by a residential sprinkler system, the other was allowed to burn as it normally would. The crowd was amazed by the rapid response of the sprinkler system.

On Saturday September 28, 2013 5 members of the GWFC traveled to the Lower Chichester Fire Company in Delaware County, PA for a cover up. Members were at Station 39 for 10 hours. While there, members responded to two alarms. One was an MVC on I-95 with NCC Station 13 (Claymont) and the other was a medical assist in the town. Thank you to the members who went and congratulations to the Lower Chi members on their awards.

On Sunday September 8, 2013 7 members of the GWFC attended the First State F.O.O.L.'s annual 343 Miles for 343 Fallen walk at Delcastle Recreational Park. GWFC members, along with members of Wilmington Manor, Minquadale and several other fire departments from Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania walked in full turnout gear, SCBA, and hand tools along a one mile track. Each mile was walked in memory of a fallen FDNY member. Before the walk started, GWFC Firefighter Ed Collins played the bagpipes while a Signal 5-5-5-5 was sounded on the bells, a signal that announced a line of duty death before the age of computers and instant communication. At the end of the walk, each FDNY members name was read off and a bell sounded. Good work to all who participated, and may we never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice that day.

On July 29, the Monday night duty crew took to the street to practice running lines with the cadet's as well as refining their own skills with hand lines. The crews worked for 2 1/2 hours with different length hand lines as well as hose handling and nozzle operations. At the same time, new apparatus operators were working on pumping the hand lines as well as the waterway on Ladder 18. At the end of the night, cadets were given the opportunity to climb the ladder. Overall, 12 members trained throughout the night on various subjects. Good work by all. Keep the the hard work and dedication.

On Thursday July 11, 2013 members of the Good Will Fire Company were honored by the New Castle County Fire Chiefs Association for their actions at an incident in the district. The following narrative was submitted to the association by Chief C. Robinson. On May 21, 2013 at 0811 in the morning, the Good Will Fire Co. was dispatched for a vehicle explosion at #4 Van Dyke Dr. in Van Dyke Village, New Castle DE. Good Will Fire Co. Engine 18-3 was under the command of firefighter/EMT Timothy Moore. The crew consisted of firefighter/EMT Frank Schoeffler and firefighter/EMT Joseph David Majewski, Jr. While responding to the dispatched address, New Castle County Fire Board advised Engine 18-3 that there was an explosion in a trash can near the home. Upon arrival of Engine 18-3, the crew was advised by New Castle City Police that an explosion had occurred and they were not sure what the cause of the explosion was. At that time, the crew noticed a male subject lying on his back in the front yard of #4 Van Dyke Dr. in need of emergency care. The crew, not knowing what possible dangers they might face, responded to the male’s side, where they noticed multiple traumatic wounds from head to toe on the victim. At that point the crew realized they needed to rescue this person from the area. The crew quickly bandaged the most traumatic wounds, placed him on oxygen and removed him from what was then being called The Blast Zone. The male victim was then transferred to an awaiting BLS & ALS unit. The victim was transported and treated at Christiana Hospital within the “Golden Hour”. The 54 year old male was seriously injured, after what was determined by Dover Air Force Base Explosive Experts and the New Castle County EOD Unit, to be a 40 mm shell that had exploded spraying the victim with shrapnel. He remained hospitalized for several days and was later released. Explosive experts combing the scene found 11 more unexploded 40 mm shells throughout the day. This lead to the evacuation of about 30 homes in the area through the evening. Crews remained on the scene for approximately 13hrs. With the 3 firefighter/EMT’s quick response and expert wound management, the life of the 54 year old male was saved. The three members of the engine crew received Meritorious Service Awards for their actions that day.

On Saturday June 8, 2013 the officers and members of the department took to the streets of New Castle as a part of the Separation Day Parade. Pictured are the marching members infront of the 1919 Ahrens Fox.

At 09:21 Hrs Station 18 was Dispatched to Ferry Cutoff and W. 6th Street for a Vehicle Fire. Engine 18-3 arrived with a vehicle Fully Involved. The Engine crew pulled an attack line and knocked down the fire. Due to leaking fuel from the vehicle a HazMat Response was requested bringing Hazmat 30 and DENREC to the scene. A foam line was pulled from Rescue 18 to extinquish any remaining fire. After determining the leak was not a Hazard to the Environment the scene was placed under control and Units Cleared at 11:03 Hrs. Deputy 18 had the command.

Units
Engines: 18, 20
Rescue: 18
HazMat 30 and DENREC

Photos By: Lee Robbins
Story By: Chris Riale

At 21:15 Hrs, Station 18 and 28-6 were alerted to respond to 955 River Rd for an Automatic Fire Alarm in a Plastics Recycling Plant. While units were responding Additional Calls to the Dispatch Center reported a water flow alarm in the building. 28-6 arrived with Smoke Showing and the response was upgraded to a working fire. 28-6's crew had a line in the building, and a Foam Line was placed in service to extinquish the fire underneath piles of Plastic.  Ladder 18's crew ventilated the roof along with L12's crew, and Rescue 18's crew split to make Force Entry and Search. The scene was placed under control and units returned to service at 01:28 Hrs. 18-8 (Robinson) had command. Station 18 had 19 members respond.

Units:  

Engines 18, 28, 32, 22, 15, 30, 12, 29
Ladders 18, 28, 12
Rescues 18, 22, 23
Command 18
Ambulance 18, 12, 29

Thanks to Engine 14 for covering our District during the fire. the cover crew responded to an outside fire while covering us.

Photos Credit to Christiana Fire Company.
Story By: Chris Riale
 

                                                                                                                                  

 
On Friday, January 25, 2013, Good Will Fire Company was alerted to a transformer on fire with fire on the ground. Rescue 18 and Command 18 responded to the scene to find a Primary power line on the ground with a small fire near the electrical pole. Command 18 called for zone fire police  from the surrounding fire companies and notified Delmarva Power and the Municipal Services Comission
 
The transformer fire caused power outages throughout New Castle and as far west as Penn Mart Shopping Center. 
 
A special thanks to the fire police officers and crew of Holloway Terrace’s Engine 20-5 for making the response to assist the members of the GWFC.   
Photo by: Chief Chris Robinson

It was a warm and sunny day for the Good Will Open house on Saturday, October 27, 2012, bringing many people to see the Fire Prevention Poster and Essay awards ceremony as well as to enjoy the many features available.
The Good Will Fire Company put on a vehicle rescue demonstration involving two cars during the Open House. Members performed vehicle extrication with an additional vehicle on fire. A-18 extricated the driver of the pickup truck while Rescue 18 firefighters extinguished the blaze. 
Ladder 18 conducted a presentation by fully extending the 105’ aerial ladder into the air with Firefighter C. Penland on the tip of the ladder. 
Guests also enjoyed a demonstration in the Arhens Fox trailer where a Thermal Imaging Camera was used by members M. Baily and C. Riale. Guests were able to see how fire fighters use thermal imaging to find victims in dark and smoky conditions. 
The Good Will Ladies Axillary served free hot dogs, pretzels, sodas and popcorn, and sold treats. 
A special thanks to Mill Creek Fire Company who brought their smokehouse, Elsmere Fire Company who offered the inflatable Stop, Drop and Roll for guests to enjoy, the New Castle City Police Department for providing finger-printing for the children, the New Castle County Police and the mounted patrol, Trooper 4 of the Delaware State Police, the Delaware State Fire School and Fire Marshall's Office. 
During the festivities, members of Good Will along with members of Garden City Fire Company responded to a house fire with Ladder 18 and 18-3. Crews quickly extinguishing the fire. A special thanks to Garden city Fire Company for providing coverage for the day.  Thanks to everyone that and participated and attended to make this day a success.
Story by: C. Riale, A. Brown

Photos by: A. Brown and K. Stockman

Good Will Fire Company Open House

On October 27th, the Good Will Fire Company will be hosting its annual Open House in honor of Fire Prevention Month from Noon until 3:30pm.

Come out and enjoy a day of live fire company demonstrations including a Marine Rescue Display, a Fire Safety House, a live search with a thermal imaging camera, fingerprinting courtesy of the New Castle City Police, as well as many other fire and safety demonstrations and activities put on by the Delaware State Fire School, the Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office, and the Good Will Fire Company. 

Location:

The Good Will Fire Company

401 South Street, New Castle, DE 19720

On Monday, August 20, 2012, Station 18 was alerted to assist Stations 28 & 32 on a reported house fire. Engine 18-3 made the response with four personnel and arrived as the first due engine to find nothing evident. After investigating, it was found that a section of siding on the rear of the house had burnt of in one area and had been extinguished by the homeowner with a garden hose. Crews from Engines 18-3, 32-4, and 28-6 checked for extension on the interior of the residence and preformed a final wet-down of the affected areas. Crews operated on-scene for 50 minutes.

Story by: D. Majewski Jr.

Photos by: D. Majewski Jr.