September 6, 2008: Just after midnight on Friday, fire units from Upper Allen, Citizens of Mechanicsburg, Washies of Mechanicsburg, and Monaghan Township were dispatched to the 400 block of W. Lisburn Rd. in Upper Allen for smoke in a house. A follow up call from a neighbor reported smoke coming from the house and the RIT (Rapid Intervention Team – whose purpose is to stand by in the event that firefighters in the building become endangered or trapped) from New Kingstown was dispatched. First arriving units found smoke issuing from a typical split level home and aggressively attacked a fire found in the basement. Conditions indicated that the fire may have had a head start and extended into the walls and flooring above and adjacent to the seat of the fire. Weakening of the flooring on the first floor and bowing of the basement wall forced interior crews to use extreme caution. Extensive overhaul (seeking out of hidden fire) was also required and some quirky construction also added to that challenge. Because of the heat and humidity of the night, additional manpower was needed and Monroe Fire Company was summoned. Crews remained on the scene for several hours and the home was declared unsafe for habitation due to the structural instability. As a side note, this may well have been the last hurrah for the old E223 (Pierce) as it will soon be replaced.

September 5, 2008: The new engine 223 was delivered yesterday afternoon. It is a 2008 E-One with a 2000 gpm Hale pump. It carries 1000 gallons of water and is equipped with a compressed air foam system. We will officially place it in service after all training is complete.

Not to be outdone, the old engine 223 reminded everyone that it still has life and responded on a call at the time of delivery. The crew went to Mechanicsburg Borough and assisted on a smoke in a structure call on West Main Street. It was discovered that a heat lamp had been knocked over and burned a hole through the old wood floor of a residence. The heat lamp was being used by two large albino boa constrictors! The engine crew assisted with overhaul and reptile management.

August 23, 2008: Around 1115 hours, Engine 123 was special called for RIT for a working trailer fire, with entrapment, on Penny Lane in Silver Spring Twp. First arriving units found a well involved trailer with one victim still trapped inside. Upon arriving on scene the crew from Engine 123 loaded the equipment into the stokes basket and proceeded back the quarter mile lane. The crew staged without any incident until being released about an hour into the incident