The Good Will Fire Company is now hiring a full time firefighter/EMT. Please visit the downloads section to see the employment application. The application deadline is January 12, 2015.

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Friday proved to be a busy day for the members of Company 18. The day started off with 4 EMS runs as well as an assist on a crash in the 28 local. Just after 6pm, the Engine was dispatched to Stonebridge Apartments for a Muli-Residential Fire. Engine 18 responded with a crew of 5. As Engine 18 arrived as the 3rd due engine, the officer of 12-6 placed the incident under control with a burnt a/c unit. Shortly after, the station was alerted for an engine assist stations 28 and 32 on an Extinguished Structure Fire. Rescue 18 responded with a crew of 7. While enroute, 28-8C reduced the assignment to Engine 32 thus clearing the Rescue. Later in the evening, station 18 was alerted for a Residential Fire on Deemers Place, just a few blocks from the firehouse. Engine 18 made the quick response with 6 members followed shortly after by Ladder 18 with 5 members as well as the Chief and Deputy Chief. Engine 18 arrived as the first due engine and stretched a handline into the basement (area of the reported fire). Investigating crews found a burnt exhaust fan in the basement bathroom. Command reduced the assignment to Engine and Ladder 18. Finally, just after midnight, the station along with the duty engine were alerted for a Commercial Fire Alarm in the Twin Spans Business Park. Engine and Ladder 18 both responded quickly with 4 members each along with Duty Engine 32. Crews investigated a water flow alarm with negative findings. In total, the company ran 9 alarms throughout the day.

On Saturday June 7, 2014 Station 18 was alerted for a Rescue assist Station 20 in Collins Park. The Rescue responded with 6 members. While enroute, Deputy 18 went onscene with nothing showing. After investigation the Deputy advised the fire had been extinguished and requested a BLS, bringing A-18 to the scene. Rescue 18 arrived first and took the first due special service assignment as Engine 22-2 was arriving as the first due engine. Crews investigated a greese fire in the kitchen that had extension to a sofa. Crews checked for hot spots and ventilated while one patient with minor burns was evaluated and transported to CER.

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