JVFD in the News

Jennerstown Volunteer Fire Department’s New Truck

“SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — The Jennerstown Fire Department unveiled its new truck on Monday, which Chief Dave Robertson says has been in the works since the fall of 2023.

He says the new truck was ordered to replace a truck that has served for nearly 28 years.

He also says they designed specific features of the truck to accommodate the “limited” volunteer manpower.

‘Since manpower in volunteer organizations is extremely difficult to get… We can do a little more.'”

Jennerstown Gunstore Fire

“The state police fire marshal was called to investigate the cause of a structure fire Thursday afternoon that destroyed a Jenner Township gun shop.

Firefighters from the Jennerstown Volunteer Fire Department and multiple other stations across Somerset, Cambria and Westmoreland counties were called out around 1:30 p.m. to a commercial building fire at Jennerstown Tactical, located along the 8000 block of the Somerset Pike.”

“It took about 90 minutes for firefighters to get the fire under control, with knockdown called just after 3 p.m. according to scanner traffic. Fire crews remained on scene until around 5 p.m., according to Somerset County 911 dispatch reports.

The Jennerstown Volunteer Fire Department was called to the scene again at 7:30 p.m. Thursday when the fire rekindled, according to the dispatch reports. They remained on the scene until around 10 p.m.”

A Sweet Way to Help the Fire Department

“The sights and smells of the oncoming spring are already in the air around Somerset County. The annual celebration of the maple season will be held as the Somerset County Maple Taste & Tour is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1-2 and March 8-9, at about 25 locations around the area.”

“Four Seasons Maple was established in 2023 by owner Seth Kaufman. The camp has wood-fired maple syrup with approximately 2,500 taps. The camp will have tools and supplies that they use on display. They will have pulled pork sandwiches featuring Four Seasons’ own maple barbecue, and samples of its other maple products. It is open the first weekend only. This is the second year the camp is participating in the Taste & Tour… Kaufman said they are members of the Jennerstown Volunteer Fire Department, and the sandwiches with Four Seasons’ barbecue sauce will be a fundraiser for the fire department.”

Who was injured in a Jenner Twp. home Monday afternoon?

“A firefighter was taken to Somerset Hospital with unknown injuries while working at a reported house fire Monday afternoon along Keysertown Road…personnel from Jennerstown, Acosta, Sipesville, Boswell and Ligonier fire departments were dispatched around 1 p.m…. A Somerset EMS unit was also dispatched to the scene.

‘The alarm and smoke were the result of a malfunctioning furnace,’ said Mike Novak, deputy chief of the Jennerstown Volunteer Fire Department, which led the incident response.

One firefighter was injured, according to Somerset County 911. Novak said he did not know the extent of the firefighter’s injuries. The fire departments were on the scene for about an hour, Novak said, leaving about 2 p.m.”

Somerset County house destroyed in Saturday fire

“A small house is considered a total loss after a fire destroyed it Saturday afternoon. The house along Sportsman Road was fully involved when firefighters arrived on the scene around 3:20 p.m., said Mike Novak Jr., Jennerstown Volunteer Fire Department deputy chief. ‘We had visible fire when we got there,’ he said. ‘There were multiple roofs which caused us trouble and made it longer to extinguish it. It was a total loss.’

Novak said no one was home at the time of the fire. The fire’s origin is undetermined at this time, he said.
‘We were able to use the pond on the sportsmens grounds for water,’ Novak said. Fire departments in addition to Jennerstown were from Acosta, Jerome, Boswell, Stoystown, Sipesville and Listie. Ligonier, Cambria and Chestnut Ridge were put on standby. No firefighter was injured, Novak said. The departments were on the scene for two hours. ‘We all worked really well together,’ he said.“

Somerset Pike house fire cause

“A Sunday afternoon fire damaged a residence along the 5300 block of Somerset Pike and several people and animals were treated for related injuries, according to Ginger Miller, deputy fire chief of the Jerome Volunteer Fire Company.

Fire crews cleared the scene at 3:50 p.m., according to a post on the Jerome Volunteer Fire Department’s Facebook page… Jerome, Boswell, Conemaugh Township, Windber, Richland Township, Jennerstown and Sipesville fire departments all responded, as well as Conemaugh Township and Somerset EMS units and the Conemaugh Township police, according to the Somerset County 911 center. The fire started at a gas dryer in the home’s laundry room, Miller said… The laundry room and another room next to it were damaged by the fire, and other rooms in the home had smoke and water damage, she said.”

Air support called for motorcycle crash in Somerset County

“A medical helicopter was called in for a motorcycle crash in Somerset County Memorial Day evening.

The crash happened around 8:09 p.m. May 27 on the 1700 block of Klines Mill Road in Boswell, according to Somerset County 911.

While details are limited, dispatch reported first responders requested air medical. It’s unknown at this time if there was more than one person on the motorcycle or if anyone else was involved.

Jennerstown Fire Department, Somerset Ambulance, and state police responded to the scene.”

A fire that destroyed home ruled an accidental

The morning of April 10, 2023, “Ginger Miller, deputy fire chief of the Jerome Volunteer Fire Department, said their station was dispatched at 11:11 a.m. for a house fire with entrapment along the 700 block of W. Campus Avenue, about a mile northwest of the Conemaugh Township Area High School…In addition to Jerome, fire personnel from Conemaugh Township, Windber, Boswell, Hooversville and Jennerstown were on scene, as well as Richland Township Fire Department’s ladder truck and special services unit. Conemaugh Township EMS personnel also responded,” according to Beth Ann Miller of The Daily American.