WestChesterBuzz.com

The West Chester Fire Department is having an open house Tuesday at 7 p.m. for people who are interested in becoming firefighters in the future.

The open house will be held at department’s headquarters at 9119 Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

According to the event’s flier, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in fire-fighting training scenarios and its ride-along program, as well as learn about emergency call protocols and firefighting policies and procedures.

For more information, contact Trevor Frodge at 513-777-1133.

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: West Chester Fire, West Chester Fire Department, West Chester Fire Department open house, West Chester Fire open house

The Enquirer

The West Chester Board of Trustees approved a three-year contract with the township’s fire lieutenants and firefighters on Tuesday.

The contract affects 57 full-timers who are represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3518, and replaces a contract that expired at the end of last year.

“The contract provides the standard step increase historically found in collective bargaining agreements and an annual 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase in each year of the agreement,” a township news release said.

But the contract also increased employee premium contributions for healthcare.

“West Chester vigorously negotiates contracts with all collective bargaining units, representing the community’s best interest and good stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” the release said.

“Through responsible management, fiscal mindfulness, and meaningful implementation of alternative strategies relating to delivery of service, the West Chester Fire Department continues to maintain costs within the constraints of a levy approved by voters in 2006.”

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, West Chester Board of Trustees, West Chester Fire, West Chester Fire Department, West Chester Township Board of Trustees

The West Chester Fire Department will host this Friday’s fish fry at St. John the Evangelist Church, 9080 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

The menu features a fish sandwich dinner for $6, a crab cake dinner for $6, a big fish dinner for $7.50, a baked fish dinner for $7.50, a shrimp dinner for $7.50 and a sampler dinner for $7.50. All dinners come with coleslaw or applesauce and a choice of one more side.

Other menu options include, a fish sandwich for $3.50, pizza by the slice for $2 (or whole pizza for $10), crab cakes for $2 each and side items for $1.50 each.

Soft drinks, water, milk and ice tea are .75 cents, while 16 oz. bottles of beer are $2. Coffee is free.

Meanwhile, there will also be a first fry this Friday at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 5720 Hamilton-Mason Road, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Both churches will have dine-in and carryout available.

• Cincinnati.com’s interactive fish fry map
• Share your favorite West Chester or Liberty Township fish fry with the Buzz

The menu at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church features four adult dinner options for $7 including beer battered & fried cod, beer battered & fried shrimp, baked cod and grilled salmon. The seafood combo (crab cake, shrimp and fried cod) is $8. All dinners include two hush puppies and two sides (baked potato, fresh-cut fries, macaroni and cheese, green beans, apple sauce, homemade coleslaw).

Other options include a fish sandwich and fries meal for $4, a cup of clam chowder for $3, a slice of cheese pizza for $2, a kid’s meal (pizza or fish strip with one side and one juice or milk) for $3.50 or side items for $1.

Soft drinks and beer will also be available for purchase, as well as weekly bake sale items. Fish fry goers can also receive a free soft drink when they bring in a non-perishable item for Reach Out Lakota.

Both churches, which began hosting fish fry events in late February, will have one more fish fry after this week – on March 30.

Posted in: Events |

Tags: Tags: fish fry, lenten fish fry, LIberty Township fish fry, St. John the Evangelist Church, St. John the Evangelist Church West Chester, St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, St. Maximilian Kolbe Church Liberty Township, West Chester Fire, West Chester Fire Department, West Chester fish fry

As temperatures plunge Tuesday it might be a good idea to make a fire. That is why the West Chester Fire Department recently sent out a press release on safety tips for using fireplaces.

According to the local fire department, winter is the most common time of year for residential fires, and 40 percent of all fires that occurred in the United States between 2007 and 2009 were fireplace related.

Fire officials say that in many cases, the sources of these fires are hot embers or ashes. To avoid a house fire this season, here are some important things to keep in mind:

• Overbuilt fires can ignite creosote (a build-up that can result from the burning of wood) inside the chimney, so don’t use too much paper to build fires.

• Never burn charcoal indoors, as it can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.

• Keep all flammable materials away from the fireplace.

• Never break a synthetic log apart or use more than one at one time because they often burn unevenly, which releases higher levels of carbon monoxide.

• If you leave ashes in the fireplace, make sure there’s a metal screen or glass partition in place.

• Never close the chimney damper if hot ashes are still in the fireplace. Doing so could cause the fire to heat up and force carbon monoxide into the house.

• When cleaning embers or ashes out of your fireplace or wood-burning stove, wear heavy leather gloves to protect your hands from any embers that may still be hot.

• Scoop ashes into a fire-resistant metal container and place it outside, well away from the house and combustible materials. Embers can remain hot enough to start a fire for as long as two days, it is not a bad idea to use a little water.

• Do not dispose of ashes in a paper bag or plastic garbage can.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Fireplace safety, West Chester Fire, West Chester Fire Department

Residents were forced from nearly two dozen apartments when a two-alarm fire broke out in a complex in the 6700 block of Fountains Boulevard in West Chester Saturday.

The fire started about 12:15 p.m. at the Highlands Apartment complex in a building with 23 units.

West Chester firefighters – with help from Mason, Deerfield Township, Sharonville, Springdale and Liberty Township – put out the two-alarm fire in about an hour, but all of the occupants of the apartments were displaced.

They were being helped by the American Red Cross and apartment management to find places to stay Saturday night.

No injuries were reported.

The fire is still under investigation, but is believed to have been an electrical fire.

The apartments are located off Cincinnati-Dayton Road in between the I-75 ramps and Tylersville Road intersections.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: American Red Cross, Highlands Apartment complex, Liberty Township Fire Department, West Chester apartment fire, West Chester Fire, West Chester Fire Department, West Chester Highlands Apartment complex, West Chester Township Fire Department