Historic Flooding on Perkiomen Creek
 
By CFC Watch desk
August 4, 2020
 

With historic flooding on the Perkiomen Creek at 19.7 feet. (Previous record was 18.3' in 1935)
The crews from Station 34 with Marine 34 and Engine 34 along with 34 Fire Police have been busy all over the area with multiple water rescues and evacuations and Road Closures.
The first incident of the day came in at 10:38 hours for a fire alarm. Units were recalled from that and were immediately dispatched to the first water rescue of the day at 10:50 hours in the 2800 block of Ridge Pike in Lower Providence Twp. Second incident was for Fire Police in the 800 block of E Main street for a tree down across the roadway. Next incident was a water rescue in the 500 block of Willowbrook drive in West Norriton Twp. At 13:08 hours the Company responded to the 400 block of Glendale Rd., Perkiomen Twp., for a flooded basement with the odor of something burning. Then at 13:41 hours Station 34 along with Station 77 responded to 300 block of E Main Street (Verizon Bldg.) for an alarm with the odor of something burning inside lower level of the building. At 14:54 hours Engine 34 responded to 100 block of Washington Drive, Lower Providence Twp. for wires to the house sparking and arching. Then once again at 15:46 hours Marine34 was dispatched for a water rescue in the 4000 block of Skippack Pike in Skippack Township for a vehicle in the water with occupants still in the vehicle. Yet another water rescue at 18:07 hours in the 300 block of River Road, Lower Providence Township, reported vehicle in the water with several occupants still inside. Station 34 fire police were dispatched to assist Station 99 fire police at Bridge St., and Norwood Street for traffic control due to flooding in the Mont Clare section of Upper Providence Township and also the roadway being flooding between Mont Clare and Pheonixville Borough (Chester County).
At 21:12 hours Station was dispatched to a fire alarm at 99 2nd Avenue in the Borough, was reported to be a water flow alarm. This was caused by a drop in air pressure due to the power outages in the Borough most of the day.
Last incident of the day came in at 11:23 hours for a reported odor of gas inside a commercial building in the 30 block of E 1st Avenue. This was a business with apartments above. PECO was unable to access the building due to flood waters, and residents were unable to evacuate due to the building be surrounded by about 7 feet of water. The resident did not self evacuate earlier in the day before the flood waters got to high.
There are several water rescues not listed as Marine 34 and Utility 34 were contacted directly by MCEDS and sent to other incidents with no dispatch due to the high call volume throughout Montgomery County. I Station 34 responded to over 20 incidents from 08:00 hour through 24:00 hours.

 
Units: Marine 34, Utility 34, Marine 34-2, Utility 34-1, Engine 34; FP34-1, FP34-2, FP34-4, 72PD,
 
Mutual Aid: Station 77, 66, 53, PECO, CT Public Works, PennDot