Monday, May 13, 2013
Forks Township handled three dwelling fires and a structure fire, according to recent fire department report.
The Forks Township Fire Department got a breather for March compared with the number of fire calls in February. But the department still was busy, handling three dwelling fires and a structure fire. After responding to 62 calls in February, March's workload fell to 22 calls, Fire Chief Chuck Chapman reported. The department handled 29 calls in January and 35 calls in December. For March, the calls took 249.84 manpower hours over 20.31 hours of time and involved the use of 49 units, the report states. The calls included: Forks also handled an odor investigation in Palmer Township and a dwelling fire and a brush fire in Stockertown. For the year, the calls to date are: 75 for Forks Township, four for Stockertown, three for Palmer, two for …
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The Forks Fire Department handled 62 calls in February, more than double than in January.
February was one hectic month for the Forks Township Fire Department. After starting the year with 29 calls in January, February's workload was more than double that, Fire Chief Chuck Chapman reported. Chapman said his department 62 calls for the month, including one dwelling fire where the garage of a home was destroyed. The department handled 35 calls in December and 37 in November. For February, the calls took 504.22 manpower hours over 55.66 hours of time and involved the use of 62 units, the report states. The calls included: Forks also handled an odor investigation in Palmer Township, a dwelling fire in Plainfield Township and a pole fire and assisted police in Stockertown.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Getting news and information out to people in Forks and Palmer Townships is the most important job for this Patch.com editor.
The alert came over my iPhone as I was picking up my son from Shawnee Elementary School Thursday afternoon. Sinkholes had developed in Palmer Township following a water main break along Northwood Avenue. I wasn't expecting breaking news and had no press pass or notebook. So I grabbed my son and told him we were going for a ride. Heading over the bridge over Bushkill Creek, we went for the intersection where Northwood crosses Tatamy Road. It's always a busy intersection facing Northwood. Turn left and you head to the Palmer Park Mall. Go right and you're on your way to Tatamy. Head straight and it's the road that takes you to all of our retailers and restaurants in Lower Nazareth Township. But this road was blocked by a giant barricade, …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Forks Township had a fire, fatal crash and major marijuana bust while Palmer Township dealt with a bright billboard that was driving some residents bonkers.
It really was March Madness in Forks and Palmer Townships this month. Crime topped the headlines in March as Forks Township experienced another fire, a fatal crash and a major marijuana bust and Palmer police were involved in cracking a heroin operation. Meanwhile, a digital billboard on Route 22 sparked outrage among residents who live near there. Palmer police issue search warrant that reveals large marijuana distribution operation at Forks Township home. Third traffic fatality reported in Forks Township in past four months. Palmer Township residents say digital billboard on Route 22 disrupting their quality of life. Fast-moving fire was second one in past two weeks in Forks Township. The Philadelphia Eagles announced Friday that they …
Monday, March 25, 2013
Forks Township Fire Department handled 29 calls in January.
The Forks Township Fire Department eased into the new year after having a hectic 2012. Fire Chief Chuck Chapman reported that his department handled 29 calls for January. The department handled 35 calls in December and 37 in November. For December, the calls took 396.95 manpower hours over 32.83 hours of time and involved the use of 57 units, the report states. The calls included: Forks also handled a vehicle fire in Palmer Township, a dwelling fire in Plainfield Township, a CO alarm in Tatamy and a Hazmat spill/leak in Upper Mount Bethel. For 2012, the Forks Township Fire Department spent nearly 354.4 incident hours handling 329 calls in Forks, 36 in Stockertown, 16 in Palmer, six in Tatamy, four in Easton, three in Plainfield and one …
Friday, March 22, 2013
A small fire took place at a Palmer Township home early Friday morning.
Maybe Palmer Township is a little luckier than Forks for fires. Palmer Township police dispatchers confirmed that a small fire took place in a house at 5 Toepath Circle early Friday morning, but that it was quickly extinguished. The fire was reported at 5:42 a.m., but was out by the time authorities arrived, said Edee Maurer of the Palmer Township Police Department. No one was injured. Maurer said that the fire was in the basement of the home and that by the time an officer arrived, the homeowner said that everyone was already out of the house safely. She said that the homeowner showed the officer the location of the fire, which was contained to an electrical panel that was blackened. Maurer said that Met-Ed was contacted. The house was …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Phillipsburg man, who says his house was burned down and is living with relative in Palmer Township, faces multiple charges after being pulled over.
A New Jersey man whose house apparently burned down last month is being charged in Palmer Township in a suspected drunken driving case. Frank William Fisher, 53, is charged with DUI (refusal) for refusing to submit to a blood test after being taken into custody for suspected drunken driving, court records say. In addition to DUI (refusal), Fisher was charged with driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked and general lighting requirements. Police stopped Fisher early Tuesday driving a red 2000 GMC Sonoma pickup on northbound Route 248 near Palmer Park Mall. The truck’s driver-side headlight was out. Fisher pulled his truck into the mall’s Bon-Ton parking lot. A personal information sheet in Fisher’s file says he claims his N…
Monday, March 11, 2013
Forks Township Fire Marshal Tim Weis says fire last week remains under investigation.
The fire that destroyed a Forks Township home under construction last week has been deemed suspicious. Forks Township Fire Marshal Tim Weis said the fire at 1450 Fox Run Road off Mittman Road last Tuesday is "obviously suspicious." Weis said that the fire is still under investigation and that he is "following some leads." The fire broke out around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and had burned to the ground by 8 p.m. See video here. Forks Fire Chief Charles Chapman said construction on the vacant building stopped three years ago. He said the home next door suffered minor damage to a side exterior wall. The fast-burning fire drew about 100 onlookers who came out of their homes around the neighborhood and cars that pulled over on Mittman Road to watch the…
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Another fire in Forks, a major marijuana bust, a dispute over a fireworks display and a contestant on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" highlight our big local stories this past week.
Forks Township had its second fire in less than two weeks when a house under construction went ablaze. Meanwhile, a Forks resident won $1,000 on a popular TV game show. That $1,000 could have helped pay a $5,000 business grant that Forks supervisors rejected, but they did approve spending $6,000 for the Community Days fireworks display. Here's the Week in Review: A Forks Township man was charged Friday morning after Palmer Township police executed a search warrant that revealed a large marijuana distribution operation at his home. A fire destroyed a home under construction in Forks Township Tuesday night. The home on Fox Run Road burned to the ground in a half hour. It costs $6,000 and is considered the biggest draw in Forks Township every…
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Forks Fire Chief Charles Chapman said Tuesday night fire that destroyed Fox Run Road home is under investigation.
The fire marshal and Forks Township Police Department are investigating a fire that destroyed a home under construction in Forks Township Tuesday night. When asked in an email Thursday whether the fire was suspicious, Forks Fire Chief Charles Chapman responded that the fire is under investigation and that it was inappropriate for him to comment since the fire marshal and police are investigating. The fire at 1450 Fox Run Road off Mittman Road broke out around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and had burned to the ground by 8 p.m. See video here. Chapman said construction on the vacant building stopped three years ago. He said the home next door suffered minor damage to a side exterior wall. The fast-burning fire drew about 100 onlookers who came out of …
Scott Gingold
10:30 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2013
How many of those calls were in Stockertown? more ›