At 2:51 AM West Mead #1 was dispatched to provide a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) as part of a fire emergency response at Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) in Greenwood Township. A molten-glass furnace partially collapsed just prior to planned maintenance. As part of PGW’s pre-planned emergency procedures, numerous fire departments were called to provide backup assistance to PGW as a secondary means of cooling the furnace if the plant’s primary cooling system were to fail. The facility had prepared for the possibility of a collapse a month in advance. Greenwood Fire Department worked with PGW within the month prior including touring the facility for preparation in case there was a need to respond.

Engine 28-12 responded with a crew to PGW’s west gate and monitored personnel safety during the operation. Department 28 was released from its assignment and returned to service by 8:55 AM.

Other departments on scene included Greenwood, Vernon Central, Vernon Township, Sheakleyville, Conneaut Lake, Meadville Central, Conneaut Lake Area Ambulance Service, and Crawford County Emergency Management Agency. Conneaut Lake Park and Saegertown provided standby crews to cover for departments on scene.

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