Severe weather in 2018 leads to increased Latrobe fire calls

Latrobe firefighters responded to a near record 1,018 alarms in 2018 — second only to a record 1,101 calls the volunteer department answered in 2004.

“We got through it, but I hope it slows down a little,” fire Chief John Brasile said of last year’s emergency volume.

In each of the two busiest years, severe weather helped drive the call increase, Brasile said.

Western Pennsylvania experienced a record total rainfall of 57.53 inches last year, according to the National Weather Service.

“We had a lot of flooding calls,” Brasile said.

Of last year’s Latrobe alarms, 20 were attributed to flooding, lightning strikes or other severe weather.

While flooding frequently occurs along a section of Route 982 in the city, firefighters also responded on June 20 to the area of Josephine Street and Lincoln Avenue, where heavy rainfall swept away a footbridge and overwhelmed a stormwater system, flooding a portion of the Lincoln Road Shopping Center and a nearby business and church. The episode prompted repairs and improvements to the stormwater infrastructure.

Last year, Latrobe firefighters also participated in a water rescue and responded to 28 incidents involving downed utility lines — three where trees fell on lines and 1o others where trees fell on roads or buildings. There were 67 additional weather-related calls.

Brasile noted the department assisted on 138 emergency medical calls, including a growing number of drug overdoses.

Latrobe fire crews headed to 37 structure fires, nine vehicle wrecks involving entrapment of a motorist, 49 crashes with injuries and 64 without injuries.

The department responded to 180 automatic fire alarms, the most frequent type of call.

“The numbers of calls have been growing since I’ve been chief,” Brasile said. He’s been the department’s top line officer since 2000, when 851 alarms were reported.

The Latrobe Volunteer Fire Department numbers about 140 members among five companies, with about 80 actively responding to emergency calls.

“It’s tough keeping the numbers we have,” Brasile said, noting the average age of members is close to 50.

The department always looks to recruit younger members, he said, citing a current handful of junior firefighters.

“If we’re lucky enough, we retain some of them,” he said, explaining many move to other communities once they’ve completed college and are ready to embark on a career.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff at 724-836-6622, jhimler@tribweb.com or via Twitter @jhimler_news.