Parkland Fire Company

09/03/2026

08/05/2026

In 1961, a guy who built parts for race cars patented a tool that had nothing to do with racing — a massive hydraulic spreader that could pry open crushed metal in seconds instead of an hour.

George Hurst got the idea after watching a rescue crew spend over an hour cutting a driver out of a wrecked stock car at a track. He figured there had to be a faster way. His first version worked, but it weighed 350 pounds — basically useless for most crews to actually carry around. It took him and his engineers about a decade to get it down to something portable, around 65 pounds.

The tool got shown to the public in 1971 at a trade show in California, and fire departments started putting it on their rigs pretty quick after that. Guys who used it started saying it "snatched" people "from the jaws of death," and the name just stuck — Hurst ended up trademarking it as the Jaws of Life.

For the generation of firefighters who came up after that — heavy bunker coats, leather helmets, tools laid out on the pavement after a job, like in this photo — that spreader became just as much a part of the job as the hose. Long before the lightweight battery tools departments run today, it was gear like this that quietly changed what was possible in the first few minutes after a crash.

Photo by .

07/03/2026

With the sweltering heat forecasted over the next several days, Middletown Township will have the following cooling centers open to the public:

Location: Middletown Senior Center – Library
Dates: July 1 & 2
Hours of Operation: 8:30am - 4:30pm

Location: Middletown Township Municipal Building - Public Hall
Dates: July 1, 2 & 3
Hours of operation: 8:40am - 4:30pm

Please take extra precautions during this period of dangerous heat:

* Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

* Stay in air-conditioned buildings whenever possible.

* Limit outdoor activities, especially during the hottest part of the day.

* Never leave children, older adults, or pets unattended in a vehicle—even for a moment.

* Please check on elderly neighbors, family members, and anyone who may be especially vulnerable to the heat. A simple phone call or visit can make a life-saving difference.

If you or someone you know needs relief from the heat, please take advantage of these cooling centers.

Stay cool, stay hydrated, and look out for one another.

07/02/2026

06/27/2026

Viewing for Lyle

Family and friends are invited to attend a Fireman’s Viewing at James O. Bradley Funeral Home, 260 Bellevue Avenue, Penndel, Pa on June 30, 2026 beginning at 4pm. The Fireman’s Prayer will be read at 6:30 pm followed by family and friends sharing their memories.

All are welcome back to the Parkland Fire Co, 831 Avenue D, Parkland, Pa for light refreshments.

Lyle will be cremated, and later interred with a Naval Military Honors Burial at Sea. There will be no funeral service.

06/26/2026

Engine 9 operating at box 6-15 on Bristol Rd in Lower South.