Fire Emergency Response at Its Best

On Feb. 28, it was discovered by prison maintenance staff that a fire had started in the kitchen at SCI Huntingdon in an area above one of the freezers. Kitchen staff and inmates were evacuated from the area and the prison's Fire Emergency Response Team (FERT) activated and called to the scene. FERT members connected a fire hose to a nearby hydrant that allowed them to flow water onto the fire and extinguish it quickly. Team members then took turns performing fire watch until 6 a.m. the following morning to ensure there was no re-ignition. In recognition of a job well done, SCI Huntingdon FERT members received a letter of appreciation from Superintendent Kevin Kauffman, Deputy Superintendent of Facilities Management Byron Brumbaugh and Deputy Superintendent of Centralized Services Scott Walters.