Close Call

Early Friday morning around 0100 Quint 1 was dispatched to an EMS call. If you know anything about Quint 1 this not an unusual event. This company is famous for late night EMS runs! As the company left the station a right turn was made and then a left onto Scott St. Soon after the company made the turn onto Scott St the Medic on the ambulance told the Quint to Cancel! The Quint stopped the response and was going to make the trip around the block back to the station. Coming upon Moore St the company was shocked to see a car blow past the stop sign at Moore and Scott St. This car was the one that crashed onto Moore st Killing the driver.

So what make this a close call......

The Quint was responding and when the Medic made the call for the Quint to cancel. The response was cancelled and the truck was slowed down! Had this not occurred the Quint could have been a sitting duck to the car that blew the stop sign!

I spoke to the driver of the Quint and he told me if they had been 3 to 5 seconds quicker they would have been hit. Reading the news reports that car was traveling at a high rate of speed. If they would have been hit...it could have been very bad.

Not taking away from the your lady that was killed but I am very thankful that OUR BROTHERS were not killed or injured by someones stupid decision!

For the Medic that canceled the Quint THANKS!

I suggest that you talk to the guys that were in the truck for the whole story!

On another note..

What a week Bristol Va "C" shift had!
4 Working Structure Fires. The strange thing was on Monday the first fire came in and less than 1 hour after that fire the other one came in.

On Friday the same thing. We had the first fire and it was knocked down and then we were sent to another working fire while overhaul was taking place on the first fire.

Thanks to Tennessee Fire for all of the help on the fires!


Roark

WHY WE WEAR TURNOUT GEAR

Engine 3 and Rescue 3 was dispatched at 01:54 hours on January 17, 2007 for a reported vehicle on its’ top in the creek in front of Pals Restaurant on Lee Highway. Just another MVA call for Engine 3 and Rescue 3.

On arrival at the scene the BVPD was already on scene and the lone occupant of the vehicle had self extricated and was talking with the police officers. Engine 3’s crew assessed the situation and determined that the vehicle had exited the bridge on Alexis Drive and had come to rest passenger side down in the creek and resting against the creek bank. It was also determined that we had some fuel in the creek mixed with oil. A request was made for Response 1 to deliver 5 absorbent booms to be placed downstream from the accident site. After the booms were placed Response 1 returned to Station 1 and members of Engine 3 stood by while the towing service began removal of the vehicle from the creek.

The vehicle was winched up the bank on its’ top and then left upside down near the edge of the parking lot while the tow driver repositioned the cables to roll the vehicle over onto its’ wheels. The recovery operation resumed while Engine 3 members maintained a safe distance from the operation. As the vehicle was winched up onto its’ front driver side corner to clear a small exit sign near the parking lot it came into contact with a flood light used to illuminate the sign at night. As the vehicle was lowered back to the ground there was a sudden, explosive ignition of the vehicle and its’ interior. Within a second the rear of the vehicle and the interior was engulfed in flames. Engine 3 began to fight the fire within a minute of ignition. A call was made by radio to dispatch Response 1 and Quint 1 immediately to back Engine 3 and provide foam due to the fuel fire. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished and Quint 1 was cancelled.

The lesson that is reinforced here is that we must maintain a safe zone of operations and wear the turnout gear that we are provided. Maintain an Incident Management System on all calls. A routine scene became an explosive scene in the blink of an eye. Always be aware of your surroundings. Officers, be aware of the scene and what your crew is doing. The crew should always be aware of what they are doing and their surroundings. And above all: Protect yourself with the gear and the equipment that is provided. Watch your brother or sister’s back on calls. And most importantly: Wear your turnout gear properly so everyone goes home!!!

Lt. Richard L. Thompson