Rescue Box - 1201

This evening at 1900 hours members of the Company gathered at their respective stations for Monday Night Drill. Crews all gathered at Station 12 to have a brief discussion on the objectives of the drill. Some objectives that were covered in this drill included but not limited to Apparatus Placement, Cribbing Awareness, Plans A, B, C to Z covered, Command Structure, Communication and Teamwork. Once the crews finished the discussion they assembled on their respective fire vehicles to await for the mock dispatch. The crews were dispatched to the mock accident located at the intersection of State Route 41 at State Route 841 in the Chatham Village of London Grove Township. State Route 41 is a major trucking highway for trucks from Delaware to U.S. Route 30.

Rescue 12 was first to arrive on a vehicle vs a tractor trailer with one patient trapped in the vehicle under the rear of a 53' trailer. After the full 360 view was conducted, the officer of Rescue 12 relayed the situation to Dispatch trying to paint the best picture possible for other incoming units. Once a tactic was decided for the removal of the patient the crews operated as expected for extrication. EMS crews advised Command of the need for a medical helicopter since the extrication would be pushing the "Golden Hour". Command also requested a heavy wrecker from Blittersdorf's Towing to assist with extrication. The crew from Rescue 12 worked through the high heat and humidity to crib and stabilize the tractor trailer.

Rescue 22 arrived as the second due rescue truck and the crew assisted in cribbing the vehicle and provided more wood cribbing to assist the crew that was lifting the trailer off the vehicle. Both crews used wood cribbing and the airbags to lift the rear of the trailer off the car. Engine 22 arrived and stretched its front bumper line for safety as did the chauffeur for Rescue 12. Command also did a face to face with the operator of the tractor trailer and reviewed his MSDS sheet to understand what type of cargo was being transported. After review Command made a request to have Chester County HAZMAT Team make the response to the scene.

Once the trailer was cleared off of the car; the winch on Rescue 22 was placed in service to pull the vehicle away from the trailer where crews could then crib and extricate the patient. EMS crews stayed with the patient as firefighters worked to free him. Extrication was complete within 46 minutes of the first arriving fire apparatus. After the patient was removed and EMS transported him the units began to pick up all the tools to get the trucks back into service.

We must remind you that this was a training exercise to give our members and tools a good work out under very tough circumstances such as weather and large vehicles. Once the trucks all were back in ready position crews gathered for a water break and debriefing of the overall drill. Many great ideas and different points of views were discussed to give all members another valuable tool to instill in both their mental and physical toolboxes. This drill had multiple agencies involved from a medical helicopter to a heavy wrecker, but with a unified command structure this incident was mitigated in under an hour. All objectives were met by each and every firefighter that participated.

West Grove Fire Company takes great pride in training and this two-hour drill is just one example of how much time and effort is placed into learning how to operate more efficiently and safely for a large type incident. A special thanks to Blittersdorf's Towing for supplying a heavy wrecker tow truck and to Burkhart Trucking for providing the tractor trailer.