Willistown truck accident with injurie

Friday, 16 July 2010 00:00

The continuing increases in emergency responses for Newtown Square firefighters had an unexpected challenge on Tuesday, July 13. The approximate 12:30 p.m. alert message received by the Newtown Square Fire Company told of an entrapment within a vehicle on its side in Willistown Township, Chester County.

The arriving apparatus and crews found a 24-foot box truck on its side in the 900 block of Providence Road.  The truck left the roadway, and came to an abrupt stop at a tree well off the roadway. The challenge was to promptly remove the injured driver and to avoid any additional injuries during this process.

A quick analysis pointed to the removal of the truck’s windshield.   Using a power saw and an accompanying special hand saw designed for the removal of laminated glass, access to the injured driver was promptly accomplished.

The mechanism of the accident accompanied by an ongoing patient survey by Malvern Fire Company medics validated the dispatch of PennStar II, one of the region’s medical evacuation helicopters. Following pre-flight stabilization by the airborne medical crew, the injured driver was helicopter transported to the Trauma Center of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

The Newtown Square Fire Company activities did not end with patient activities.  In describing the follow-up responsibilities, Deputy Chief Mike Kenny volunteered, “The truck had to be removed and to make sure there would be no spill dangers or other hazard problems, the Rescue-Pumper and the Newtown Square Fire Police traffic control vehicle remained at the scene.”

When asked about the status of the truck, Kenny added, “Two heavy duty wreckers work as a team to upright the truck. This permitted the opening of Providence Road.”

The comment made by local firefighter somewhat summed up this midday activity, “There is no such thing as routine activities. Every call we receive is unique challenge.”

The Newtown Square Fire Company provides primary fire and rescue activities in approximately one-third of Chester County’s Willistown Township.

41 assists in Radnor Fire

Friday, 09 July 2010 00:00

It is common for Fire Company message signs to share a long-standing truth, “Big fires start small.” This message concept was demonstrated early on Wednesday afternoon, July 8.  This first of an eventual collection of firefighters and apparatus began when the Radnor Fire Company was dispatched for a fire. That message told of a fire alongside a building that included a retail paint firm and a vehicle repair and restoration business.

As the first Radnor apparatus neared the building located in the 300 block of West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne they saw what at first looked like a fire that was described in the dispatch.   Upon the arrival fire personnel at this structure, the fire that had begun near the structure was sending flames up toward the roofline of the structure.

The extent of this fire fostered the additional dispatch of the neighboring Berwyn Fire Company.  The extended burning, with its when extent of the fire that was burning up the side of the West Lancaster Avenue commercial property plus the energy-draining weather with temperatures flirting with the 100-degree mark began the dispatch of additional equipment to the Radnor fire location.

Included in this call for additional crews and apparatus the Newtown Square Fire Company was added to the collection of firefighters at 1:05 p.m. Using ground ladders, one of the Newtown Square Fire Company crews made entry to the second floor the structure.  Other local fire crews provided assistance in other areas of the property.

Sensing this fire was going to be active call, Newtown Square Deputy Chief Mike Kenny asked the Delaware County Dispatch Center bring backup fire crews into Newtown.   This cover-up fire protection consisted of a ladder from Norwood, and engine from Eddystone, and a rescue from Parkside.

The other fire fighting organizations that responded from Fire Companies from Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery Counties arranged similar backup protection for their communities.

In describing the fire activities, Newtown Square’s Kenny praised the steps done for the rehabilitation of firefighters who endurance levels were challenged by the heat.  He cited the steps undertaken to first evaluate and then rehabilitate the fire crews.  The evaluation included standard vital sign documentation along with the availability of a portable EKG that was used as needed. 

Additionally, under the protection of a tent and other methods to provide shade, the firefighters were rested in special, “ice chairs” and a combination of cold towels and relation.  “By rehabilitation, fire crews were prevented from over exertion and heat excesses,” cited Deputy Chief Kenny.

Newtown Square firefighters were on scene in Radnor for approximately two hours.

As an example of the energy-draining efforts were the steps undertaken to determine the amount of burning that was hidden by the roof line facade to the structure.  Through prying and ingenuity, this fire-hiding, decorative top of the building was loosened.  Aided by gravity, this superstructure fell safely to the ground were ground crews extinguished the flames.

“This was a fire with the potential for multiple injuries. This was prevented by the cooperative efforts of a group of well-trained and dedicated firefighters. It is encouraging to see a collection of firefighters who routinely not work together working together so well,” stressed Newtown Square’s Kenny.

Storm

Friday, 25 June 2010 00:00

The storm of Thursday, June 24 will be remembered for  its massive loss of electricity, isolated neighborhoods, damaged trees and landscapes and home damages.  The forecast for the day told of high temperatures and, depending upon the forecaster, stories about possible wind and rain.

The possibilities of wind and rain became a reality at approximately 3 p.m. when the cloud cover began its rapid advance into Delaware County.  The wind speed accelerated from mild winds in the under 15 mph velocity to a sustained peak of 57 mph hour at 3:20 p.m..

Anyone looking out through windows also saw the unusual form of sheets of wind-driven rain and occasional small diameter hail as the storm marched toward the southeastern areas of the county.    During this severe weather, approximately 1-1/2 inches of rain pelted the area.

The normal home-bound rush hour traffic became a near parking lot.  Fallen trees, loss of traffic lights and the storm’s wind and rain had dramatic impact on West Chester Pike and other major roads within Newtown and Marple Townships.

The remnants of this storm have created a lasting mark on both the appearance and lifestyles of residents and commuters.  The restricting of traffic because of downed trees with imbedded utility wires was so dangerous that several areas within Newtown Township were totally isolated. 

Equally inconveniencing was the loss of electricity.  On Friday morning, projections of the restoration of electricity in multiple areas were being cited in possible days, not hours.

During the storm, every piece of Newtown Square Fire Company apparatus was in service.  The amount of trees down across driving lanes saw every power saw as well as hand saws pressed into service.

Newtown Square fire crews responded to over 30 calls during the initial stages of the storm.  With the restoration of electric power Chief Doug Simpson added, “We will probably have a collection of automatic fire alarms.  Hopefully, we will not be as active as we were on Thursday and early Friday.

While the types of calls were what is described as typical for a storm, the numbers of calls for downed wires, transformers, and trapped vehicles were far in excess of the average storm.

Pedestrian Accident

Wednesday, 23 June 2010 00:00

Newtown Square Fire Company and the  Riddle Hospital Paramedics   responded to a 10:44 p.m. dispatch on Tuesday, June 22 for a pedestrian down on West Chester Pike near Ellis Avenue, Newtown Township.  Upon arrival of the Newtown police and the emergency service providers it was discovered the  nature of the call was the result of the pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.

Following observation and a patient survey by the Paramedics, the woman was pronounced.  In an effort to provide privacy, the local firefighters created a visual barrier during the determination and removal of the accident victim.

The investigation by local officials is ongoing.

ICE is cool in the summer

Monday, 21 June 2010 00:00

With the arrival of summer and the end of the school year, travel is welcomed change in many lives. Travel can result in the need for special solutions for potentially special problems.  The Newtown Square Fire Company has posed a meaningful question, “What can be done to assist emergency personnel if I need help when I am on vacation or away from home?”

Read more: ICE is cool in the summer

Remembering the graduate

Friday, 18 June 2010 00:00

In discussing the upcoming, Thursday, July 22 Newtown Square Fire Company Golf Outing, the organizers realized they “missed the boat.”    A common advertising phrase this time of the year is a theme that couples “Dad and Grad.” The local fundraising committee realized that in their campaign to include Dad with a Father’s Day theme, they did not include the “grad.”

Read more: Remembering the graduate