Ready For Anything

By: Firefighter/Paramedic Joseph Crum
      Station 17, A-Shift

With all the major roadways that run through Montgomery County it is almost inevitable that someone, somewhere, will be involved in a vehicle collision. Every vehicle is different, every collision is different and so every incident we run is different.

As we arrive on the scene of a collision a vehicle may be on its wheels, turned over on its side or roof, and the occupants may be trapped inside. Because of this, we must be prepared for any situation.

Laytonsville Fire Station 17 has one of six Rescue Squads in the county that carry the appropriate equipment for the most serious types of these situations. Pictured below are photos from a recent training where we prepare ourselves for the real thing when our best work is requested. We performed a “tie-back” system to prevent a car from rolling over after it was found flipped onto the passenger side. Once the vehicle is secured we can use hydraulic tools to remove pieces from the car to gain access to any occupants still inside.

Our job is not always as easy as opening the door. Sometimes we may need to force or cut a door/roof to be able to get the occupants out of danger and treated for injuries.

Fatal Collision on River Road

A little before 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 27 MCFRS Units were dispatched for a report of a motor vehicle collision with entrapment at the intersection of River Road and Pyle Drive, in Bethesda. First arriving units found a two vehicle collision, one of which was off the roadway in a ditch, with several people trapped in one vehicle. 

Several others were injured including passerby good Samaritans who were injured attempting a rescue prior to MCFRS arrival. Initially there were at least 5 injuries.

An EMS task force was quickly requested and responded to the scene. This brought a total of 12 fire and rescue units to the scene.

It was determined that three of the trapped occupants, two adults and one teenager, had succumbed to their injuries on scene. The fourth, believed to be a teenage female, was extricated and transported to a local trauma center with life threatening injuries. Several others were transported with non-life threatening injuries. 

The Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit was called to the scene to conduct an investigation.

MCFRS Units that were on the scene; C741, BC702, EMS701, E710, T710, RS741, A710, A741B, M741, M741D, M730, PE706.

Photos from the scene below. Montgomery County Police have put out a Press Release with an update: Fatal Collision on River Road Investigated

Unit Citations

Today, Fire Chief Goldstein had the privilege to preside over two Unit Citation presentations at Fire Station #31.

The presentations were for two separate challenging vehicular crash incidents that occurred on the same day: June 25, 2015.  Both plaques are in the photo book below describing the events and highlighting personnel who responded.

Please also find a video of the live feed we shot during the first presentation.

Serious Motor Vehicle Collisions

By: Battalion Chief Mark Davis

On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week, companies in the lower end of the 1st Battalion responded to serious motor vehicle collisions all resulting in serious injury to multiple occupants. At least two of the collisions appeared to have involved high speed. People need to SLOW down. Companies 12, 16, and BC701 operated at the wreck shown in the below photo which occurred across the street from Co 12 on Friday, May31. 

When you look at this photo (right) , you have wonder, "How did this happen?" Well- the FD wonders the same thing - however, they have to go into action and bring the emergency under control. When cars are on top of each other such as at this wreck, the scene is unsafe until those cars can be stabilized to prevent any movement or shifting. An unstable car is a danger to both the trapped occupant and the emergency responder. 





Mechanical struts - shown in the lower right - are used to stabilize objects. In this case, the strut is one of several in use to stabilze the car that is resting on top of the other car. Master Firefighter Sean Hall (16-C) - shown in photo (left) - shared the photos.








With all patients removed, the FD carefully removes the stabilization devices that they used and releases the scene to the police. Wreckers will eventually seperate the cars and tow them away.