Level 1 Mass Casualty Incident in Cedar Creek
On Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 at 06:45 hours Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75 Ellendale to a reported motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Fleatown Road and Clendaniel Pond Road. 75 Command with Chief Rowland Moore Jr. (75-15) and ambulance A-75 went responding at 06:46 and were advised of a motor vehicle accident involving two vehicles with possibly two patients with minor injuries. Rescue 75 under the command of Asst. Chief Aaron Moore (75-17) and a crew of 5 responded at 06:49. Upon the arrival of 75 Command it was determined that there were 10 total patients including 2 that would require ALS. Chief Moore advised Sussex EOC to upgrade the assignment to a Level 1 MCI response which added Engine 75-8, Ambulance B-75, Ambulance A-42 (Carlisle of Milford), Ambulance A-89 (Memorial of Slaughter Beach), Ambulance B-85 (Milton), Sussex County Paramedics 101, 108, and 200, and Delaware State Police Medevac Helicopter Trooper 2. A-75 arrived and began triaging and determining the priority of patients. Rescue 75 arrived and began to assist with triage and packaging patients for transport. B-75 and Engine 75-8 arrived next and began to assist crews already on scene while the priority patients were loaded into ambulances A & B-75. While crews were working at this scene Sussex EOC advised Chief Moore to swith to Sussex Dispatch and stand-by. At 07:07 hours Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75 to a reported CPR in progress approximately a half-mile from the accident scene in The Meadows of Cubbage Pond. Rescue 75's crew was redeployed by Chief Moore to respond to the CPR in progress and ambulance B-85 from Milton was diverted from the accident response also. A total of 9 patients including several small children were taken to the hospital from the accident scene. Chief Moore declared the scene under control at 07:20 with all units cleared and returning at 07:34.
Fatal Accident on North DuPont Boulevard
On Sunday, October 7th, 2007 at 01:40 hours Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75 Ellendale and Sussex County Paramedic 101 and 108 to a reported serious motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian at North DuPont Boulevard in the area of the Hudson Pond Bridge. Rescue 75 under the command of Chief Rowland Moore Jr. (75-15) with a crew of 7 responded at 01:43 hours. Sussex EOC advised Chief Moore of a pedestrian struck by two vehicles on DuPont Boulevard with serious injuries. Rescue 75 arrived first at 01:46 hours and Asst. Chief's Aaron Moore (75-17) and Tom Berry Jr (75-18) who are both NREMT-B's went to assess the patient who was laying in the median strip. Upon arriving at the patient it was determined that the pedestrian had sustained injuries incompatible with life, was not breathing, and had no pulse. Ambulance B-75, Engine 75-8, and Medics 101 and 108 were advised to respond in at a reduced rate. Upon the arrival of Medics 101 and 108 the patient was pronounced at the scene. Chief Moore requested Delaware Department of Transportation to the scene to close all four lanes of North DuPont Boulevard. Chief Moore placed the scene under control at 01:57 with units remaining on scene to assist the State Police and Medical Examiner until 03:42. Fire police remained on scene with DelDOT until approximately 06:00 hours at which time the road was re-opened following the investigation.
Fatal Accident on North Old State Road
On Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 at 16:57 hours Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75 Ellendale, Sussex County Paramedic 101, and Delaware State Police Helicopter Trooper 2 to a reported serious motor vehicle accident with rollover and entrapment in the 8900 block of North Old State Road. Rescue 75 under the command of Asst. Chief Aaron Moore (75-17) and ambulance B-75 went responding at 16:59 hours followed by Engine 75-8 at 17:00. Arriving on scene at 17:02 hours, Asst. Chief Moore reported a single vehicle versus a pole with rollover and confirmed entrapment. The crew from Rescue 75 began to stabilize the vehicle and assess the patient as B-75 arrived. Crews from both units made access to the interior of the vehicle and found the patient to have severe injuries, not breathing, and absent of a pulse. Sussex County Paramedic Unit 101 arrived and pronounced the subject. Fire Police from Station 75 shut down the road way and the crew from Engine 75-2 contacted Sussex EOC to advise Comcast and Verizon of a pole down with phone and cable lines damaged. Asst. Chief Moore placed the scene under control at 17:15 hours with units remaining on scene until 18:31 to assist the State Police, Medical Examiner, and the victims family.
Electrical Fire in Philadelphia Residence
On Friday, August 24, 2007 at 12:10 hours Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75 Ellendale to a reported residential structure fire at 18440 Schuyler Drive off South Old State Road in Philadelphia. Engine/Tanker 75-8 went responding at 12:14 with a crew of five under the command of Asst. Chief Tommy Berry 75-18. Arriving on scene at 12:16 Asst. Chief Berry reported a single family dwelling of wood frame construction with nothing evident from the exterior of the structure. Tanker 75-4 and 75 Command with Asst. Chief Aaron Moore 75-17 responded at 12:16. Upon the arrival of 75 Command and Tanker 75-4 at 12:18, the interior crew from 75-8 reported a small electrical fire behind the wall in the kitchen area of the structure with a light smoke condition throughout. Engine 75-2 responded at 12:18 with a crew of five. After shutting off electric to the residence, the interior crew began to open up the wall and ventilate the structure. Asst. Chief Moore requested a Fire Marshall to respond to the residence and placed the scene under control at 12:26, holding Engine/Tanker 8 and Engine 2. Upon the arrival of the Fire Marshall, the cause was determined as a malfunctioning cord to a window air conditioning unit and wall outlet. The residents of the structure were illegally running electric to the neighboring residential unit and the electrical current drawn was too great, causing the short. Delaware Electrical Co-Operative and the Sussex County Code Enforcement Office were notified. All units returned at 13:00 hours.
Ellendale Assists Milton on Motorcycle Accident
On Sunday, August 12, 2007 at 17:00 hours Sussex EOC dispatched Station 85 Milton, Sussex County Paramedics 101 and 108, and Delaware State Police Helicopter Trooper 4 to a motor vehicle accident involving a motorcycle at the intersection of Sand Hill Road and Gravel Hill Road. Milton Ambulance B-85 responded at 17:03 hours and an additional ambulance from Station 75 Ellendale was requested to the scene. Ambulance B-75 was dispatched and responding at 17:04 hours. Engine 85-5 and Command 85 with Chief Lynn Rogers 85-15 responded at 17:05 hours. At this time Engine/Tanker 75-8 was returning from Ellendale's ATV accident on Burton Road and Asst. Chief Aaron Moore 75-17 contacted 85 Command advising the unit was a half mile from the accident scene and available to respond. 85 Command advised Engine/Tanker 75-8 to respond in to assist with the accident, and Engine/Tanker 8 was dispatched and responding at 17:06 hours. Engine/Tanker 75-8 arrived at 17:09 hours, just behind Command 85, and blocked the intersection to prevent traffic from entering the scene as the motorcyclist was down in the roadway. The crew from Engine/Tanker 8 began assisting with patient care and assisted with placing a backboard and spinal immobilization collar on the patient. The patient was loaded into B-85 and taken to Beebe Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. B-75 was cancelled as there was only one patient. 85 Command placed the incident under control at 17:17 hours with Engine/Tanker 75-8 remaining on scene until 17:23 hours.
ATV Accident on Burton RD
On Sunday, August 12th, 2007 at 16:48 hours Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75 Ellendale, Sussex County Paramedic 108, and Delaware State Police Helicopter Trooper 2 to a reported ATV accident at the dirt track at Burton Road and East Redden Road. Ambulance A-75 and 75 Command with Asst. Chief Andy Jones 75-16 went responding at the time of dispatch followed by Rescue 75 under the command of Chief Rowland Moore 75-15 at 16:50 hours with a crew of six. Engine/Tanker 75-8 responded at 16:51 hours with a crew of 5 and Engine 75-5 at 16:54 hours with a crew of 4. First units arrived on scene at 16:57 to find a male patient that had attempted a jump on the dirt track and lost control causing head and face trauma. At 17:00 hours Sussex Dispatch advised 75 Command that Station 85 Milton had a motor vehicle accident involving a motorcycle and that if Medic 108 was available to split their crew they would be needed in Milton. 75 Command released Medic 108 at 17:02 and placed the scene under control at 17:06, returning Engine/Tanker 8 and Engine 5. The patient was loaded into Delaware State Police Trooper 2 and flown to Christiana Hospital in New Castle County due to the extent of his injuries.
False Alarm on Wild Cherry Street
On Tuesday July 31, 2007 at 11:46 hours Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75 Ellendale to a reported automatic fire alarm sounding at The Learning Center at 18366 Wild Cherry Street. Engine/Tanker 75-8 went responding at 11:49 under the command of 75-19 Captain Ian Moore and arrived on scene at 11:50 hours. Tanker 75-4 responded at 11:50 hours as Captain Moore and the crew from 75-8 investigated. Tanker 75-4 arrived on scene at 11:52 hours and Captain Moore placed the situation under control returning all units at 11:53. The cause of the alarm was determined to be a two year old student who had pulled the alarm as he was exiting the center.
Automatic Fire Alarm in Philadelphia
On Sunday July 29, 2007 at 12:59 hours Sussex EOC advised 75-15 Chief Rowland Moore who was operating at a structure struck by lightning to switch to Sussex Dispatch and stand-by for a third alarm in the district for a reported automatic fire alarm sounding. Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75 Ellendale to a house struck by lightning at 13637 S. Old State Road in the Philadelphia area. Engine/Tanker 75-8 went responding under the direction of Asst. Chief Tommy Berry at 13:01 hours with a crew of 6. Rescue 75 went responding at 13:02 as Engine/Tanker 75-8 was going on location with a single family dwelling and nothing evident with Asst. Chief Berry establishing command. Sussex EOC advised Asst. Chief Berry that the alarm company was attempting to contact the owner, however, was unable to contact anyone at that time. The homeowner arrived at the location after approximately 10 minutes and a walk through of the residence was conducted. The homeowner advised that the alarm had been malfunctioning lately and with nothing found in the structure the alarm was placed under control at 13:20 hours with units remaining on scene until 13:25.
House Struck by Lightning in Hudson Mill
On Sunday July 29, 2007 at 12:52 hours Sussex EOC advised 75-15 Chief Rowland Moore who was operating at a reported field fire to switch to Sussex Dispatch and stand-by for a second alarm in the district for a reported structure fire. Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75 Ellendale to a house struck by lightning at 124 Hudson Mill Road off S. DuPont Blvd. At 12:53 hours Chief Rowland Moore and 75-0 responded to the second emergency. Engine 75-5 with a crew of 6 and Ambulance A-75 went responding at 12:54. 75-0 under the direction of 75-17 Asst. Chief Aaron Moore was the closest unit and upon entering the intersection of Fleatown Rd and S. DuPont Blvd, Asst. Chief Moore advised all incoming units to reduce their speed due to the heavy rainfall visibility was at 5 to 10 feet with dozens of cars stopped throughout the roadway. 75-0 went on location at 12:58 hours with Asst. Chief Moore establishing command until the arrival of 75-15 reporting a 2 1/2 story wood frame single family dwelling with a confirmed lightning strike. Chief Rowland Moore arrived at 12:59 hours and was immediately advised to switch to Sussex Dispatch for a third emergency in the district for an automatic fire alarm sounding on S. Old State Rd. At this time Asst. Chief Aaron Moore assumed interior operations and advised Chief Rowland Moore that one engine company would be sufficient as there was no fire or smoke in the structure, however the attic needed to be checked with a thermal imaging camera. Engine 75-5 and Ambulance A-75 arrived at 13:00 hours with Engine 5's crew entering the structure to check for any extension through the structure. Chief Rowland Moore placed the scene under control with all units returning at 13:09 hours.
Field Fire in Greentop Unfounded
On Sunday July 29, 2007 at 12:45 hours Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75 Ellendale to a reported field fire on Greentop Road just prior to Greentop in the area of Young Lane. At the time of dispatch 75-19 Captain Ian Moore marked up responding from the Federalsburg area of S. DuPont Blvd and Fleatown Rd. and 75-15 Chief Rowland Moore Jr. responded from the town of Ellendale. Chief Moore advised Station 75 to hold the response to two field pieces as a large thunderstorm was moving in and the area was experiencing heavy rains. Brush 75-0 went responding at 12:47 hours and with units unable to find a location of the alarm in the heavy downpour, staged at Greentop Road and Pine Rd. Brush 75-01 went responding 12:51. At 12:52 hours Sussex Dispatch advised Chief Rowland Moore to switch to Sussex Dispatch and stand by for a second alarm in the district for a structure fire. At this time Captain Ian Moore advised he would attempt to locate the caller from the first alarm, however it appeared the heavy rains had extinguished any possible field fire that may have occurred, and the fire was designated unfounded. Captain Ian Moore cleared the scene at 12:59 hours.
Woods Fire at Sawmill RD and Pine RD
On Monday July 23, 2007 at 13:26 hours Sussex EOC adivised 75-17 Aaron Moore who was in command of a structure fire of a 2nd alarm in the district for a woods fire in the southeast area of the district at Sawmill Rd and Thicket Rd. 75-15 Chief Rowland Moore Jr. went responding to the 2nd alarm and Asst. Chief Aaron Moore requested that two of Ellendale's three tankers divert from the structure fire to assist 75-15 on the 2nd alarm and advised Sussex to alert Station 85 Milton to start towards the 2nd alarm also. Brush 75-01 went responding at 13:27 hours and FR 12 JR Webb and State Forestry along with Engine 85-2 went responding at 13:29. FR 12 arrived and reported a woods fire of approximately a half acre advancing, however, that the wind was in a favorable condition and that the Forestry plow was being deployed to cut off the fire. As units arrived on scene multiple forestry lines were deployed. Station 77 Georgetown was requested by Chief Rowland Moore for a one engine cover up at 13:45 hours. After cutting fire lines and extinguishing all hot spots units were released at 14:37.
Units On Scene: Brush 75-01, Brush 75-0, Tanker 75-3, Tanker 75-4, Engine 85-2, Brush 85-00, Tanker 85, 85-11, Gator 85, FR 12, Forestry Plow
Engine 77-2 for Stand By
Multiple Structure Fire at 18029 Spellman Lane
On Monday July 23, 2007 at 13:17 hours Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75 Ellendale to a reported field fire at 18029 Spellman Lane off South DuPont BLVD in the area of Fleatown Rd. At 13:18 hours Sussex EOC realerted Station 75 advising an upgraded call to a working structure fire. Engine/Tanker 75-8 went responding at 13:20 hours with 75-17 Asst. Chief Aaron Moore and a crew of 4. Tanker 75-4 went responding at 13:22 with a crew of two and Engine 75-2 went responding at 13:23 with a crew of four. Engine/Tanker 75-8 arrived on scene at 13:23 with Asst. Chief Moore reporting two structures fully involved with partial collapse of one building, extension to a third structure, multiple propane tanks, tires, and outdoor power equipment as well as exposures to a fourth structure. The crew from Engine/Tanker 75-8 stretched a 1 3/4" attack line and began to knock down the bulk of the fire and cool exposures. At this time Command was advised of a 2nd fire being alerted in the district for a woods fire in the southeast area of the district at 13:26 hours. Tanker 75-4 was redirected to the 2nd alarm and Engine 75-2 continued in. Upon arrival of 75-2 at 13:30 a second handline was put into service. At this time Command advised that he would utilize Engine/Tanker 75-8, Engine 75-2, and to have Engine 75-5 continue responding in and to have all other responding 75 units go to the 2nd alarm. Command placed the situation under control at 13:43 hours with all units working. 75 units remained on scene until 14:22 with extensive overhaul of the multiple structures.
Units On Scene: Engine/Tanker 75-8, Engine 75-2, Engine 75-5, Utility 75-11, Medic 101
Vehice Accident U.S. 113 & DE. 16
At 10:21 hours on July 16, Sussex EOC dispatched Station 75, Medic 101 & DE Trooper 2 to a roll-over with entrapment at the intersection of S. DuPont BLVD (US 113) & Beach HWY (DE 16). A-75 and Rescue 75 went responding with 75-19 Captain Ian Moore shortly after dispatch. Both units went on-scene at 10-25 advising the incident was as reported and 75-19 established command. Command advised of 3 vehicles involved in the incident, 1 with minor damage, the other 2 vehicles with significant damage, including one vehicle on its side. A-75 advised Command of 2 patients and 2 refusals. Medic 101 went on-scene and assisted A-75 with determining patient status and advised command that Trooper 2 would be utilized. A landing zone was established and Trooper 2 flew one Priority 1 patient to P.R.M.C. in Salisbury, MD. The other patient was tranported to Nanticoke Hospital in Seaford, DE on ambulance B-75 with one half of Medic 101. The scene was under control with units remaining for an extended amount of time for traffic control and debris clean-up. At one point the heavy summer beach traffic headed south on US 113 was backed up for approximately one mile as both lanes were shut down. The scene is still under investigation by Delaware State Police. A special thanks to DNREC officer Jamie Bethard for his assistance in patient care, clean up, and traffic control. All 75 units cleared the scene at 11:18 hrs.
Photos for Above Story