HALFWAY PARK DAYS

May 23RD and 24TH........  We are out there bright and early so you have tasty chicken by lunch time!

CLEAR SPRING, MD - February 24, 2009 Box 4-5 was dispatched at 4:23 p.m. for a field fire impinging on a structure at 11655 Rocky Meadow Road. Responding units were advised that the caller was reporting three acres involved. Clear Spring Fire Co. Chief 4 requested two brush units (Brush 13 and Special Unit 5).

Chief 4 arrived on the scene at 4:28 established Command, and reported approximately ten acres involved with structural exposures on the north, east and south sides of the fire. Engine 42 and Tanker 4 were sent to 11618 Big Spring Road with orders to protect the structures on the east side of the fire. Two additional brush units (Engines 264 and 104) were requested at 4:33. Engine 41 and Engine 23 were sent to 12516 Big Pool Road with orders to protect the large bank barn at that location. Halfway Engine 263 was sent to 12524 Big Pool Road with orders to protect the dwelling at that location. Engine 132 was sent to 11655 Rocky Meadow Road with orders to protect the dwelling at that location.

Special Unit 5, along with Brush 13, Engines 105, 264, 104 and 124 entered the field and controlled the fire from inside the burned area utilizing booster lines and ground sweeps. The involved area was a rocky area with numerous cedar trees.

Command reported the fire under control at 5:19 p.m. and began extensive mop up operations. Command was terminated at 6:34 and units began clearing. Total acreage involved was estimated at approximately twenty and no structures were damaged.

Units on the scene were: Clear Spring Chief 4, 41, 42, 44, Tanker 4, and Utility 4; Hancock Engine 53, Special Unit 5; Williamsport Engine 23; Maugansville Engine 132, Brush 13; Halfway Engines 263 & 264; Franklin County Engine 91 & Engine Tanker 9 from Mercersburg PA; Funkstown Engines 105 & 104; Fairplay Engine 124, Ambulance 491, Maryland Forestry Service Western 35 & 36 and Fire Police Units 8FP8, 8FP9, 8FP37 and 8FP51.

1/19/2009

On January 19th, 9-1-1 lines at Washington County Emergency Communications lit up like a Christmas tree as dispatchers became swamped as a mass casualty incident was unfolding on South Mountain. Dispatchers fielded well over 20 calls reporting multiple vehicles crashing as they were coming down the mountain from the Frederick County line. Crews from Mt Aetna Fire, Myersville Fire, Funkstown Fire, Community Rescue, Smithsburg EMS, Middletown EMS and Washington County Special Operations 20 were immediately dispatched out as calls continued to pour in on 9-1-1 at 12:18 hours.

As units responded to the incident, information was given by dispatch reporting multiple vehicles involved. One additional Rescue Squad from Community Rescue was also started due to the severity of the incident. Emergency personnel were faced with severe road conditions as the approached the scene coming the wrong way up south mountain.

Deputy Chief Sprecher from Community Rescue was one of the first arriving EMT’s on the scene to find over 50 people screaming for help. Lieutenant Trumpower on Engine 161 assumed I70 Command as they arrived on the scene behind Deputy Chief Sprecher. At his request, Command immediately requested three additional medic units and the County Mass Casualty Unit to the scene. As additional assistance arrived, crews began splitting up to fully assess the scene. Assistant Chief Hays was placed in charge of EMS sector, Chief Bentley of Special Operations was in charge of Rescue as Frederick County Chief Breeze from Myersville assisted Command on the east side of the incident that was spread out nearly a half mile.

As additional EMS and Fire units from different parts of the county were called in, initial crews were overwhelmed with the number of people involved in the crash. Crews worked diligently extricating seven patients from the wreckage while walking wounded were directed west of the incident and placed in waiting ambulances while other EMS crews tended to the seriously injured.

As crews worked on the scene, buses from County Commuter and the Board of Ed were started out to the incident to assist with the transport of walking wounded and non-injured personnel. The Humane Society was also called out to assist with pets found in the wreckage. Command also foreseen the operation to be lengthy and requested the County Rehab Unit to the scene as well.

Medical crews worked on the scene for nearly and hour and a half evaluating and packaging patients as they were being extricated from the vehicles. By 14:00 hours, a majority of the patients had been transported to Washington County Trauma Center. Waynesboro Hospital was also placed on alert but was fortunately no needed.

Within that first hour and a half, EMS evaluated over 50 people. A total of approximately 14 patients were transported from the scene after 7 patients were extricated from their vehicles. Two occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

The buses from County Commuter and the Board of Ed transported approximately 62 people from the incident to fixed sheltering at the Red Cross Complex on Conrad Court in Hagerstown. Williamsport EMS with Chief Snyder of Smithsburg EMS and Community Rescue responded out to evaluate some of the patients from the incident. Two additional were transported to Washington County for evaluation while Emergency Management and the Red Cross worked to accommodated the people stranded in Hagerstown.

By 15:05 that afternoon, Command was able to release most units from the scene. Company 16, Frederick 8, Rescue Squad 10, Special Operations and Unit 255 remained on the scene assisting MSP as needed during their investigation of the incident. Final fire department crews cleared the incident around 18:00 hours when Command was terminated and declared Fire Department Operations complete.

Interstate 70 remained closed till 23:00 hours as salvage crews came in to assist in removal of the vehicles involved and while State Police reconstruction investigators worked to determine what happened. Special Operations responded back out later that night to assist with some of the trucks leaking diesel fuel and other fluids as they were being removed. Crews that afternoon were faced with approximately 40 passenger vehicles, 7 tractor-trailers and 3-4 box trucks. Out of those transported to Washington County Trauma, three patients were Priority 1’s, which included one patient who lost his leg in the accident. The remaining patients were classified as Priority 2’s and 3’s mainly for check-up due to the seriousness of the incident and mechanism of some of their injuries.

Fire crews responding to the MCI on I70 consisted of Mt. Aetna Fire Co.16, Frederick Engine Co.8 out of Myersville, Funkstown Fire Co.10, Washington County Special Operations and Boonsboro Fire Co.6. EMS operations consisted of Community Rescue Service Co.75, Smithsburg EMS Co.79, Middletown Fire & EMS Co.7, Boonsboro EMS Co.69, Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway Co.26, Williamsport Fire & EMS Co.2, Clear Spring EMS Co.49, Frederick City Medic 100, Frederick EMS 901, and Myersville EMS Ambulance 89. Support services for the incident included the Division of Fire and Emergency Services 1801-Director Kevin Lewis & EMS18- Bridgette Heller, Emergency Management Verna Brown, Washington County Special Operations 20, Washington County Rehab unit 255, Washington County Humane Society, Hagerstown Chapter of the American Red Cross, County Commuter, Washington County Board of Ed, State Highway Administration and Maryland State Police. Additional support was rendered by medic 98 from Berkley County, Mont Alto Ambulance 58 from Franklin County and Thurmont Ambulance 308 from Frederick who transferred in to Williamsport and Smithsburg areas to help cover while Washington County unit were committed on the interstate.

1strespondernew.com-  By William C. King  Senior Correspondent   Photos By R.Jeter

In the late evening hours of January 17th, firefighters from Halfway responded to a reported house fire at 10920 Oak Forest Circle. Washington County dispatch received a call from the residents who had returned home to find their house charged with smoke. Residents were advised to remain outside the residence and to wait for the fire department to arrive. Firefighters from Funkstown and Williamsport were dispatched out at 22:29 hours with Halfway.

Assistant Chief Jamie Drawbaugh from Halfway was the first to arrive to find smoke billowing from the house. Assistant Chief Drawbaugh assumed Command as fire vented it self through the roof near the chimney. Command then reported fire through the roof and requested the working fire assignment started.

First in crews from Halfway advanced a pre-connect through the door on side “B” through the kitchen as the crew off Truck 26 began pulling ceiling on the first floor to gain access to the fire. Interior crews found heavy fire in the ceiling extending into the attic crawl space. Firefighters were able to gain control and knock the fire down 25 minutes after arrival on the scene. After a half hour of overhaul operations, Command reported the fire to be out at 23:26 hours.

Command held the first in units for nearly an hour and a half while he rotated crews to conduct additional salvage and overhaul operations. After evaluation of the damage, it was determined the fire was accidental and appeared to had started between the flu and the wall quickly extending into the attic. No injuries were reported during the incident. Command was later terminated at 00:55 hours at which time units were able to clear the scene and return available.

The Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway Co.26 responded on the box with Funkstown Fire Co.10 and Williamsport Fire Co.2, Maugansville Fire Co.13, Washington County Air Unit 25, Rehab Unit 255 and Washington County Special Operations. Williamsport’s engine was staffed that evening by Halfway for Company 2’s annual fire company banquet.
 

1strespondernew.com-  By William C. King  Senior Correspondent   Photos By D.Pierce

Dump Truck Driver Killed In Highway Accident

WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD - An accident on a busy I-70 interchange killed the driver of a dump truck and caused heavy traffic for hours Monday morning.

Maryland State police are trying to figure out what caused Alvin Clise of Midland, Maryland to lose control of the dump truck.  Clise was on the eastbound I-70 ramp to southbound I-81 around 8:30 Monday morning when his truck full of coal overturned.  Clise was pinned in the truck.  By the time rescuers freed him, he had died.  Troopers say he was on his daily drive to work from Frostburg to Williamsport.

Emergency crews work to extract injured hunter from the woods

On November 2, 2008 fire and EMS crews from Halfway were dispatched out for a subject who fell from a tree stand. Dispatch sent them to the 16700 block of Edward Doub Road where they were advised they could make access to the patient. Once the patient was located they discovered he had sustained a 15-foot fall and was approximately a mile and a half into the woods off Edward Doub Road.

Assistant Chief Jamie Drawbaugh assessed the situation and immediately saw the need for additional assistance. Assistant Chief Drawbaugh assumed Edward Doub Command and requested additional manpower from his station along with MSP Aviation and Gator 20 to assist with extraction of the patient due to the remote location in the woods.

Command checked around the area as EMS crews on Paramedic 269 cared for the patient who was badly injured from the fall. Command reported they had a stable Priority 2 patient with obvious injuries. Upon arrival of Special Operations 20, their crew was able to make access from the main road. Once this access was confirmed, aviation was canceled per command.

Thirty minutes into the incident, Special Operations 20 was at the patient’s side preparing for extraction from the woods. By this time, EMS from 26 had the patient stabilized and immobilized. Within fifteen minutes after their arrival, crews had the patient transported out of the woods to the medic unit. Command reported extrication from the woods complete at 5:13 p.m. Once at the unit, command was terminated and crews worked to transfer the patient over to the medic unit to begin transport. Paramedic 269 transported the patient to Washington County Trauma Center with multiple injuries. Additional information on the patient’s condition has not been released.

Firefighters conduct a quick knockdown on a kitchen fire in Halfway

On October 31st, emergency crews were dispatched for a house fire in Halfway. Reports came in to dispatchers that smoke was coming from a house on Roessner Avenue off of Virginia Avenue. Crews from the Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway were dispatched out with Williamsport and Funkstown Fire Companies at 16:31 hours that afternoon.

Halfway rolled in shortly after dispatch to find smoke coming from the eves of the structure at 10928 Roessner Avenue. Upon assessment of the situation, crews found they had a working kitchen fire. Captain Teagarden of Company 26 assumed Roessner Avenue Command and requested the Working Fire Assignment started.

Initial crews were able to make an aggressive attack keeping the fire confined to the kitchen area of the residence. Firefighters had the fire knocked and were able to begin overhaul operations within 20 minutes after dispatch. Crews remained on the scene for nearly an hour checking for extension and ventilating the structure. The kitchen took on major fire damage while the rest of the house had heavy smoke damage. No one was injured during the incident.

Crews respond to Vehicle Roll-over on Interstate 70 near Funkstown

On October 22nd, emergency crews from Funkstown and Halfway Fire Companies were dispatched out at 18:14 hours for a vehicle accident on Interstate 70 west bound at Exit 29. Washington County Dispatch took several reports of an SUV that was exiting the Interstate onto Sharpsburg Pike when the vehicle lost control rolling over.

Halfway Engine 261 arrived on the scene to find the SUV had come to rest on its roof. Both occupants in the vehicle were able to self-extricate themselves from the vehicle prior to FD’s arrival. Captain Teagarden on Engine 261 reported all occupants out of the vehicle upon their arrival.

Firefighters from Funkstown and Halfway assisted Paramedic 269 from Halfway with packaging both patients for transport. Once both patients were fully immobilized and ready, crews placed both patients in the back of Paramedic 269 and transported them to Washington County Trauma Center. Both occupants were classified as priority patients due to the mechanism of the accident.

Once all patients were package, Fire Department crews cleared the scene of all hazards and returned to service. Maryland State Police are still investigating the accident. No information on what caused the accident has been released at this time.

Firefighters in Washington County save house in Halfway

On October 22nd, Washington County dispatch took a report of a vehicle fire on Oak Ridge Drive under a carport. As crews were about to be dispatched, the center became flooded with calls reporting the fire was rapidly spreading. Crews from Halfway, Funkstown and Williamsport were dispatched out at 16:20 hours for a vehicle fire under a carport at 17900 Oak Ridge Drive.

Calls continued to come in as smoke engulfed the area. Halfway Engine 261 arrived to find smoke billowing across the road. Captain Teagarden of Halfway reported heavy smoke showing as they pulled up and assumed Oak Ridge Command. As crews from Halfway began their attack, Command assessed the scene. He then reported to dispatch that the carport was well off. With the updated information, dispatch toned out the Working Fire Assignment bringing in additional support.

Firefighters working the blaze were able to conduct an aggressive attack saving both the attached house and the adjacent garage next door. Command reported the fire knocked down at 16:44 hours. Crews on the scene soaked down the area and checked both structures exposed to the fire for extension while awaiting the arrival of the State Fire Marshal. At 17:19 hours, Command released all units from the scene with the exception of company 26 units along with rehab unit 255.

Crews from Halfway remained for a brief period to assist State FM Ed Ernst (FM26). Crews later cleared at 17:51 hours while FM 26 remained. The carport was completely destroyed along with two passenger cars. The house and adjacent garage sustained minimal damage. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation by The State Fire Marshals Office.

Halfway Fire Company 26 responded to the call with assistance from Funkstown Fire Co.10, Williamsport Fire Co.2, Maugansville Fire Co.13, Washington County Special Operations 20, Washington County Air Unit 25, Rehab Unit 255, and The State Fire Marshals Office.
 

10/12/2008

Interstate 70 shut down after head-on collision near Exit 29

On October 12^th, Washington County 9-1-1 took multiple reports of a serious vehicle accident on Interstate 70 East Bound near Exit 29.  Callers reported a passenger vehicle into a tractor-trailer.  Emergency crews from Halfway and Funkstown Fire Companies were dispatched out on the call at 19:19 hours.

Initial crews arrived to find a passenger vehicle that had lost control heading westbound crossing the median and struck a tractor-trailer heading the opposite direction.  The tractor-trailer was then forced off the road and came to rest in the median.  Deputy Chief Ed Ernst of Halfway arrived on the scene minutes after dispatch reporting heavy entrapment and assumed I-70 Command.  Due to the magnitude and force of the impact, a second rescue squad out of Williamsport Fire Company 2 was immediately dispatched per Command’s request.

Initial crews on the scene began the extrication process to gain access to the patient to confirm their condition while other crews evaluated the tractor-trailer driver and the damage to his truck.  After evaluation it was found that crews had a large diesel fuel spill to contain from the trucks saddle tank that was ripped from the truck upon impact.  Additional resources from Washington County Special Operations were then requested by Command at that time to assist.

Crews working the extrication were able to make access to the entrapped patient seventeen minutes into the call only to confirm a priority four.  Upon confirmation, the second rescue squad from Williamsport was cancelled per command.  The Paramedic crew from Halfway transported the tractor-trailer driver to Washington County Hospital Priority 3 for check up while crews on the scene remained to contain the fuel spill from the tractor-trailer.

1strespondernew.com-  By William C. King  Senior Correspondent 

Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway receives new Pierce PUC velocity engine

In the late afternoon of October 11, 2008 sirens and air horns filled the air and could be heard for miles in the Halfway Area. As people came out of their homes and businesses they found that there was no emergency. The community of Halfway became witness to a fire department tradition as they watched all the apparatus from the Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway run lights and siren in parade formation to welcome the arrival of their new Engine as it arrives to Halfway for the very first time.

In January of 2007, The Volunteer Fire Company Of halfway (V.F.C.H.) received a Firefighters Assistance Grant for the purchase of a new Engine Pumper. After months of planning and waiting, the new Pierce PUC has finally arrived. The term PUC stands for Pierce Ultimate Configuration. The particular engine is on a Velocity Chassis out fitted with roll-up doors all around the apparatus including the pump panel. The Engine Committee for V.F.C.H. speced out the new Engine Pumper so it would also meet Rescue Engine Standards for Washington County. These specifications are what drove V.F.C.H. to the purchase of the new PUC from Pierce Manufacturing.

The 2008 PUC has a 750-gallon water tank along with a 40-gallon foam tank. The pump panel is fully equipped with digital electric valves along with a Husky 12 Foam System. Crews on incident scenes will have better visibility with the new 3,000-watt light tower and all the additional lighting powered by a Westerbeke 15KW generator. The PUC also has a TAK-4 suspension giving the crew on board a smother ride and giving the operator a shorter stopping distance as well.

The PUC will be fully equipped with a Hurst Rescue System along with stabilization materials and an assortment of hand tools. Fire suppression equipment will consist of three 200-foot 1 3/4” hose lines which will be side mounted in pre-packed sleeves. T he sleeves will be easily replaced after returning from a fire with another sleeve already loaded cutting down on how long the apparatus remains unavailable. Along with the three pre-connects on the side, the engine will also have in the rear a 300-foot section of 1 ¾” and a 200-foot section of 2” pre-connected accompanied by 1500 feet of 4” LDH supply line. The engine has around 500 cubic feet of compartment space and multiple safety features including a mounted ladder in the rear for accessing the top of the engine.

The new engine will take on the designation “Engine 261” when placed in-service. The V.F.C.H. has decided not to have the engine classified as a Rescue Engine. The company currently has two “Specialty Service” pieces in service. With Engine 261 they want to meet the county standards and have the equipment available if needed. They feel it is more important to concentrate on the Engine Company Operations at an incident and leave the Rescue & Extrication Operations to the incoming Rescue Squad, but have the ability to assist.

The membership on hand was extremely pleased with the new engine. Excitement filled the air as the new rig took that final turn off Virginia Avenue on to Lincoln Avenue that day with Chief Ringer behind the wheel. Fire Chief Jeff Ringer of V.F.C.H. hopes to see the new Engine 261 in-service by the end of January of 2009 if not sooner.

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The Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway, MD, Inc.

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