Newsletter

FATAL ACCIDENT WITH ENTRAPMENT ON TURNPIKE

Wednesday, May 16, 2012  1450hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Company 1, Squad 1, Medic 14-9, and County 10 to the area of West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike and Little Apple Drive for a reported head-on motor vehicle accident with entrapment.  Engine 1 (with four) arrived to find a head-on collision involving a four-door passenger vehicle vs. bucket truck with heavy damage and entrapment. Engine 1's Officer (M.Scott) established command and assigned Rescue 1 (with six) to extrication while E-1's crew began triaging a total of four patients. R-1 removed two patients from the bucket truck before extricating the passenger vehicles fatally injured driver. All four lanes were shut down to establish a landing zone for Carilion Lifeguard 10 & Lifeguard 11 who transported three critically injured patients to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Units operating: E-1, R-1, Medics 14-5, 14-8, 14-9, County 1, County 3, County 4, County 10. Total Company 1 personnel on scene: 11.

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HEAVY FIRE ON ARRIVAL AT 4646 WHITEHOUSE ROAD

Wednesday, May 16, 2012  0010hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Companies 10 (Saunders-2nd due) and 1 (Bedford-RIT) to 4646 White House Road after Company 8 units, who had been dispatched for a smoke investigation, located a structure fire with heavy fire showing on arrival. Rescue 1 (with six) was assigned to fire attack by command (Chief 8) and split its crew to operate two hand lines while R-1's Officer (Marshall) was assigned as the Operations Chief. With limited water sources, command requested a Tanker Task Force which brought Wagon 1 (with five), Tanker 7, Engine 7A and Tanker 13. The fire was marked under control at 0200hrs. Total Company 1 personnel: 16.

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HIKER RESCUED AFTER 20 FOOT FALL ON THE APPALACHIAN

Tuesday, May 15, 2012  1230hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Company 1, Squad 1, Medic 14-5, and County 10 toman  the Appalachian Trail near Sunset Field on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a reported hiker down after falling approximately twenty feet down from a rock. Engine 1 (with four) and Rescue 1 (with four) staged at the radar base where a command post had been established by Park Ranger 223. With an initial report that the badly injured victim was one mile from vehicle access, Company 2 was requested by command in order to utilize their ATV's where possible. Two recon groups were immediately deployed in an attempt to locate the badly injured hiker and his wife who as not able to give their exact location. Recon Group 1 located the victim within fifteen minutes of searching and relayed the victims condition and needs to command. Using a stokes and CMC wheel, crews removed the victim to an awaiting medivac at the command post. While units operated on the parkway Wagon 1 (with three) and Ladder 1 (with four) responded to one MVC and a lifting assistance call in the city. All units were back in quarters at 1415hrs. Total Company 1 personnel: 15. 

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1st DUE WORKING FIRE: 1123 SMITH STREET

Friday, May 4, 2012  1817hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Companies 1 (Bedford-1st due), 8 (Moneta-2nd due), and 5 (Forest-RIT) to 1123 Smith Street for the report of a gas grill on fire with extension into a private dwelling. Engine 1 (with four) arrived at 1823hrs to find a two-story wood frame private dwelling with heavy smoke showing from side Alpha. E-1's nozzleman and backup stretched a line as Fire Attack Group 1 to the rear of the structure where they discovered heavy fire at the rear. Medic 14-1 (Fire Attack Group 2) made their way to the attic where the bulk of the fire was knocked down. Ladder 1 (with six) split to conduct the primary search and vertical ventilation. Wagon 8-3 laid 900' of LDH from the corner of Smith Street and Link Road to establish water supply. Extension through multiple roof lines made it difficult to bring the fire under control. Command (Gulatsi) requested additional manpower which was provided by Pumper 5, Wagon 1, and Pumper 1. The fire was marked under control at 1912hrs. Units operating: E-1, L-1, W-1, R-1, W-83, R-5, P-5, Medic 14-1, Medic 14-9, and Medic 1-2. Total Company 1 personnel: 24.
 

1123 Smith Street	Side Charlie
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DEPUTY CHIEF RECEIVES AWARD ON TEXAS FIRE

Friday, May 4, 2012  BFD Deputy Chief Zeph Cunningham; who is operating with the Southern Area Type I Red Team as a Logistics Section Chief on the Livermore Ranch Complex Fire in Fort Davis Texas, has received an award from the Incident Commander for immediate actions taken that saved over three hundred houses.The fire has consumed over 25,000 acres and is 20% contained to date. Deputy Chief Cunningham will end his sixteen day deployment on May 14.

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VEHICLE OVERTURNED WITH ENTRAPMENT ON FOREST ROAD

Wednesday, May 2, 2012   0929hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Company 1, Squad 6, and Medic 14-5 to the 5000 block of Forest Road for reports of a vehicle overturned with entrapment. Engine 1 (with three) arrived at 0936hrs to find the vehicle off the roadway with one subject trapped. Rescue 1 (with six) arrived and began stabilizing with ResQjacks. After stabilization was completed, the victim was extricated onto a LSB and transported by Medic 14-5. Total Company 1 personnel: 12. 

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BUSY DAY INCLUDES WORKING FIRE, SWIFT WATER RESCUE, AND VEHICLE INTO LOCAL BUSINESS

Saturday, April 28, 2012  The day began very early for Bedford firefighters with a first due response for a kitchen fire on Galax Street at 0040hrs. Engine 1 (with four) arrived to find moderate smoke showing from the single-story wood frame pd but once inside personnel discovered that the home owner had successfully extinguished the fire before E-1's arrival. Ladder 1 (with six) ventilated the structure before units took up and returned to service. Later at 0735hrs BFD units responded to Thornhill Lane for a first due working fire. Company 1's Special Operations Command personnel responded to the James River at 1230hrs for reports of a capsized boat with unknown subjects in the water. SOC SWT's located two victims stranded on shore near Balcony Falls and safely brought them back to the boat landing. While units operated at the James River, E-1, R-1, TAC-1/Collapse Trailer responded to the intersection of Washington Street and South Bridge Street for a vehicle into a commercial business. E-1 (with four) arrived to find a vehicle into the buildings 10x8 plate glass window. After investigation, no major structural damage was done and SOC units simply boarded up the window space. By days end Company 1 responded to two working fires, three AFAs, one swift water rescue, and established one landing zone. Total Company 1 personnel throughout day: 13.

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1st DUE FIRE ON THORNHILL LANE

Saturday, April 28, 2012  0733hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Companies 1 (Bedford-1st due), 8 (Moneta-2nd due), and 5 (Forest-RIT) to 1117 Thornhill Lane for a reported detached shed on fire threatening an exposure. Engine 1 (with four) arrived at 0740hrs to find a mobile home with heavy fire showing from side Charlie. E-1's nozzleman and backup stretched a line into the interior as Fire Attack Group 1. Rescue 1 began the primary search while Wagon 1 (with four) and Tanker 8 picked up E-1's LDH and established water supply . Fire Attack Group 1 located a dog after entering the structure which was brought outside to safety. Fire was located on the interior near the C/D corner and was quickly extinguished by E-1. Both searches proved negative. Units operating: E-1, R-1, W-1, T-8, W-8, R-5, Medic 1-4, Medic 14-1, Medic 14-8, and County 10.  Total Company 1 personnel: 12.

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WAGON 1 RETURNS FROM STATE AID REQUEST

Thursday, April 12, 2012  BFD's Wagon 1, staffed by BFD Lt. Jason Overstreet and FF/EMT Kevin Musgrove along with two other Bedford County firefighters, has returned from a 36 hour deployment to Rockbridge County's "Rich Hole Fire". A request for manpower and apparatus was issued Tuesday evening through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management after Rockbridge declared a local emergency. Firefighters from Alleghany, Botetourt, Bedford, Roanoke, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and other localities worked with Department of Forestry and National Park Service personnel to contain the fire that burned over 2,000 acres. Wagon 1 was assigned to structural protection throughout Wednesday evening and Thursday before being demobilized late Thursday night.   

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LADDER 1 RUNS FULLY INVOLVED PRIVATE DWELLING IN NORTHEAST

Photo courtesy of www.forestco5.com Monday, April 2, 2012  2253hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Companies 5 (Forest-1st due), Evington (2nd due), and 1 (Bedford-RIT) to 1400 Blackberry Lane for reports of fire showing from a private dwelling. Chief 5 (Thomas) arrived behind Evington Tanker 17 and reported that the single-story wood frame pd was fully involved and all fire suppression efforts would be defensive. Ladder 1 (with six) assisted with fire supression while Tanker 1 operated as part of the tanker task force. Units operating: E5, P5, R5, T5, C5, L1, T1, T8, Evington Fire, County 10, and Medic 14. Total Company 1 personnel: 13.

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