By: Firefighter Tim McDonnell

On Thursday December 2, 2010 starting at 06:56 Hours, Station 23 was alerted for an auto accident on Kaolin Road west of Hartefeld Drive in New Garden Township. Ambulance 23-1 and Chief 23 (Decker) went enroute within minutes but were soon advised by PD on scene that there were no injuries and no need for fire or ambulance services.

With that report 23 units were available at 07:04 Hours.

Soon after the previous call, at 07:20 Hours, Station 23 was alerted for an auto accident with one vehicle overturned at the intersection of Cypress Street and Scarlett Road. Rescue 23 (Cole) went enroute with a crew of seven and arrived on scene with two vehicles involved and one vehicle overturned on Cypress Street and the other vehicle on Scarlett Road in front of the McDonald’s.

The Rescue truck was utilized on Cypress Street for the overturned vehicle blocking one lane of traffic until the debris was removed. Once the debris was cleared, the Rescue was then sent through the shopping center to Scarlett Road where Oil-Dry was utilized for the other vehicle. Fire Police kept one lane of traffic clear on Cypress Street while most traffic was sent through the shopping center. Both vehicles were removed by Blittersdorf’s Towing and Recovery and 23 units were available at 08:02 Hours.

At 10:34 Hours Station 23 was alerted for an Auto Accident with Unknown Injuries on the northbound onramp to the Route 1 bypass at Route 41. The report was one tractor trailer overturned with “fluid all over roadway”. Chief 23 (Decker) went enroute as well as Ambulance 23-1 with fire police added to the assignment. Avondale units arrived onscene to find one tanker trailer overturned with 4800 gallons of corn syrup covering the onramp. Fire Police were held to Station 22 (West Grove) and Station 23 as well as dispatched traffic units. Blittersdorf’s Towing and Recovery as well as Null’s Towing were attempting to put the tractor trailer back on its wheels while PennDOT had a sand truck spreading sand along the onramp from the spilled diesel fuel and corn syrup.

At 11:41 Hours, Engine 23-2 was dispatched for a washdown at the overturned tractor trailer. Due to the amount of sand and corn syrup in the roadway, Engine 23-2 requested Tanker 23 to assist.

During this incident Station 23 was alerted to be placed on standby for a helicopter due to a fall victim from a ladder. The helicopter was stood down and fire units were recalled.

All units were clear of the tractor trailer incident at 14:56 Hours.

At 16:32 Hours, Station 23 was alerted for an Auto Accident with Injuries at Church Road south of Polo Road. Upon arrival from Ambulance 23-1, they requested an additional BLS unit as well as ALS. Ambulance 23-2 and and Medic 94-1/94-2 went enroute while Chief 23 (Decker) who arrived onscene and assumed Church Road Command. SkyCare 1 was placed on standby and Deputy 23 (Cole) assumed Church Road CP. SkyCare1 was requested to fly four minutes later. Other units tranported by ground and all went available at 18:14 Hours.

At 18:20 Hours Station 23 Ambulance was alerted for respiratory difficulty. Soon after they went enroute, the nature was changed to a Cardiac Arrest. Ambulance 23-2 went enroute along with Squad 23 with five. Ambulance 23-1 went on location with no arrest. Ambulance 23-2 and Squad 23 were recalled.