SVFD NEWS ARCHIVES - Fourth Quarter 2009

MVA w/ Fatality - Courthouse Hwy.

November 12th 2009 - During the morning hours of the nor'easter, Stations 50 & 60 were dispatched to an accident with overturned tractor-trailer vs. car.  Upon arrival, 501 (J. Stallings) found an overturned tractor-trailer and a passenger car with heavy damage with three patients trapped inside.  Upon arrival of the Engine 53 and Rescue 51, crews went to work extricating the three patients trapped in the car.  Two children were removed from the vehicle quickly and transported by ground to a nearby hospital.  The driver of the vehicle was pronounced on scene.  The driver of the tractor-trailer was transported for evaluation with non-life threatening injuries.

Overturned w/ Pin - Waterworks Road

October 31st 2009 - Just a few minutes before 1:00 A.M., Station 50 and 60 were alerted for a MVA with unknown injuries.  501 (J. Stallings) arrived within five minutes to advise there was one vehicle on its side on the bank of a ravine with one patient pinned.  Engine 52 arrived moments later to find a patient halfway out of the vehicle with the A-post resting on the patient's chest.  Engine 52's crew quickly used a ratchet strap to prevent the vehicle from rolling into the ravine further, and remove some the vehicle's weight off the patient.  Upon the arrival of Rescue 51, chains, ratchet straps, and come-a-longs were used to precisely roll the vehicle off of the patient.  The patient was extricated in 24 minutes and turned over to IWVRS Medic 62 before Nightingale transported to Norfolk General.

Combine Fire - Mill Swamp Road

October 24th 2009 - About 1700 hours, Station 50 and Ivor VFD were alerted for a combine on fire at the intersection of Mill Swamp Road and Sycamore Springs Crossing.  Engine 52 arrived to find a small fire in the engine area.  A handline with class A foam was used to douse the flames.  It appeared a broken hydraulic line was the cause of the fire.  The fire caused minimal damage and the combine was driven off the field.  Ivor was dispatched due to the remote location and close proximity to Ivor's first due district.

MVA - Battery Park Road

October 24th 2009 - Engine 52 and Rescue 51 responded for the MVA.  Engine 52 arrived to find a single vehicle off the road with moderate damage.  The driver was still in the vehicle and unresponsive.  Rescue 51 arrived to immobilize the patient on a backboard prior to the arrival of the medic.  Upon arrival of an IWVRS medic, the patient was quickly transported to a local hospital.

Extrication w/ Pin - Benns Church Blvd.

October 19th 2009 - Around 1400 hours, The 50 House and IWVRS were dispatched for a MVA on Benns Church Blvd., in front of Farm Fresh.  The first medic arrived and advised the other responding units that this was going to be an extrication w/ pin.  Engine 52 arrived on scene to assess the situation just prior to Rescue 51 arriving and going to work to free the trapped driver.  Access was made into the car so a ram could be used to push the door off of the driver, while another crew worked to remove the roof.  The driver was able to be extricated without the roof being removed and was transported to a local hospital.

Heavy Rescue Contract Awarded

October 15th 2009 - The Smithfield VFD is pleased to announce that Seagrave Fire Apparatus has been chosen to build the department's next heavy rescue.  The project to replace our rescue started 2 years ago and now has moved to the next phase.  The rescue will be built on a Marauder II chassis with a 23.5' non walk-in body.  Other features include a 30kw hydraulic generator, 9000W light tower, 500 GPM pump w/ 300 GWT.  Check back for updates as the truck committee travels to Clintonville, WI for the pre-engineering conference next month.

MVA - Route 10 Bypass

October 15th 2009 - Around 1200 hours, units were notified for the multiple vehicle accident on Route 10.  Medic 65 arrived to find three vehicles involved with heavy damage.  Upon assessment, one ALS patient and two BLS patients were identified.  The ALS patient was rapidly extricated and transported to a local hospital, but several hours later succumbed to injuries.  Carrollton Squad 10 transported both BLS patients to a local hospital.  501 (J. Stallings) had the command.

MVA - Longview Drive

October 13th 2009 - About 2100 hours, the 50 House and IOWVRS were dispatched for a MVA with possible entrapment.  While enroute, dispatch advised a car ran into a log truck and advised the car was on fire.  Prior to arrival, by-standers used dry chemical extinguishers to knock down the flames and the driver was helped from the wreckage.  Engine 52 arrived and secured hazards, while Rescue 51 staged and returned to service a short time later.  501 (J. Stallings) had the commmand.  The driver was transported to a local hospital by an IOWVRS medic.  Chuckatuck Engine 29 was also on scene.

 MVA - Magnet Drive

September 20th 2009 - Station 50 & 60 were alerted for a MVA on Magnet Drive that was possibly overturned.  Upon arrival, 501 (J. Stallings) found one vehicle that had overturned and came to rest on its wheels.  Both patients were ambulatory and evaluated by an IOWVRS medic.  Engine 52 controlled hazards and provided lighting to Sheriff Dept.  Units operated for approx. 30 minutes before returning to service.

MVA w/ Fatality - Scott's Factory Road

September 18th 2009 - Just before midnight, Station 50 & 60 were tapped out for a MVA.  While enroute, Sheriff Dept. advised the driver was unresponsive.  Upon arrival, Engine 52 found one vehicle off the roadway and into a tree.  The patient was assessed and pronounced DOA by an IOWVRS medic.  Engine 52 remained on scene to provide lighting for State Police to investigate.  All units cleared after operating for one hour.

Structure Fire - Commerce Street

September 16th 2009 - Approx. 1735 hours, Stations 50, 10 (Carrollton), and 60 (IWVRS) were alerted for the commercial structure fire with the caller reporting smoke from the roof of Smithfield Foods Corporate building.  501 (Stallings) arrived to find nothing showing, but reports of odor of smoke throughout the building.  Engine 52 (Nickel-Deuce) arrived and positioned to supply the sprinkler system.  The crew from the engine was assigned to investigate.  Engine 51 arrived and staged at a hydrant at Main St. & Commerce St.  Truck 51 positioned on the A side and set-up for roof operations.  Quint 10 arrived and set-up the aerial ladder on the D side for roof operations.  Engine 53 (The War Wagon) laid a 5" supply line from N. Church & Thomas St. to supply Quint 10.  On the interior, Engine 52's crew made their way to the roof access hatch and noted significant heat at the hatch opening.  The water can was used to cool the hatch before opening.  Fire was found around the exterior of the roof access hatch which was doused with the can.  Another crew stretched an attack line from the standpipe.  Overhaul was completed with a power saw.  Also on scene was Engine 10 and Engine 9 (Chuckatuck).  Station 40 backfilled Station 50 during the incident.  The possible cause of the fire was from a roofing company sealing the roof the previous day.

MVA - Scott's Factory Road

September 6th 2009 - Stations 50 and 60 responded for a reported overturned vehicle and all occupants were reported to be out of the vehicle.  An IWVRS medic arrived first and began a patient assessment on a stable occupant.  Engine 52 arrived a short time later and took a blocking position prior to the accident.  No hazards were found and a patient refusal was obtained from the driver.  All units were available after operating for approx. 15 minutes.