The day started a little slow for the Camden-Wyoming Fire Company but picked up rather quickly after the evening hours.  Crews handled two building alarms and two MVC’s as the ambulance covered another two EMS runs.

At 0816 hours, the company was dispatched for an AFA at 250 Gateway Boulevard, the Food Loin.  Engine 41-1 arrived at 0827 to find nothing evident and 41-20 (Redick JR) established Gateway Command.  Crews started an investigation and found that the alarm was coming from the HVAC air handlers.  Command had rescue 41-6 take the Charlie side of the structure and ladder the building as crews investigated all the air handlers on the roof.  The crew advised command that there were no problems and command placed the incident under control at 0840 with an alarm malfunction.  Crews packed up and all 41 units cleared at 0847.  Engine 41-3 and Rescue 41-6 handled the call.

The rest of the day was pretty quiet until 1814 hours when a dispatch was received for a building fire at 32 Shelter Circle, the Kent County SPCA.  Engine 41-1 arrived on scene at 1821 with nothing evident and 41-17 (Rigsby aka “busiest radio in Kent County”) established command.  Crews started to investigate the structure and found the alarm was activated by the crematory.  Command placed the situation under control at 1827 with a good activation and 41-1 cleared at the same time.  Engine 41-1 handled the call.

Just over an hour later a dispatch was received at 1952 for a MVC with injuries at the intersection of Lebanon Road and S State Street.  Rescue 41-6 arrived on scene at 1958 and 41-17 (Rigsby) established command.  Ambulance A41 was on scene and determined there was only one patient with minor injuries.  Command placed the incident under control at 2001 as Ambulance A41 started transport to Kent General Hospital.  Rescue 41-6 cleared the scene at 2008 and fire police remained on scene to assist DSP with traffic control.  Units on scene were Rescue 41-6, Ambulance A41, DSFP, and DSP.

At 2132, the company was dispatched for a MVC with injuries at the intersection of S State Street and Rising Sun Road.  Rescue 41-6 arrived on scene at 2140 and 41-17 (Rigsby) established command.  Ambulance A41 had already arrived on scene and started to triage patients.  Command advised Kent Center that another three BLS units would be needed at the scene.  That brought in ambulances A55 (Magnolia), A63 (City of Dover EMS), and B48 (Felton).  Command had the crew from the rescue and Engine 41-3 assist with patient care and also to lay speedy-dry on the road way.  All patients were transported to Kent General and command placed the incident under control at 2159.  All 41 units cleared the scene at 2207 along with fire police.  Units on scene were Rescue 41-6, Engine 41-3, Ambulances A41, A55, A63, B48, DSFP, and DSP.

Story by John Wothers

The Camden-Wyoming Fire Company had their monthly meeting tonight. Tonight was also election night for the 2009 year. Here are the results.   Chief- Harold Scott Jr. Deputy- Tom Rigsby 1st AC- Matt Cobb 2nd AC- JR Short 3rd AC- Dave Redick Jr. Captain-Chris Dufresne Captain-Brandon Olenik Chief Engineer-Chris Willoughby Ambulance Captain-John Wothers Ambulance Lt-Dan Stone Fire Police-Mike Bredin, Harold Willey, Lee Pravitz, John Reuban, Doc Neese, Joe Miles   President- JR Short VP-Fred Hartnett Secretary-Lori Short Treasurer-Matt Brown Asst. Treasurer-Dan Jones Fire Recorder- Dan Jones Personnel Officer-Bill Legaman Board of Directors-Ed Reuban, Harold Willey Trustees-Robin Andino, Bill Legaman, Mark Gemmill   Good luck to all the officers in the upcoming year!

Are you looking to play Bingo locally? The Camden-Wyoming Fire Company provides Bingo open to the public every Tuesday night. Come down, win some money, and have a great time. We offer a cookie jar jackpot and bonus games. Doors open at 530 with the first game starting at 7 pm. Refreshments and drinks are prepared by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Camden-Wyoming Fire Company. Any questions please contact the station at 697-8671.

Today at 1347 as members were training at the station on hose lays, Kent Center dispatched the company for a building fire at 1664 S Governors Avenue, C & R Pets, in the Rodney Village shopping Center. Engine 41-3 arrived on scene at 1354 and 41-18 (Short) established Rodney Village Command. The crew started to investigate and found a smoke condition in the Movie Gallery store which is next to C & R pets. C & R pets had no evidence of smoke. Command had Rescue 41-6 respond to the Charlie side of the building and investigate from the back of the building. Command requested a ladder company assist from station 46 (Dover). The crew from Engine 1 had to make forcible entry into the store to the other side of the Movie Gallery. After searching the store there was no evidence of smoke in the building. Ladder 46-1 arrived on scene and command had their crew set the ladder up at the Alpha side of the building and investigate the roof. Engine 46-3 was advised to hold in front of Engine 1 and hold their crew. After the utilities were secured to the businesses, the smoke started to dissipate. The roof division reported the condition was coming from an air unit and spreading through the HVAC system. Command placed the situation under control at 1421 and released Ladder 46-1 and Engine 46-3. Crews placed a positive pressure fan in the front door and then all 41 units cleared at 1450.   Units on scene-Engines 41-3, 41-4, Rescue 41-6, Ambulance A41, Ladder 46-1, Engine 46-3, FM28, DSFP Story by John Wothers Photos by Chris Willoughby

On Friday night, November 14th, the Bible Fellowship Church invited the Camden-Wyoming Fire Company members and their families to dinner. The members of the church realized that they had been neighbors to the fire company for almost fifteen years and never really made contact. They decided to cook and serve dinner in appreciation for the hard work and dedication the company gives to their community for no charge. The fire company thanked the church with a response of over 50 members and family attending the dinner. Dinner consisted of a thanksgiving type meal and desserts. The Camden-Wyoming Fire Company would like to thank the Bible Fellowship Church for the invitation, dinner, and their hospitality.   Story by John Wothers Photos coming soon

On Sunday, The Camden-Wyoming Fire Company was dispatched at 1250 to assist the Delaware State Police with a wash down as a result of a MVC with no injuries at the intersection of E Lebanon Road and Sorghum Mill Road. Engine 41-4 arrived on scene at 1258 and 41-15 (Scott JR) established command. Crews found a three vehicle MVC with extensive damage to two of the vehicles. One vehicle was leaking fluids from the engine into Lebanon Road and the second vehicle had parts including a tire in the roadway. The crew from Engine 4 placed speedy dry on the fluids and started to sweep off the roadway. Ambulance B41 arrived on scene and double checked with all the operators to make sure there were no injuries. Command placed the situation under control at 1310 with all 41 units clearing at the same time. Fire police remained on scene to assist DSP with traffic control.   Units on scene- Engine 41-4, Ambulance B41, DSP, DSFP Story by John Wothers

Photos by James Harrison

On Monday Oct 12 and Tues Oct 13 Camden Wyoming Fire Co members Matt Cobb and Chris Dufresne gave a fire prevention presentation to the kindergarden and first grade classes of Nellie Stokes Elementary. The students were taught basic rules about proper fire prevention, what number to call in case of an Emergency and what to do if their clothes catch on fire. The students were able to see a firefighter in his full turnout gear and SCBA and even got to sit in the drivers seat of the Fire Truck. All students were provided with a Fire Prevention coloring packet and some classes participated in the annual coloring contest. Thanks to all the students who participated in the events. It was a great time had by all.   ** Special thanks to Mrs Connelly for setting up the presentations and taking the extra intrest in Fire Prevention and the photos.   Story by Matt Cobb 
 

At 1759, Kent Center alerted Station 41, Kent County paramedics KM9 and KM5 and Delaware State Police aviation unit Trooper 4 for a MVC involving a motorcycle in the parking lot of Texas Roadhouse at 4568 S DuPont Highway. 41-19 (Pippin) arrived on location at 1804 and established S DuPont Highway command. Ambulance B41 arrived at the same time with both units finding a single motorcycle involved and a priority one patient. Rescue 41-6 arrived on location and assisted with patient care and packaging. Command advised that aviation would be utilized and had engine 41-3 set up a landing zone to the west of the restaurant in the Dollar Tree parking lot. The patient was loaded and moved to the landing zone as Trooper 4 was landing. After a short assessment by ALS, it was determined that the patient was too unstable to be flown and would be taken to Kent General by ground. Command placed the situation under control at 1830 with all 41 units clearing the scene at 1838. Fire police remained on scene to assist PD with their investigation.

Units on scene-41-19, Rescue 41-6, Engine 41-3, Ambulance B41, Paramedics KM5 and KM9, Trooper 4, Camden PD, DSP, DSFP

Photos and Story by John Wothers

Today the members of the Camden-Wyoming performed a vehicle rescue demonstration for the Camden-Wyoming Moose Lodge members and their children. The observers were taught how the fire company uses different types of tools to dismantle a vehicle during an accident. This also gave younger members the opportunity to use rescue tools in a controlled environment. The Camden-Wyoming fire company would like to thank the Moose Lodge for the opportunity to participate in their safety program.

Story and Photos by John Wothers

The Camden-Wyoming held a control burn on Willow Grove Road.  Crews from 41-0 and 41-4 utilized hand lines to control exposures.

Photos by John Wothers

The Camden-Wyoming Fire Company started Fire Prevention month off at the Whatcoat pre-school. Past Chief Bill Seaman and Ambulance Captain John Wothers showed 60 kids ranging from 2 years old to 4 years old the engine and tools and went over basic fire prevention information.   Story and Photos by John Wothers

At 1101, the Camden-Wyoming Fire Company was dispatched for a working house fire with a subject trapped at 2217 South State Street. Engine 41-1 responded with 41-17 (Rigsby) at 1106. As the engine turned onto Camden-Wyoming Avenue, smoke was evident in the air and 41-17 requested a rescue assist from station 55 (Magnolia). 41-1 arrived on scene at 1109 with smoke and fire showing from a one and a half story wood frame construction commercial structure with residential units on the second division and 41-17 established South State Street command. The resident that was on the second division was evacuated from the structure by Delaware State Police who threw a ground ladder found on the ground and the resident climbed down. The crew from 41-1 advanced a 1 ¾ line into the front door and started attacking the fire. At 1120 command requested and engine assist which brought station 46 (Dover) into the scene. Crews made a quick knock down of the fire and started to overhaul. Command placed the situation under control at 1206 with all units working. The last 41 unit cleared the scene at 1343 with the Fire Marshal remaining on scene. The resident was transported to Kent General for evaluation and one firefighter was transport to Kent General for a heat related emergency. Engine 48-3 (Felton) provided the stand by at station 41.   Units on scene-Engines 41-1, 41-3, 46-3, 46-6, Rescue 55-1, Brush 41-0 and 55-0, Ambulances A55 and A63, Medics KM5 and KM9, fire marshal FM19, DSP, DSFP. Story by John Wothers

Photos by James Queen

The Camden-Wyoming extends thier thoughts and prayers to the families of all those that perished in the helicoptor crash in lower Maryland.

From WBOC.com

09/28/2008 11:25 AM ET; Updated 3:37 PM ET

DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. - A medical helicopter carrying victims of a traffic accident crashed in a suburban Washington park early Sunday after reporting bad weather, killing four of the five people aboard, authorities said.

It was the deadliest medevac helicopter accident in Maryland since the State Police began flying those missions nearly 40 years ago and the latest in a recent rise in the number of such rashes nationwide.

It was the eighth fatal medical helicopter crash in the last 12 months, bringing the total number of deaths to about 30 during that period, National Transportation Safety Board member Debbie Hersman said.

Crashes of medical aircraft have been increasing since the 1990s, in part because it is a booming business, fueled by the closing of emergency rooms in rural areas and an aging population, according to the National EMS Pilots Association.

However, the state-run program in Maryland does not charge for its services, and was known for its safety record. It has had just three other fatal helicopter crashes in four decades.

On Sunday, a veteran pilot, a flight paramedic, a county emergency medical technician and one of the traffic accident victims died in the crash, authorities said. An 18-year-old woman also injured in the traffic accident in Charles County survived the helicopter crash. She was in critical condition at a hospital.

"This is a devastating tragedy for the families of all the victims," State Police Superintendent Terrence Sheridan said.

It was foggy and rainy in the area about the time of the crash. The helicopter was headed on a roughly 25-mile trip from the traffic accident to the hospital when the crew radioed just before midnight Saturday that they wanted to land at their hangar at Andrews Air Force Base because of bad weather. Ambulances were sent to the base, which is about halfway between the traffic accident site and Prince George's county hospital, but the helicopter never arrived.

The medevac disappeared from radar and officials lost radio contact. Two hours later, a police  fficer found the wreckage on a trail in a wooded area of a local park. The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration were investigating.

The recent increase has triggered the safety board to hold a public hearing on the matter, Hersman said, though no date had been set. A federal investigation in 2006 found there were 55 accidents air ambulance accidents from 2002 to 2005, prompting the safety board to issue four recommendations, including higher standards for medical aircraft and more stringent decision-making in determining whether to fly in bad weather.

Crashes in Texas, Wisconsin and Arizona, where two medical helicopters were in a fiery collision in June, have underscored the dangers of the medical flights. Some have questioned whether it would be safer to transport patients by ground ambulance.

Dr. Bryan Bledsoe, an emergency medicine physician who teaches at the University of Nevada and has researched accident rates of medical helicopters, told The Associated Press in June that the flights benefit only a small subset of patients. He said then that helicopters aren't necessary for transporting most other patients and needlessly expose them to danger.

Killed in the crash Sunday were pilot Stephen Bunker, 59; flight paramedic Mickey Lippy, 34; emergency medical technician Tanya Mallard, 39; and 18-year-old Ashley Younger.

Bunker retired from the State Police after 26 years and had been a civilian pilot for the unit since 1989. Lippy had been with the State Police for four years. Younger and Jordan Wells, both of Charles County, were involved in the traffic accident.

The Maryland State Police Aviation Command began medevac missions in 1970 and has since transported over 120,000 patients, according to the unit's Web site.

A recent state legislative audit faulted the police agency for failing to document maintenance needs and costs for its fleet of 12 twin-engine helicopters. Nine of them are more than 18 years old, including the second-oldest Trooper 2 that crashed Sunday.

The helicopter, purchased in 1989, had an inspection Wednesday, Sheridan said.

State Police have defended the helicopter command, and the audit noted the unit had an "impeccable" safety record. State Police have grounded all of their flights until the cause of the crash can be determined. Other states and private companies will cover Maryland in the meantime, Sheridan said.

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