The weather forecast was bleak for the Hampton Roads area on April 13, 2020. Heavy rain and high winds with gusts between 50 and 70 miles per hour blasted the area for much of the morning. The members of the Chesapeake (VA) Fire Department (CFD) went about their morning at the firehouses as usual, with apparatus checks, daily station chores, and breakfast. These were interrupted by the daily responses that make up nearly 30,000 calls annually for the department.
The CFD consists of approximately 450 career firefighters, paramedics, and fire officers who protect roughly 240,000 people in a 250-square-mile area of southeastern Virginia known as Hampton Roads. The fleet includes 17 engine companies, three truck companies, one heavy rescue, three battalion chiefs, three field medical officers, 13 advanced life support/basic life support ambulances, and numerous support apparatus operating out of 15 firehouses. Mutual-aid agreements are in place, and an automatic mutual-aid agreement is also in effect for areas where cities border each other.The incident that was about to happenwould show the value in these mutual-aid agreements and the joint training that is conducted throughout the year.
“侧面拖车拖车”
At 0841 hours, the Chesapeake Emergency Communications Center (known as “Chesapeake” on the CFD radio) received a report of a tractor trailer truck that had partially gone over the side of the High Rise Bridge—the cab was over the side with the trailer on the bridge (photo 1). This bridge spans the Elizabeth River and connects the city’s east and west sides. It is on Interstate 64 and handles roughly 74,000 vehicles each day. It is currently undergoing renovation to widen it to better accommodate traffic.
(1)Photos courtesy of the Chesapeake (VA) Fire Department.
Initial dispatch included a technical rescue response of Battalion Chief (BC) 3 Shean Emmons, EMS 3 (field medical officer), Engines 8 and 28, Ladders 2 and 12, Rescue 15 (heavy rescue), and Medics 8 and 2. BC 3 requested the assistance of a 60-ton rotator wrecker truck and a regional technical rescue response consisting of the Virginia Beach (VA) Fire Department (VBFD) and the Norfolk (VA) Fire Department. BC 1 was also responding and added Fireboats 1 and 2 for potential rescue/recovery from the Elizabeth River.
EMS 3首先到达现场，并提供了以下尺寸：“侧面拖车拖车，其中一名载有拖拉机的乘员，这将是广泛的技术绳索救援。”额外的一流单元抵达现场，但被多个绑定到该事件的警察部队挡住了现场。进行了面对面的指挥转移；艾蒙斯（Emmons）从EMS 3中掌握了这一事件，并对事件进行了适当的部门间通知。
RELATED FIREFIGHTER TRAINING
Further investigation found that the truck’s saddle fuel tanks had been punctured and fuel was leaking into the river. The U.S. Coast Guard was then contacted.
空无一人的拖车用链条和梯子2的设备作为锚点进行了稳定。梯子2从相反的车道接近现场。梯子12被指示从错误的方向接近，停在梯子2的前面，并开始建立使用其设备作为锚点的绳索系统来救援系统（照片2）。救援队15名船员协助梯子12，消防员贾斯汀·比兹利（Justin Beazley）穿上了3级安全带，一条主线和一条束缚线，以进行拖拉机驾驶员的营救。EMS单元被上演并定位，可以根据需要与潜在的患者离开现场。
(2)
While these operations were taking place, additional personnel were in constant verbal contact with the driver to ensure he remained calm. Water rescue resources (CFD, Chesapeake Police, and Coast Guard vessels) were also in place below the bridge on the Elizabeth River for a potential water rescue.
The incident action plan to use Ladder 2 for stabilization and Ladder 12 as an anchor point for a rope system was put in place. The thought process was to use two separate ladder trucks: In the event the tractor was completely blown over, it wouldn’t take the rescuer with it. Emmons assigned an extrication officer and a safety officer.
The 60-ton rotator cranes and VBFD and Norfolk had not yet arrived. Once on scene, they were assigned to assist with secondary stabilization with winches and the rotator arms. Stabilization consisted of securing the tractor frame back to Ladder 2 using grade 80 chains and chain binders. VBFD Rescue 2 winched to the rear of the frame and secured the rear of the trailer using chains to bridge the decking. Personnel on the bridge passed a harness to the driver and instructed him to don it and remain in the cab.
一旦所有单位到达现场，就完成了稳定。低级Z阻力，并使用Ladder 12的空中变化方向变化，并将方向变化升高为主线。还设置了一条绳索线，并附着在Beazley上，Beazley被装载到系统中并在侧面降低，在大风和冰雹中，在水线上方约70英尺处（照片3）。Beazley协助受害者进入其余的救援安全带，然后用一组“ 4”将自己固定在受害者身上（照片4）。
（3）
（4）
受害者固定并依附于救援人员，救援人员和受害者都被抬到桥上，然后越过桥面的安全。然后，受害者被置于医疗2的护理中，并被运送到当地的创伤中心，并受到无生命的伤害。进一步卸下卡车的行动停止了大约20分钟，直到危险的天气通过该地区。然后，现场工作人员通过阻止交通并提供其他人员，在他们将拖拉机移到桥路上时，为残骸公司提供了安全的工作区域。现场被转移到弗吉尼亚州警察局的指挥下，所有消防部门的部门清除了现场。考虑到存在的条件，从派遣时间到将驾驶员放在车道上花了1小时6分钟。
得到教训
- Several factors made this operation a success, beginning with extremely solid teamwork. Multiple departments with various arrival times, skill sets, and equipment came together. Knowing the members who responded and their skills is a result of continual multidepartment training.
- 将两个梯子卡车的鼻子放置在鼻子上，在桥的同一侧，可以使用安全的锚固系统来救援绳索索具和稳定。
- Early request of the regional technical rescue response proved invaluable to the outcome of the incident—Emmons is a past captain and one of the charter members of the rescue company in Chesapeake.
- 事件命令系统的设置包括经验丰富的精心官和经验丰富的消防官员处理安全人员职责是至关重要的。
- Have a state police escort for the wrecker trucks; these trucks need to get to the scene early to allow for adequate stabilization of the bigger vehicles.
- One of the biggest issues was the weather. Heavy rain, high winds, and hail hampered operations and made for a very dangerous rescue. Also, the wind hampered communication.
- The patient was in the cab belowgrade of the bridge roadway, so getting to him was very difficult.
- The roadway was slippery from the rain and a diesel fuel leak; getting absorbent to the scene quickly would help with this issue.
- Access to the scene was difficult at best. Numerous police units and the general traffic blocked apparatus; getting roads shut down and traffic detoured early should be a priority.
- Have a staging area for incoming companies so as not to commit too early or in the wrong place.
- There was concern of a member falling over the side of the bridge. Having members in personal flotation devices and possibly on tag lines would alleviate this concern.
- 另一个问题是，大风会吹向拖拉机和拖车，因此，重型车辆和链条的早期和快速稳定应该是首要任务之一。在大风中使用空中的载荷可能会将天线推到其额定容量上。
成功的结论
This incident proved that regional training among specialty teams (technical rescue, hazmat, marine) is invaluable. The skills, equipment, and personnel were not new to anyone on scene because of past training drills. There is continual need for qualified ladder company and rescue company personnel in the technical rescue disciplines. You must have the properly trained people in the right spots every day.
鉴于天气条件，拖拉机驾驶室在边缘，受害者的位置以及将消防部门部队进入现场的挑战的独特位置，救援仍在一个多小时内进行。事件命令系统的快速建立，实施和执行在整个事件中建立了秩序和指导。成功的救援，没有受伤的成员受伤，对驾驶员的伤害很明显。这确实是“高升上的英雄主义”。
Greg Sellers是Chesapeake（VA）消防局的高级消防员，分配给发动机11/C轮班。他还是史密斯菲尔德（VA）志愿消防局的志愿消防员。他是发动机和卡车运营的讲师，也是消防部门的28年退伍军人。
