| Tuesday July 18, 2006 was an active day for Sykesville Fire Department crews, responding to a crash with entrapment, a barn fire, and a trash fire threatening the Carrolltowne Mall.
At 1:36 pm Medic 129, Rescue Squad 12 and Engine 123 were dispatched to assist Howard County crews for a vehicle accident with entrapment at the Route 32 exit of Interstate 70. West Friendship Chief Mickey Day advised he had one vehicle on its side on the ramp from Eastbound I-70 to Route 32, with one person trapped.
Medic 129 arrived and begin to assist with patient care. Squad 12's crew went to work on extricating the patient by placing stabilizing struts on the vehicle prior to using hydraulic tools to gain access to the patient. Engine 123's crew stood by with additional manpower due to the extremely hot weather. The patient was extricated and transported to the hospital in approximately 30 minutes time.
At approximately 6:00 pm, Sykesville crews were dispatched to a three-alarm barn fire in Winfield's district. (See seperate news story and photos) During this time period, emergency services resources in the Eldersburg-Sykesville became strained, bringing in other area companies to stand by at Station 12.
Due to the number of resources at the Winfield fire, and other calls, Carroll County dispatchers arranged some transfers from companies we aren't used to seeing in these parts. Owings Mills Engine 311 (Baltimore County), Westminster Medic 38 (Carroll County) and New Market Ambulance 159 (Frederick County) filled in the Sykesville station.
During this time period additional Sykesville volunteers stood by placing their remaining equipment in service. Rescue Squad 12, Brush 125 and Life Support 12 with a paramedic were all staffed with crews until the other Sykesville units could return from the fire. Several emergency calls were handled by these units while the other units operated on the barn fire.
Thanks to the Carroll County 911 Dispatch Center for ensuring the needed resources were sent to cover the Sykesville station ensuring the Eldersburg-Sykesville area had adequate protection during this time period.
At 11:03 pm Box Alarm 12-17 was sounded at the Carroltown Mall. Units were dispatched to 6400 Ridge Road at the Carrolltowne Mall for a reported building fire next to the "Body Shapes" gym. Ladder 12, Rescue Squad 12, Paramedic 128 and Deputy Chief Eddie Ruch, Jr. quickly responded to the call. Other units from Gamber, Winfield and Liberty Road (Baltimore County) were dispatched to assist.
Chief Ruch was the first to arrive on the scene and reported a trash fire next to the building. The Sykesville units continued to extinguish the fire, while the others returned to service. Ladder 12 and Rescue Squad 12 worked for about 15 minutes to extinguish and clean up the fire. The cause of the fire was undetermined and is under investigation. |
