Eight volunteers from the Berwyn Heights VFD made the 400+ mile trip to Buffalo, NY to attend the funerals of two Buffalo firemen who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Lt. Charles “Chip” McCarthy (Rescue 1) and FF Jonathan Croom (Ladder 7) were searching for occupants who were reported trapped when they fell through the floor of a two-story, taxpayer. Firefighters attempted to rescue them but they died from their injuries prior to being found. Over 5000 firefighters from around the United States and Canada turned out to celebrate the lives of these two courageous men.

In the 10 day period starting August 20th and ending August 29th, Rescue Squad 14 extricated trapped occupants involved in motor vehicle accidents on eight separate incidents. The following are the dates and locations of these cut jobs.

8/20 – Kenilworth Ave / Greenbelt Rd
8/22 – 5100blk Baltimore Ave
8/23 – 7800blk Riggs Rd
8/24 – Rt. 295 / Good Luck Rd
8/25 – Rt. 295 / I-495
8/26 – Southway / Crescent Rd
8/29 – I-495 / Good Luck Rd
8/29 – Belcrest Rd / Toledo Rd

Dispatched at 1013 hours. Ready for service at 1037 hours.

Dispatched at 0102 hours. Squad crew removed two doors and a B-post. Rescue Squad 14 was service at 0118 hours.

Dispatched at 1254 hours. Squad crew stabilized overturned vehicle, and removed two doors and a B-post. Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 1317 hours.

At 0145 hours, Rescue Squad 14 and Ambulance 148 were alerted to southbound Baltimore-Washington Parkway at Good Luck Road for the personal injury accident. Engine Co. 35 arrived to find a vehicle into the woods with one trapped. Rescue Squad 14 arrived seconds later and started making access to the vehicle. With multiple trees and brush in the way, a chain saw was used to clear the same. The vehicle was stabilized, the driver’s door was removed, and the patient was removed and transported to a local trauma center. Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 0210 hours.

At 0737 hours, Rescue Squad 14 was alerted to 7800 block of Riggs Road for the personal injury accident. Engine Co. 34 arrived and reported two trapped in a vehicle. The squad arrived soon after and found a vehicle that had rolled over, resting on all four wheels, with the roof removed from the rollover impact. The squad crew stabilized the vehicle, removed the driver’s door and posts to provide patient access. Both patients were removed from the vehicle and transported to local trauma centers. Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 0810 hours.

At 1421 hours, Truck 14 was alerted to the 7000 block of Hanover Parkway for the apartment fire. Engine Co. 48 arrived to find a three-story apartment building with fire on the first floor. Truck 14 arrived right behind them and went to work performing a primary search, throwing ladders, ventilating, and controlling utilities. The fire was found in the kitchen of an apartment and extinguished. Truck 14 was held to check for extension and conduct overhaul, and was released at 1448 hours.

Rescue Squad 14 and Chief 14A (McCoy) responded at 0531 hours to the 6904 Riggs Road in Chillum for the personal injury accident with reports of one trapped. Engine Company 34 arrived and confirmed one trapped. Rescue Squad 14 with six volunteers arrived soon after, stabilized the vehicle, removed four doors, a B-post, and the roof, and lifted the dash with the spreaders to extricate the driver. The patient was loaded into an awaiting medic unit and transported to a local trauma center. Rescue Squad 14 was ready for service at 0600 hours.