At 19:36hours on Sunday,  Station 18 was dispatched for a one car roll over Interstate 81 northbound mile marker 206.  On the assignment: R-18, E-18, 18-9, and E-24.  Rescue 18 has been running a reserve piece for approximately one year awaiting the arrival of the new rig.  Last week the reserve piece was stripped and the new rig loaded and sent to the Harrisburg fire Expo for display in the American LaFrance layout.  During this period a minimal equipment cache is being carried aboard R-18 and E-24 has been bumped to the first alarm assignment.

At the time of the alarm the new heavy was approximately 15 minutes from the scene traveling northbound on its way home.  Communications advised Chief 18 (T.Turner) additional reports from the scene were as follows:  Four patients, three entrapped, vehicle in the median.  Chief 18 advised the new heavy to take it in.  Chief 18-3 (Seman) arrived on scene and established the 206 command, confirming the previous reports.  Chief 18-3 confirmed with EMS command and requested two additional ALS trucks and two BLS trucks.  The reserve R-18 arrived on scene, stabilized the vehicle and deployed its HRT to begin opening up.  The new heavy arrived shortly after deploying three HRT’s, a multitude of support equipment and provided over 20,000 watts of fixed lighting to the scene. 

Chief 18-1 (W.Turner) performed the command aboard the new heavy command center.  E-24 marked on scene, stretched a hand line and deployed its HRT. At the height of the extrication there were 6 HRT tools in operation with a host of support equipment.  All doors were opened and the roof removed for patient extrication.  The first patient was extricated within twelve minutes and the final patient extricated in sixteen. 

All BLS staging was handled in the southbound lane.  E-18 handled the scene block for safety in the southbound under the command of Chief 18-2 (D.O’Rourke).  18-9 served as the triage BLS and was the last BLS truck to leave.  24-9 and Harford BLS transported the other patients.  Units cleared when the vehicle was removed and PSP completed its on scene investigation.  The initial call for the new heavy was an excellent shake down and worked well.  A great job by all involved producing seamless teamwork between the departments.  As for the new heavy – welcome home to a triple entrapment!!