Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 117, No. 24	June 17 , 2009

Investigation continues on June 8 fire truck accident

Photos by Larry See Jr.
Meade County Fire Protection District Chief Larry Naser, at podium (right), addresses the horde of Louisville and local media during a June 9 press conference at the district’s headquarters station. Naser said all firefighters were released from University of Louisville Hospital as of 9:30 a.m. June 9.

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

It must have been divine intervention.

Either that or firefighters affiliated with the Meade County Fire Protection District have a special connection with the “man” upstairs.

“We are very lucky none of our firefighters died,” MCFPD Chief Larry Naser said. “They were all in their protective gear and wearing seat belts.”

Firefighters from Station One in Brandenburg and Station Two at Doe Valley were called to the scene of an injury accident earlier on the evening of June 8, Naser said.

It was during that time the five firefighters, on board engine 42, would need rescuing themselves.
Five helicopters were called to the scene of the incident, but Naser was unsure who made the initial call to acquire them.

Wrapped in a tarp, similar to a present under the Christmas tree, engine 42 awaits a visit from the insurance adjuster early last week. In the inset photo is the plaque from the truck, when it was originally purchased by the city of Brandenburg. The truck was totalled and the district’s board of trustees are expected to review their options at the June 15 meeting.

He did say he thought it was a good call, as it meant the firefighters were transported quickly to the hospital and all were released later that evening or the next day.

The truck, a 1993 apparatus was one of the original pieces the department owned. It was purchased by the city of Brandenburg and given to the district when the two departments merged.
The truck was hauling 1,000 gallons of water, which is standard procedure for the pumper to be filled everytime it leaves on a run.

Naser, who had not seen the initial Kentucky State Police investigation report during the June 9 press conference, thought the cause might have been the water shifting in the rear, causing the driver to lose control.

In addition to the driver, engineer Theresa Day, also in the vehicle were Captain Chris Crawford, firefighters Raymond Downs and Teri Reardon and engineer Patti Baker-Faith.

KSP Trooper Jason Drane reported the pumper was traveling east in the right hand lane of the Bypass. Drane said Day said as she merged into the left lane to pass slower moving traffic, the water load in the vehicle’s tank shifted, causing the tires to lose traction.

Day then lost control of the vehicle, which then crossed the westbound lane and overturned in the ditch line along the shoulder.

Naser said, based on the amount and type of skidmarks on the road, the vehicle was operating at 45 miles per hour, which was within the limit for the area.

“Yesterday was a bad day for us,” Naser continued. “We are going to look and see what we need to do to prevent this from happening again.” He said he would spend time talking to those involved and working to get the department back in shape.

But it didn’t take long, as earlier that morning firefighters were dispatched to an injury accident near their station.

“We are continuing to provide service,” Naser said. “It is good to get back into the saddle. These are wonderful people and they are dedicated. They are truly professionals. As a matter of fact, one of the firefighters in the accident came back and responded to the incident today.”

Naser admitted the affected firefighters need to take some time to heal – both physically and emotionally – but they will continue to do their jobs and provide service to the residents.
“It could have been much worse,” Naser said.

Offers of support and assistance have arrived from not only Meade County, but Jefferson and Hardin counties, Naser said.

“The surrounding counties have been absolutely outstanding to us,” he said.

The Highview Fire District, which serves a population of 30,000 within a 21-square-mile portion of southern Jefferson County, offered to lend the district a pumper to replace theirs for about a month.
Highview is primarily residential with a light commercial and industrial base.

“And we intend to take them up on that offer,” Naser said. “We also have a lot of departments who offer mutual aid, so we are covered.”

This isn’t the first time pumpers have been involved in accidents in Meade County, Naser said. Two other departments also have experienced accidents, but he wouldn’t speculate on the case of those incidents.

When asked what the crew members felt like, Naser summed up the answer in one word.
“Scared,” he said.

“The company officer said as soon as he knew what happened, he tried to get the drivers and the others out,” Naser said. Several trapped firefighters, who were conscious were offering advice and suggestions to their counterparts as to how to rescue them.

“Everyone responded to the first call as we had a job to do there,” Naser said. “I arrived on the scene of the first call and was the fire officer to take command of the scene.”

He said the victim was freed within 13 minutes and then the crews packed their gear and headed to assist with the other incident.

“It is always scary when it is one of your own and it can hit home rather quickly,” he said.
The process continued June 9 with a debriefing session for those involved, it was reported.
Naser said the insurance company, based on the pictures the department sent them via e-mail agreed the vehicle was a total loss. He said an adjuster was expected to arrive June 10 to review the materials that were salvaged to determine a claim amount for them. As of last week the truck was currently behind the station wrapped in a tarp. It was returned there for security reasons and to remove any usable pieces from it.

Naser thought the vehicle would be totalled and after the final determination is made, it will be taken to a scrap or salvage yard for parts.

He also would be making a recommendation to the district’s board at their June 15 meeting to start the process of replacing the vehicle.

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