Sipesville Volunteer Fire Company

On September 2, at approximately 11:00 hrs, Station 608 (Acosta VFD) was dispatched to assist Station 900 with a physical rescue at 123 Third St. in Acosta. Engine 608-1 and Rescue 608-3 arrived on scene to find one male patient located on scaffolding approximately 20-25 feet in the air. Acosta's crews quickly went to work laddering the side of the structure and reaching the patient to determine his condition. 608 IC realized that due to the nature of the incident, additional manpower and equipment would be necessary. At 11:17 hrs, Station 607 was activated to assist with the physical rescue. Engine 607-4 responded within 4 minutes of the dispatch and was advised by 608 Assistant that a stokes basket would be needed. 607 Foreman responded direct to the incident with the stokes basket and arrived on scene with Engine 4. EMS crews had conducted an initial assessment of the patient, but could not provide ALS care due to the patient's location. 607 and 608 crews secured the patient and worked to lower the scaffolding platform as far as possible. The scaffolding was brought to within 7 feet of the ground and crews placed the patient in a stokes basket before transferring him to the cot. ALS treatment was initiated and medical command requested that the patient be flown to Conemaugh Hospital. 608 IC requested Engine 607-4 to the ball field across from Station 608 to establish a landing zone for MedSTAR 1. Rescue 608-3 also responded to the LZ site to assist. 607 Chief served as LZ officer and crews from all agencies assisted in transferring the patient into the helicopter. MedSTAR 1 cleared the scene without incident and all crews returned in service. All involved agencies worked efficiently and safely together at the scene. Thanks to 608 for providing the second and third pictures of the scaffolding after it was lowered as far as possible.