Fully Staffed Crew Responds to Two Incidents at Once

Recently, a fire crew was able to manage a medical emergency and potential fire at the same time, highlighting the value of having fully staffed fire crews.

 

On June 12, Medford Fire Department’s Heavy Rescue 14 was dispatched to a hotel for a medical emergency. While responding, the crew found smoke in the hallway just a few doors down from the medical incident.

 

Recognizing the potential for a structure fire, the crew upgraded the incident and requested additional resources. While waiting for additional resources, the crew split up to manage both the medical emergency and the fire.

 

Firefighters quickly investigated the source of the smoke, and the cause was determined to be the failure of a high-voltage capacitor within a microwave oven.

 

They mitigated the hazard, ventilated the area, and confirmed there was no active fire. Thanks to their quick response, the smoke damage was confined to the room of origin.

 

At the same time, the rest of the crew assisted Mercy Flights personnel with the treatment and transport of the patient from the original medical call.

 

This incident highlights the value of having fully staffed crews, a service made possible by the public safety utility fee. With a fully staffed crew, Heavy Rescue 14 was able to effectively and simultaneously manage both the medical emergency and the potential fire incident until additional resources arrived.