Everyone has those once in a career runs they go on that sticks with them for the rest of their lives. Yesterday, I’m proud to say, I was part of one.
Synopsis
At approximately 1430 hrs., a worker entered a 40 foot tall, 18 foot diameter tank with 3 feet of residual tar at the bottom of the tank. Believing the tar had cooled enough to walk on, that mistake began one of the longest and most complicated confined space rescue’s in JFRD’s history culminating with his successful rescue at 2220 hrs. last night.
Before I go any further, if I missed anyone, I’m truly sorry, as nearly one fifth of the entire A shift participated in this event at some point.
I would like to personally recognize the following crews and off-duty personnel, who responded from home to assist in this extremely technical call.
Engines: 36, 4, 13, 7, 152, 17, 21, 33, 34, 37, 44, 5, 9, 5, and 42
Ladders: 26, 34, 4, 44, and 21
Rescues: 13, 33, 34, 51, 53, and 7
Fires: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Rescue 105
Specialty Units: EM4 (who fed everyone), TSF (who kept things going behind the scene), P23 (who did more than I can list), Air5, HR 4, HM7, HM21, Rehab 37, the Hackney, and CVAN.
Off duty personnel included: Chief Les McCormick, Gary Kuehner, Ben Stein, Andrew Castleman, Eric Prosswimmer, Jimbo Taylor, Scott Karpus, Revis Coltrane, Sean Hatchett, Jairo Herrera, and more, I just haven’t got the rest of the names yet to include.
The cost of the event, in damaged equipment alone, will exceed 30k.
I wish I had the time to personally recognize the hard work of each indivdiual but literally, it would take me all weekend to write. I never been prouder than to witness the amazing rescue and and resolve of the Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Dept. I was wondering what was going to go first, the morale of the crews for what seemed to be a hopeless rescue, or their bodies from the non-stop physical work; I’m proud to say it was neither.
Get some rest, we’ll take care of the equipment replacement process on Monday, and know what happened yesterday was nothing short of a true testiment of your character and your skill.
Very respectfull and truly proud,
Kurtis R. Wilson
Chief of Operations
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department