Slow down…

Incident No. 2210
Date: 22nd June 2007
Time: 1915
Type: RTC
Address: Stirrups Lane – A12, Lowestoft
Initial Attendance: PRT (Pump Rescue Tender) and two pumps
Final Attendance:

I knew we were going to an RTC as the wholetime crew were pulling out of the pump bay in the PRT as I jogged across to the station.

Sure enough all three lights were up to indicate that all our pumps were being mobilised.

The were some Cubs visiting the station (from Mel Buck’s group – 2nd Oulton Broad). They couldn’t have timed their visit any better – not only had they seen fire engines close up, squirted some water and sounded the two-tones. And to top it all the whole place was alive with firefighters getting the PRT out and all the Retained descending on the station from every direction.

Mel was on station and was already aboard Ladder 1 and as I was next I took the drivers position. We tipped out with a crew of four because Friday night can often see us short crewed. Luckily, as we made our way out of town, we heard Dennis on Ladder 2 book mobile with a crew of six.

As we neared the incident on the southbound carriageway of the A12 just north of Lowestoft we were contacted by the PRT crew. They were dealing with persons trapped in two separate vehicles and we would need to use the combi-tool (cutting gear) off Ladder 1 on the second car.

We pulled up in the outside lane of the northbound carriageway in the fend-off position (at an angle across the road to give the crew a safe side to dismount and to form some sort of protection as the crews work. Using what cones we have on board we started to cone off behind our pump which was a good way behind the PRT to form the safe area. However our equipment was needed and I pulled up level with the second car (which was on the other side of the crash barrier). Ladder 2 arrived and its crew split up to work on both cars.

For the first 15 minutes or so my job was to make us as obvious as possible to the traffic that was still flowing. I raised the stem light and pointed it towards the oncoming traffic. I then positioned myself inside the coned area but some way behind the pump and tried to slow down the steady stream of traffic heading towards Great Yarmouth. Some drivers slow down as good as gold. Others still come through at 40+ and rubber necking!

The Police were able to close the road about 400 yards before our location freeing me up to get back to the vehicle that my crew were working on. As I approached the roof was coming off and efforts were being made to remove the driver side door.

Soon after this the female driver was removed on a spine board over the rear of the vehicle and away to one of the two waiting ambulances.

That was about it for us. Frenzied activity for 30 minutes or so as all the casualties were extricated and then it was packing up all the gear and a leisurely drive back to the station.

Standard tests on the cutting gear and a general clean up ended the evening before getting back home just before 2100.