Fire Blotter: Two People Extricated from Car Obliterated by Tree in Arcadia

From the Arcadia Fire Department:

Sunday, May 26
At 10:30 a.m., Engine 105, Engine 106, Engine 107, Truck 105, Monrovia Truck 101, Rescue Ambulance 106 and Battalion 105 responded to a reported apartment house fire in the 500 block of Fairview Avenue. Fire crews arrived on scene and found light smoke coming from the front unit. Personnel investigated further and determined that the smoke came from food left unattended on an active stove top. Fire crews removed the burnt food and utilized a positive pressure ventilation fan to blow the smoke out of the building.

Tuesday, May 28
At 9:09 p.m., Engine 105 and Rescue Ambulance 105 responded to a medical call in the 300 block of El Dorado Avenue. Fire crews arrived on scene to find a male patient in respiratory distress. Paramedics performed advanced life support measures; including cardiac monitoring and oxygen saturation monitoring. Paramedics also utilized a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device and provided drug therapy. The patient was transported to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

Wednesday, May 29
At 10:25 a.m., Truck 105 and Rescue Ambulance 105 responded to an unknown type of medical emergency in the 400 block of West Palm Drive. While enroute, dispatch received a second call reporting a vegetation fire at the same location. Engine 107 joined the response. Fire crews arrived to find a small vegetation fire in the rear yard threatening a shed. The fire was extinguished and the area was overhauled. Due to the unsafe fire condition found at the scene, a code enforcement officer was requested to assess the situation.
It was determined that the initial confusion regarding the nature of the call resulted from a language barrier. No persons were in need of medical attention at the scene.

Thursday, May 30
At 2:35 p.m., Engine 107, Pasadena Engine 37, Truck 105, Rescue Ambulance 106 and Battalion 105 responded to a traffic collision with a person trapped on the eastbound 210 Freeway at Baldwin Avenue. Fire crews arrived on scene and found one vehicle on its side on the side of the freeway with a person trapped inside. Truck 105 utilized a battery powered reciprocating saw to remove the window and free the patient. The patient was placed in full cerebral spinal precautions and transported to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

Monday, May 27
At 7:58 p.m., Engine 107 and Rescue Ambulance 105 responded to a medical assist in the 1600 block of North Santa Anita Avenue. Upon arrival, fire personnel evaluated a female patient who was suffering from general weakness and slurred speech. The patient received advanced life support at the scene; including oxygen therapy, 12 lead cardiac monitoring, intravenous access, and blood glucose monitoring. The patient was transported to Arcadia Methodist Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

At 5:35 p.m., Engine 105 was dispatched as part of Strike Team 1204 A to the Powerhouse Incident in the Green Valley area in the mountains north of Santa Clarita. Engine 105 performed structure defense and was released from the incident and returned to quarters at 12:18 a.m. on Friday May 31, 2013.

Friday, May 31
At 11:39 p.m., Engine 106, Rescue Ambulance 106, and Battalion 105, along with units from Monrovia and Pasadena Fire Departments, responded to a traffic collision with persons trapped at North Baldwin Avenue and Harvard Drive. Fire crews arrived to find a vehicle that had been traveling at a high rate of speed veered off the road and collided with a tree. Two patients were evaluated on scene.

A male patient was extricated and evaluated on scene. The patient suffered from multiple injuries. Paramedics provided advanced life support measures on scene; including intravenous access, full spinal immobilization and oxygen therapy. The patient was transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

The second patient was a teenage female, whose foot was trapped in the vehicle, also suffering from multiple injuries. Extrication of this patient was considerably more challenging. Paramedics provided advanced life support measures on scene; intravenous access, full spinal immobilization and oxygen therapy. The patient was transported to the local trauma center, Huntington Memorial Hospital, for further evaluation and treatment.

Saturday, June 1
At 1:56 p.m., Engine 106 and Rescue Ambulance 106 responded to a medical assist in the 400 block of South Baldwin Avenue. Upon arrival, fire personnel evaluated a female patient who was suffering from chest pain with shortness of breath. The patient received advanced life support at the scene; including oxygen therapy, 12 lead cardiac monitoring, intravenous access, and drug therapy. The patient was transported to Arcadia Methodist Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.