Flagler County, FL - A Monday morning crash, where Flagler County Fire Rescue had to use "Jaws of Life" to save a man who slammed into a power pole, was the fourth technical rescue for the department in one week.
Monday's crash happened near County Road 304 in Bunnell, where a driver crashed into an FP&L pole. “He was having a medical issue, hit the pole, and the pole came down on top of his vehicle,” says Flagler County Fire Chief Don Petito. After being pried from his vehicle by the "Jaws of Life," the man was airlifted by Flagler County’s FireFlight helicopter to Halifax Health in Daytona Beach. His name and condition are not yet available.
Also, on Saturday evening, the Flagler Fire Department worked with the marine rescue team to save two kayakers and an inflatable boat that washed out to sea during an approaching storm. “FireFlight found the missing kayak and the inflatable boat and directed the marine rescue jet skis to the area,” says Petito. “The boat had deflated to the point where the person on board needed help. The kayakers were far enough out that they also needed help.” Jet skis were used to get the boaters and the vessels back to shore.
Two other incidents where Flagler County Fire Rescue had to employ technical rescues occurred on July 26. At about 6 AM that morning, marine crews saved three people after two boats collided broadside on the Intracoastal Waterway near Washington Oaks State Park. One of the boats capsized, two of the boaters had no obvious injuries, but one did have obvious injuries and had to be transported on a long spine board to Florida Hospital Flagler.
Later on July 26, the fire department's Technical Rescue Team helped the Palm Coast Fire Department rescue a city utility department contractor from the top of Palm Coast's main water tower. The man had become ill, possibly suffering from heat exhaustion. For more, click here.
All of the incidents this past week were classified as technical rescues, which are more than picking someone up and taking them to the hospital. Firefighters are specially trained for these types of events. 45 of the 80 firefighters at the Flagler County Fire Department are a part of the specially trained "technical team."
The trainers on the technical team include Lt. Jason Powell, leader; firefighter-paramedic Dennis Moore, lead trainer; and lieutenants Andrew and John Keppler, both brothers and both shift leaders. Marine Rescue trainers include: Lt. Jason Forte, lead trainer; Lt. Mike Pius, trainer; and Lt. Andrew Hardesty, trainer.
"It's really great that we have such qualified personnel on our Fire Rescue Department Team," says Julie Murphy, Public Information Officer For Flagler County. "There are times when maybe you don't need to use any of that special training for long stretches of time, but it's really great that we have such dedicated team members who keep up with all that training. They are able to respond and respond well."
NOTE: Below photos are of Saturday's rescue of the kayakers and boater, provided by Flagler County Public Information.
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