SFD Media Release - For more information on this release please call (509)625-7002

ISSUING OFFICER: Ken Kirsch Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 5/20/2008
INCIDENT TYPE: Special Rescue
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 17th and Ray Street
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP:

NARRATIVE: On 05/20/08, at approximately 1445 hrs, units of the City of Spokane Fire Department responded to 17th and Ray for a person trapped in a car after a tree had fallen on it. First arriving crews found a vehicle with a large tree branch on its roof and an occupant trapped inside. The tree branch had crushed the roof of the vehicle down on top of the occupant. The tree branch had broken from a tree just as the vehicle was passing by. The occupant of the vehicle suffered a laceration to the forehead but no other apparent serious injuries.

A firefighter from the first arriving crew was able to gain access to the vehicle and the patient to check for injuries while smaller branches that encircled the vehicle were removed by other SFD crews using chain saws. To call this a "branch" is truly an understatement. This branch was larger than many trees. The branch was trimmed as small as possible, still leaving a very large and heavy piece on the vehicle's roof. As luck would have it a tree trimming company, Nelson Tree Service, had a crane for lifting logs working just down the street and offered the use their equipment to remove the branch from the vehicle. The tree branch was attached to the crane and then quickly and safely hoisted from the vehicle. Enough can not be said for the assistance provided by Nelson Tree Service. The damage caused by the branch required use of specialized extrication tools to remove the vehicle's roof and force open the door so the patient could be removed and transported to the hospital. In all the extrication took approximately 45 minutes to complete.

A total of seven apparatus with 19 firefighters responded and participated on this incident. No injuries to firefighters were reported.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Accident. Tree branch falling on vehicle.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Heavy damage to the vehicle.
DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 19
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002

END OF RELEASE