Dumpster explosion in a Country Club

"911 emergency, police fire rescue?"
"Fire and medical, the dumpster just blew up at the country club, the caretaker is down, but we can't get towards him, it's too hot."
"Okay, what happened?"
"We sent him out with coffee mate that spilled, must've caught off of some garbage and probably a cigarette butt, it can't be arson, we've got that on lock, only a few people can get out there"
"Okay, I'm sending the fire department now"

"PFD dispatch COPA"
"COPA Clear, go ahead"
"We've got a call of a dumpster explosion at the country club, got a unit to send out there? Possible person down."
"Yeah, sending P-11, ALS. No medical transports available though"
"Understood, advising PEMS to standby"

*I hear the tones drop from the bay and then my pager goes off. I get my lawn chair up and dump my minute maid out. I move the chair so it's out of the way and run to get my turn out pants on. I grab my coat and helmet and through my coat over my seat and helmet on the dash. I get in unplug the truck and turn the key. I hit the garage door and watch it come up as I turn on the lights and wait for everyone to get in before I release the parking break.

(No one reads my times anymore... It's 4 minutes to midnight, I would assume you guys would be resting so you are prepared for a response. Remember to take it slow. If there is anyone who has posted out of complex latest to on complex, then maybe let them show up on a POV run? Also Anders, you're a paramedic, which means you don't drive, someone with no medic certs can drive this one. It's secondary medical, so you need to be ready for medical!)

"Units, be advised, security will be on standby at the gate to let you in. Look out for the silver car with the amber and blue minibar on top"

I hear the alarm and get angry as I wake up and pop down the pole. I pick up my coat and helmet sitting in the passenger seat and pick up the radio. "Pumper 11, rolling out within a minute." I then honk the air horn and yell upstairs. "LET'S GO!"

( Burke: i think i can clarify this, jack floan and i were out in the bays due to beard's mva as we were requested to standby so we were up and about checking the rig and stuff, and floan Pm'd me about being the new driver
Galligano: your not the officer, floan is)
' well, it wasnt the mva, but we got our own! lets go play with some water guys!'
* i throw my bunkers on and put my helmet and coat in between floan and i*
* I start the truck up and see floan and anders getting in*
' still missing colwell, he must be out of the compex'
* i pull the truck out of the station onto the apron and put the parking brake on as the guys continue to gear up*
( floan, i know you marked us as respoinding on the eat, but i think we should take our time, let everyone post they are in the truck then we will leave??)

*I run in and quickly put my gear on.*
' Ok I'm ready.'

(Godmod me for a few hours. At work on lunch break)

(remember what floan said, take your time with this before we even get on scene, plus the country club is right next door to the complex lol)
* i look around in the truck*
' alright everyone in? seatbelts on?'
* I pull out from the station after hitting the door close button and flip the lights on and quietly pull out of the complex and onto the roads*
' alright, when we get there whose grabbing what?'

"PC-1 on standby" I say into my radio as I jump in my car and begin my patrol.

We should only need an inch and a half. I'll take that. Matthews take the reel line.

' ill put the pump in gear and charge the first line with mike and john with the 1" 3/4, and i can follow up with the booster if needed with floan if need be'
' what i want to know is why they are making coffee at midhight haha'

'What I think we need is someone to get a 2 1 3/4 lines and begin to douse the flames just like a LP fire so Floan and I can move in and grab the vic to bring him away from the heat of the dumpster. How does that sound Lt.?
*I get my SCBA on my shoulder and tighten it up making sure I am ready to go as soon as we are on scene. I watch as we pull out of the bay and begin our verry short journey next door.

I just take the reel line and move up and start hitting the fire

(Um, so you just skipped the ride and getting on scene... )

((No, we drove there, not a very good start to the call I guess though! Lol))

( Everybody STOP. )

' Galligano grab a 2" line from the back and hook up with Matthews for Suppression, Jack, Help me get this person out and John assist in rubbish hotspot suppression. '

( Where did everybody go on this call 1 call we are good working as a team and the next this??? anybody explain that please. everybody slow down WAYYY down. )

" COPA, Pump-11 on scene. "

* I grab my scba after the Engine magically appears on scene and step out of the truck.
I start to strap myself in and look at what appears to be a man laying on the ground surrounded by fire. *

" COPA, Pump-11 We have a Dumpster fully engulfed with what appears to be a man trapped very close to it, We are beginning suppression now, alert PEMS as well to go ahead and respond. "

' Jack lets grab the ALS bag and the drug box, we can set it here next to the truck and triage him here. I'll grab a blanket. '

* I run over to the back of the engine and grab a yellow blanket and lay it on the floor. *

" Pmp-11 COMMAND to Pump-11 Matthews, as soon as you guys can get that line charged aim over towards the patient and nail the area all around him, Jack and I need a clear passage to him. "

((@my last post we were discussing possible attacks, we were still on the ride to the fire... thats how I took it atleast))
*I hope out of the truck with my SCBA on but without my mask on. I run around to the passenger side of the truck and open the compartment that holds the ALS bag and drug box.((is the drug box locked?)) I walk around with the bag slung over my shoulder and place it down by the yellow banket Floan just got out. I place the drug box down next to the pumper. I see Tim, Mitch, and John take out the lines and wait for our go ahead.
'Lt. I got all the med supplies here. I'm ready once the path is cleared.'

(I got confused, since it went from on the way, to on scene :S Who knows, or cares, just drop it and let it go)
"Understood, sending a PEMS unit now. Advise of situation with victim. PEMS is 15 minutes out"

" Pump-11 Copies 15 Minutes out. "

' Tim, Galligano how r we coming with the Suppression, ready to fire it up?. '

* I walk close to the fire and try to get a look at the man but the area is simply too smoky to get a clear view of him and his injuries, I start looking for a closer way into the area rather than the straight frontal approach through the fire. *

"Charge da line!"

( i dont see a need for 2 lines on a dumpster fire, i think one handline will be effecient, and i was taking my time but galligano jumped us on scene in his officer seat)
* I put the truck in park and flip the switch to put the pump in gear and step out, throw my jacket on, helmet and scba, and mask up and grab the nozzle with galligano behind me and i charge the line to 110 PSI*
' i see the guy!'
*I start an aggressive attack with the hose over my shoulder*

'What ever is in that dumpster is roaring. Be careful guys, anything could be in there.'

*I tighten up all of my SCBA straps and go on air. I pull one of the 2" lines and grab a 4' Pike Pole and start attacking the fire from the opposite side as Tim.*

*I get my mask on over my face and tighten it up to create a good seal. I turn and look at Lt. Floan who is studing the fire.

'What are you thinking Lt.?'

*I turn back and study the fire and watch the suppression crews move into place and begin to spray water on the red hot dumpster. I can hear it pop as it is rapidly cooled by the water, yet still heated by the flames.

Well, I spray the last bit of fire out. I douse it with a fire extinguisher and fasten my mask as I move in to see the contents of the dumpster. I see a black, burned up computer tower and a plastic gasoline container with a lighter buried deep in. "Yep, this is arson." "The computer tower must have exploded..."

' Im thinking we go and grab him Jack the Flames have died down enough around him to where its safe enough. U ready?. '

* I make sure my mask is sealed and start towards the patient with Jack. *

" Pump-11 Command to Pump-11 Matthews, make sure u keep an area around us clear wnough so we can grab the patient we will only be in the hotzone for a matter of moments. "

" Pump-11 Command to Pump-11 Matthews, when we get the Patient out, You take over command of Suppression Jack and I will work ont he patient and prep for Transport."

* Jack and I continue to press forward closer to the patient, the fire has gone down enough to where we can get through. I take a brisk step and get through the little flame that is still in our entrance area. Jack follows directly behind me. I notice the patient is unconscious but breathing. He is missing 2 fingers on his LEFT hand and he has a Large wound on the right side of his head which seems to be bleeding slightly but is Charred all around it. He has burns all over the exposed parts of his body. I look up at Jack and shake my head side to side. I take my mask off and look at Jack int he eyes*

' We gotta get this guy out of here Right now. forget the Prmary eval we can do that at the engine lets just get out of this fire. '

" COPA, Pump-11 We have reached the patient, he has massive burns and a large head injury, there appears to be a 2 digit amputation of left hand as well, advise status of PEMS or Clear the RA please. We are extracting from fire now and will give a detailed update shortly. "

As soon as I see that Jack and cap have the victim, I run back to the pumper and take out a medical bag from the the back seat. I run back over to the victim and me and Jack treat him and move him and place him next to the tire on the sidewalk. "Cap!? We need that ambulance NOW!"

( I simply dont know where to go with this. Jack and I will handle the patient please just help Tim Matthews and John Colwell on the fire and Overhaul when the fire is out. )

( ugh *rolls eyes*)
* i keep a clear path for the LT and jack as they retrieve the patient*
' good job guys, lets go colwell lets continue'
( do you have a line too colwell or did you just grab the pike?)

*I shut down my line and drop it. and walk over to Tim.*

'Fog the dumpster and I will try to tear it up a little bit with the pike pole to try to get a better knock on it.'

' alright, go ahead and start taking some of the right side of the dumpster, ill start on the right and work left'
* I take the nozzle and switch it to fog and follow colwell*

*I stick the pike pole into the dumpster and start beating it around inside it. More smoke starts to some out and the flames start dying down.*

'There that should help. Lets soak it now.'

*I walk back over to my hose line and start spraying into the dumpster.*

* Jack and I do a 2 man carry of the patient out of the fire and lay him down on the blanket next to the engine, I take my tank off and start doing a more detailed assessment of the patient. I open the ALS bag and pull out a pair of foreceps and promptly cut his shirt off. he has pieces of his shirt which are still stuck to his body, molded there by the heat. *

' Jack cut his pants off himk, I'll start working up here. Make sure we get a full set of Vitals please. '

* I start to look around for an ID but dont find a wallet of any kind, no work badge nothing identifying him at all. The security guard and a Female associate come up to the engine while we are working on him. *

' ME: Do you know who this is?

Employee: Thats Matt one of our tech support guys, he just went out to throw some stuff out that he has been working on.

ME: How old is he?

Employee: 23 i think OH JESUS WHERE ARE HIS FINGERS AHHHHHHHHHHH.

ME: Ok get her out of here now please.

* I point to the security guard and have him escort her out. *

" Pump-11 to COPA, we have a 22 year old male with severe burns to his face, chest and back so far, he is confirmed with a 2 digit amputation of the LT hand, Pulse is unattainable at the neck and arm, pupils are dialated and unresponsive,he is still unconscious. ETA please on my ambulance. "

' Jack grab the pulse at his feet. '

*I cut down the man's pants so I can fold them over and off. The hair on his legs has been singed to nothing. I cut the top of the man's shoe off as the sole his melted to his foot. I split the shoe and place the tips of my fingers over the top of his foot to find a pulse. I find one and count.... I count the pulse for 30 seconds then multiply by 2. I count 26 beats. I turn to the Lt.

'his HR is about 52 BPM. Do you have his RR and how are his airways looking, any sign of smoke inhaliation?'

HR= 52 BPM

"Ambulance should be there shortly"
(You know you don't have to wait for me to tell you it's there, actually usually when someone outside of ERT is coming, you guys should let me know.. )
"What's the scene status?"

' yea copy that, make sure u write his vitals down on ur hand, paper anything u can so it can be given to PEMS whenever they arrive. get some saline bottles and start pouring them all over his body, he is burned everywhere. '

* I lean over and begin to wrap his left hand in gauze and give it a good dressing. *

' Jack make sure to douse this hand in the water as well. Cant have the bandage sticking to his hand. '

" COPA Pump-11 Scene assessment as follows: Fire, out Hotspots being located and eliminated at this time, we also have 1 patient approx 22 yrs old with multiple traumatic injuries including 2 amputations. "

"Understood, if you can recover the missing appendages, ice them right away, we've got a top trauma surgery team, we might save them. There should be a couple single use ice packs in the drug bag"

'Gottcha.'
*I get a few bottles of saline and a water bottle out of the ALS bag. I give the bottle of water to Floan and take the cap of off a bottle of saline. I start to pour the water on his feet and legs and work my way up his body going through three bottles before finialy finishing covering the man in Saline. Then I grab a pen and write his HR on my hand. I hear sirens cut out then see the flashing lights of an ambulance as PEMS arrives on scene. I check the man's throat quick and see there is black soot covering his tonsils. I count his breaths for 30 seconds and get 4 breaths. I write down 8 BPM. Next a PEMS medic comes over with a streacher and jump bag. While Floan continues to deal with the bandagin of the mans hand I give the medic the info I have.

ME: 'Hello sir, I amm FFPM Anders, we have a man about 22 yo that is showing signs of smoke inhalation. He has a heart rate of about 52 and RR of about 8. He is unconscious as of now and missing two digits on his left hand. We will search for them and get them to you as soon as we locate them. The man also has third degree burns covering most of his body and has been covered in a saline solution.

MEDIC: 'Thanks Anders, If you and your Lt. wouldn't mind helping us get him on the streacher it would be much appreciated.'

ME: 'I am sure it won't be a problem, but let's fet him out of here ASAP.'
'Floan are you ready to get him on a streacher and outta here?'

' Yea lets do it Jack, on your count my friend. '

" Pump-11 Command to Pump-11 Matthews and Colwell, can you 2 look for 2 fingers somewhere on the ground over there, Middle finger and an Index Finger. If you find them bring them over to us, we are almost ready to transport the patient. "

* I look over and see Tim and John bending over to look for fingers and hold in a laugh as we prep the patient for transport. *

' Jack, look at those 2 over there, if only we could use our phones and upload to youtube lolol. '

"Got it Lt."

'Well Tim, instead of a needle in a haystack its fingers in a dumpster!'

*I get down on my knees and start crawling around the base of the dumpster.*

( OH Hell no I almost choked on my water John that was awesome LOLOL. )

(LOL)

'Any luck Tim?'

*I see something underneath the dumpster and almost out of reach but I grab it.

'I got one! I got one!'

*I look down at it and see that it is a very moldy chunk of hotdog*

'Nevermind'

*Embarrassed, I go back on my search.*

(Off for tonight and tomorrow. Backstoppers fund raiser tomorrow so godmod me as needed.)

'Okay Floan.. 1.. 2.. 3..'
*Floan and I both carefully lift the man up and place him on the shrunken stretcher then help the medics load the stretcher into the back of the ambulance. Before the doors close Colwell jumps up yelling and the medics look to see if it is a finger, but laugh when it is only part of a hotdog. The Medics begin to treat the man while we search for any digits.

* I walk over to the side of the engine and flip on the flood lights and continue the search with the rest of the men. *

' John why dont you and Van Der Water start on Overhaul while we keep searching, I dont think ur gonan find any Hot Dogs in that lolol. '

* I get up and walk over to the engine, open my door and take my turnout coat off to set it on the seat. *

* I drop the hose and take my mask of to see better*
* Turn my helmet light and my streamlight on my jacket on and start waving them around looking*
' colwell dont move! watch your step i got one right under you'
"suppression and recovery * i say trying not to laugh but to add in the inside joke of the situation* to floan, we got the middle finger, ill bring over to the rig"
* I take the finger over to the truck and grab a ziplock bag and throw 4 instant ice packs in there and drop the first finger in and take it over to the PEMS rig*
' man this is gross' i say to myself
* i open the rear doors and hand jack the bag with the finger in it*
' 1 down 1 to go' i say laughing
* i walk back with colwell to continue searching*

*I take the bag with the finger and give it to one of the PEMS medics who in turn gives it to the other who sets it on the bench. I then take off my turnout jacket and out it on my seat then turn on my lights. I walk around and search for any digits. I get down on my knees and start a sweep motion with my head.

*I walk back over to the Engine and take off my SCBA and grab a trash hook and the TIC and head back to the dumpster.*

'Hey guys watch out for those hot dogs. They like to trick ya!.'

*I scan the dumpster with the TIC and see a few hotspots deep inside. I put the trash hook in and try to expose the area.*

' hey john, i just got an idea, what if you take the tic and try to find the finger, it may be giving off some heat still'
* I follow john looking through the tic with him*