2002 Hot Shots

December 15th, 2002 -- Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue crews from Station 28, 21 and Special Operations Station 31 responded to a car in the canal at "F" Road and North Road in Loxahatchee.

December 15th 2002 -- Special Operations team members are accustomed to being called on to perform outside the fences of normal operations. Many members are highly trained in Large Animal Rescue as well. This specialized training was put to use recently when Engine 31 and Special Operations 31 were called to assist Sheriff's deputies in the case of "The Goat on the Lamb."

For story and pictures, click here

December 3rd, 2002 -- Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue's Station 31 in suburban Lake Worth responded to a multi-vehicle accident. The accident occurred mid-afternoon at the intersection of S. Congress Avenue and 6th Avenue South.

For story and pictures, click here

November 15th, 2002 -- Crews from Station 31 responded with P.B.S.O. EOD Team to the City of Delray Beach to the new AMI Building (American Media Incorporated) for a suspicious package.

October 2002 -- Stations 43, 31, 32, 36 as well as DC9,EMS9 and EMS3 responded to a Mass Casualty Incident at Military Trail and Melaleuca Lane. 4 Trauma Alerts were sent by Trauma Hawk and Trauma Hawk2 (both trauma helicopters) to Delray Community Hospital. 1 Person was pronounced dead at the scene. Extrication was needed for the four Priority 2 Trauma alerts.

October 2002 --Crews from Station 27 and 31 responded to a report of a fuel tanker leaking. On arrival found a tanker with a moderate leak. Foam operations were initiated and the crews from Special Operations 31 stopped the leak and prepped the taker for towing.

Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Station 31 firefighters were called to the McDonald's on Congress Avenue in the Village of Palm Springs recently for a fire in the french fry oil vat. Upon arrival there was smoke throughout the building but no visible fire.

Lt. Larry Doelling and FF / Medic Doug (Chef) Stewart attempted to cool the boiling oil by using different methods available to them. Dry chemical and CO2 extinguishers along with small doses of water were experimented with and eventually proved successful in quenching the raging beast within. There was no damage to the restaurant and it was reopened shortly after the fire department left.

As usual, Fire-Rescue strives to serve the public in any way possible and Lt. Doelling found himself "serving up an order" to neighborhood kids. "Would you like a hot apple pie with that"?

Friday October 11th, 2002 -- Crews from Station 31 "A" shift ran a call for a car vs. building at Dunkin Doughnuts.

Thursday October 10th, 2002 - E31 and R31 responded a motor vehicle accident to find two cars with minor to moderate damage. The occupants of the Saturn with moderate vehicle damage were both flown by Trauma Hawk to Delray Community Hospital. The occupants of the other vehicle were transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. SO31 assisted E31 crew with extrication, while R31, R32, R35 and EMS3 assisted with patient care.

Monday September 23rd, 2002 -- Station 31 units responded to a call for a Nissan Pathfinder that had driven through a duplex.

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Thursday August 8th - 9th, 2002 -- Special Operations Battalion Chief, District Chief, SO31 and SO19 assist in dealing with large animal rescues in this training exercise.

To read the article in the Palm Beach Post and to view pictures of this training event, click here

Monday July 15th 2002 -- Palm Beach County School District officials, constantly looking over their shoulders for danger lurking, received quite a scare on July 15th. A suspicious package was found laying idle in their District Headquarters building on Forest Hill Blvd. in West Palm Beach. At lunch time, after observing the package for several hours, the Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad and Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue's Special Operations 31 crews were called in to mitigate the situation. Sections of the building were evacuated as a precaution. Team members X-rayed the package and found it to be a completely harmless. Bomb Squad members who endured high temperatures in the summer sun and hot protection suits were kept refreshed by Fire-Medic Rick DeJesus while Fire-Rescue members stood by in their bunker gear ready to assist if needed.

Monday July 15th, 2002 -- Cat in a Tree, Bat in a Tree! Fire-Rescue does it all! Members of Rescue-Quint 29 and Special Operations 31 stepped out to help the public in a unique way by installing a "bat cave".

Friday July 12th 2002 -- Engine 31, Rescue 31 responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars with heavy damage. Engine 31 set up command and called for Rescue Pumper 36 to assist, since Engine 31's crew was involved with extrication while Rescue 31 handled the patient who was trapped in her car. Once the patient was removed from her car, she was flown to Delray Community Trauma Center by the Palm Beach County Trauma Hawk. The other patient was treated on scene and was released.

Saturday July 6th, 2002 -- Probationary Firefighter Patterson with 6 months with P.B.C.F.R., was moved up from Battalion 5 (Boca Raton area) to Station 31. While he was visiting us for the shift, he was able to finally get some time fighting fire. Even thou it was just a dumpster fire, it was the world for Firefighter Patterson. You da man!

Sunday June 9th, 2002 -- Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Special Operations was called to drive by and show off the fire trucks at John Prince Park. The party was a benefit picnic for a woman battling cancer. There was a raffle, bake sale and other activities for the children who attended. A good time was had by all!

Two unknown barrels washed up at the Phipps Ocean Park and crews from Special Operations A Shift examined the barrels which was labeled phosphorus pentbromide. The barrels were later found to be containing a type of hydrocarbon, like gasoline or oil and was turned over to a private contractor hired by the D.E.P. to be disposed.

Palm Beach County Special Operations Team members Todd Turner, Jeff Newsome and Sam Adler

Monday June 3rd, 2002 -- Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Special Operations 31 C Shift responded to a unknown object that washed ashore in Delray Beach. P.B.S.O. Bomb Disposal Team investigated the object and turned out to be a military flare which was disposed of, and the section of the beach was reopened with no injuries. Delray Beach's P.D. ATV was used to move equipment and personnel on the beach.

Friday May 24th, 2002 -- W. Palm Beach- 2 people were seriously injured during this mid-afternoon accident on the corner of Belvedere and Skees Rd. The tan Toyota was heading west bound with 2 occupants when it struck the cement truck broad-side leaving the occupants trapped. The truck driver stated he had just unloaded his supply of cement and was driving back to the plant to reload. Upon making the turn northbound on Skees Rd. he felt an impact. A full Special Operations response was requested due to the severity of damage. E23 "The Rock" initiated hydraulic extrication. 22 firefighters worked for 20 minutes to free the occupants of the Toyota. Both occupants had severe head injuries and were "trauma alerted" to St Mary's Trauma Center. 1 occupant was flown by Trauma Hawk and the other was transported by ground in R34.

Units on scene: E23,RQ29,E31,SO31,R31,R23,R34,R28,EMS3,DC3,BC3,DC2,OPS2,TH1,PIO1