Part 1: Initial Response
WESTFIELD, PA FLOOD 2024 FIRE RESCUEPublished on 8/31/2024, 10:28:12 PM
The initial call came in a little after 11:00 on August 9, 2024, about flooding near the Dollar General by the fire station. This usually happens a few times a year. I figured we’d block off the road for a while then the flash flooding would subside, and we’d clear off to another area of flash flooding. What followed next was several hours of calls for help from fire departments over 2.5 hours away.
I was in my basement making sure the sump pump was working when my phone and pager went off about flooding down by the Dollar General. I quickly grabbed something for lunch and responded in my car. Once I turned onto Main Street, I was greeted by our police chief, in car 11-20, blocking the road off. Realizing I couldn’t get to the station by car, I parked back at my house, grabbed some supplies, and made the long walk/jog back to the scene. During the flooding event our fire station and parking received several feet of water, which would have possibly washed my car away. In hindsight, I’ll take it as a sign from the universe.
After making it back on scene, I met up with the police chief who also happens to be the rescue captain of our fire department and an assistant chief with the neighboring town’s ambulance service. We watched for several minutes while full size trees, concrete slabs, propane tanks, and other large debris slammed into the bridge. I thought for sure that bridge was going to be washed away. Our fire engine (5-3), manned by Todd Streeter and Matt Reed, arrived on scene and informed us that most of the town was being cut off due to localized flooding. Getting help out to the multiple scenes was going to be very difficult. Since there wasn’t too much for me to do at the current scene, I jumped on the engine and we responded to a water rescue by the intersection of Route 49 and California Rd.
By the time we arrived, Knoxville Fire Company and Lawrenceville Fire Department were already in the water rescuing 2 people and their dog as seen on FOX Weather. Todd, Matt, and I moved into a position to grab any person or animal if they came our way. Once we cleared that scene, we made our way along Mill St to our next call at Woodlawn Drive.
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