2001
- On-Scene
with Chardon Fire
(FYI
- This page will take a few moments to load, as the pictures are in medium/high
resolution. Most scene pictures are taken with a Sony Handicam Camcorder
mounted in Engine 3322. The 8mm film is then processed through a computer and
still shots are obtained using Dazzle Video 80 software. Picture quality is
affected by windshield glare, long play resolution, etc.)
Above:
December 28, 2001 - The driver of this mini-van lost control on slick roads in
on Mentor Road in northern Chardon Twp. She escaped unharmed, thanks to
her seatbelt.
Above:
October 10, 2001 - Whew ! - Responding fire crews breathed a sigh of relief when
they arrived on this accident scene involving a truck carrying flammable propane
and oxygen cylinders !! The picture at the upper right shows where a hole
punctured one of the tanks. Firefighters secured the remaining tanks and
used our thermal imaging camera to scan for leaking gas. The lower right
picture shows (in black) the cold propane gas leaking from one of the cylinders.
It is heavier than air, so it flows downhill into the ditch. The gas would
have been invisible otherwise.
Above:
September, 2001 - Chief Engineer Mike Homovec surveys the damage at an afternoon
accident on Wintergreen Dr. in Chardon Twp. The vehicle sustained heavy vehicle
damage, but no injuries were reported. Wet road conditions and speed
played a role in this accident in early September, 2001.
Above:
September 4, 2001 - The driver of this cement mixer lost control on Auburn Rd.,
north of Hosford Rd. The driver was uninjured, but his truck was badly
mangled.
Above:
August, 2001 - The drivers of both of the vehicles involved in this collision on
Claridon-Troy Road were seriously injured. It is unknown what caused the
accident.
Above:
August 21, 2001 - The teenage driver of this car was uninjured after she lost
control on Ravenna Rd., near Cherry Hollow.
Above:
July 23, 2001 - An early morning, rollover accident caused rescue crews to look
twice for the accident. The hard-to-find car was virtually invisible in
the woods at the sunrise hour (see top right). The driver was trapped for
over an hour prior to someone reporting the accident. The picture at top
left shows the path of the car, which entered a wooded area just to the right of
the police cruiser. At bottom right, Fire Medics Scott Niehus, Rachel McCummins,
Capt. John Blauch, and FF/EMT Kevin Shea immobilize & remove the
patient. The driver was transported to a regional trauma center by
University MedEvac 8.
Above:
June 10, 2001 - Another serious accident at the intersection of Kile Rd. and
Chardon-Windsor sent three people to the hospital in critical condition. Metro
LifeFlight transported two of the three patients. It took crews nearly an
hour to remove the victim in the red SUV, who is now fully recovered. Chardon
and Middlefield Fire Departments mutually cared for the sick and injured. (Also
see Bad Accident ).
Above:
May 14, 2001 - This semi-truck missed the turn, temporarily burying its rear
axle in the ditch. The problem was it was carrying organic peroxides,
which can be highly unstable in high temperatures. Thankfully, this form of the
product was dry and quite stable. (Whew). By the way, organic peroxides go
BOOOOOMM when not treated correctly. The vehicle was cribbed, towed, and
went on its way. No injuries were reported.
Above:
May 7, 2001 - A dump truck lost control on SR 322 dumping sand in a ditch.
Only minor injuries were reported. The truck was righted and towed.
Above: May 2, 2001 - A 5 am fire in a new
home under construction caused irrepairable damage to a home on Deepwoods Ct.,
in the Woods Of Burlington development on May 2, 2001. Heat and smoke damage
totaled the unoccupied home. The Burton, Chesterland, Concord, Hambden,
and Munson Fire Departments provided mutual aid on this fire. The was
caused by landscapers placing a timed flood light on the front room floor...
face down. The house was demolished and rebuilt.
Above: An accident involving alcohol caused
severe damage to the white car, after it ran into a slow-moving farm tractor on
Rt. 608 in Claridon Twp. The driver sustained minor injuries. Ironically,
the tractor and rake received only minor damage, while the car was totaled.
Above: A crash on Mentor Rd., also
resulting in only minor injuries. The Jeep received heavy damage.
Above: A crash on Rt. 44, north of Clark
Road, miraculously resulting in only minor injuries. The driver struck a
tree, after being forced off the road by a vehicle that entered his lane.
Seat belt use and airbags had a major role in preventing serious injury here.
Above: Oops !! During a series of
accidents on the same hill on Auburn Rd., the driver of this vehicle landed nose
first, into a tree (far left in photo). The driver walked away with minor
injuries.
Above: An accident involving alcohol on
Woodin Rd. in Chardon Twp. resulting in a serious head wound to the driver, who
was transported to a local hospital.
Jan 15, 2001 : Above: Asst. Chief Phil Treadway directs
fire crews at a fire on Kile Road in Claridon Twp., while FF/EMT Tom Buth uses
salvage tools to open a wall to check for hidden fire extension.
