Derailed

During a cold, crisp night tour of running the roads, we were all startled when the tones went off at dawn. The house watch firefighter’s voice blared through the loudspeaker announcing we were responding to a train derailment. Informed of the address, we recognized that it was the passenger rail line running along the river and not an underground subway incident. The dispatcher reiterated to us to bring our “second piece” (utility vehicle equipped with specialized tools and equipment). Glancing down at the run ticket, we saw the signal for a major emergency was printed on it, giving us the information that this wasn’t just a train that jumped the tracks. The first-arriving units encountered a large-scale incident.

Responding into the scene monitoring the radio, we heard the initial reports from the battalion chief that he had eight train cars derailed with no fire and multiple injuries; he declared it a mass-casualty event. The request for all power to be shut down and all train traffic to cease was confirmed over the radio; this made the scene safer for rescuers and fleeing victims. Unfortunately, access into the scene was very limited; as we got closer, we could hear over the portable radio the units calling for air bags and cutting and cribbing equipment.

Arriving at the scene but with no access through the station’s long driveway, we made the decision to load up our utility vehicle with our extrication equipment, rotary saws, chain saw, reciprocating saws, portable generator, air bags, and cribbing. The chauffeur then drove the tower ladder out of the block so it didn’t impede access for incoming ambulances; the smaller vehicle was driven down the station’s exit path and was able to get down to the station’s platform area and the derailment.

At the scene, we heard companies requesting tools and assistance, and we got our first size-up of the chaotic conditions. We reported into the command post first and left two members with the rig in case we were needed to assist in a rescue or an extrication that required tools quickly.

As we got to the command post, the walking wounded looked more like zombies approaching us with blank stares; many had facial cuts and were holding their broken limbs or limping while trying to cross the tracks and third rail (high-voltage power rail to power trains). Originally, we were told to stand fast while the incident commander was processing where he was going to send us. We were watching the victims all trying to exit the tracks through one gated exit. A company at the command post went to cut the fence to make a larger passageway, but personnel were told to stop: A limited exit point allowed medical and fire personnel to triage the victims easier. Plus, it limited them from scattering into the surrounding woods or exiting up the street away from the main triage area, especially since so many of the victims showed signs of head injuries.

As companies requested more assistance, we were dispatched to the front train car nearest the river to assist in removing the injured victims. We brought hand tools, a portable A-frame ladder, and our stokes basket to the location. Since plenty of firefighters were inside the car, we had a few members stand by the ladder placed up to the train’s exit doors to lift and transport the injured victims who were already secured to backboards. Other members helped remove brush that members were cutting with chain saws. With all the mayhem and noise, it was important for one officer to control the area around the running saws. Although there weren’t large trees or branches to cut, the thick brush had to be cut back to allow better access and egress. (Remember, whenever a chain saw is running, members must continuously watch the movement of the saw and its operator, the materials being cut, and the area the cut pieces will fall in.)

After removing the last few victims in the front car, our unit was then directed to provide some cribbing to the rescue company, whose members were lifting a car that was on its side with a deceased victim pinned between it and the ground. As they lifted and cribbed the car, they lifted and removed some of the track bed’s rocks and slid the victim back into the car because it was the easiest way to completely free him. Next we assisted other units with wood cribbing, cables, and rescue struts to secure train cars that were either in awkward positions or partially tilted on their sides. We also served as a safety team as a few members entered the cars to perform secondary searches of the train. The members’ movements inside the car were slow and tedious-because of the train’s position, they had to crawl over the seats to complete the search; it was like climbing over open floor joists.

After working a few hours and completing our duties, we were relieved to make our way back to our apparatus. One of the chiefs mentioned to us that he was lucky he attended a large-scale mass-casualty drill before this incident occurred. We mentioned to him that we’ve also been training often in the subway simulator and that it was good to see the rail cart (collapsible cart used for transporting equipment and victims) operating to deliver tools and equipment to the scene. The Hazardous Materials Company had to work on the leaking diesel fuel tanks on the engine, especially since the incident was so close to the river. Luckily, the adjoining tracks were intact to allow the cart to ride on the rails because the other tracks were not.

Once we were back at quarters critiquing over morning coffee, we all agreed that through training and previous experiences, we were better prepared to handle the tasks delegated to us. Is it time to update your drill schedule for the year?

MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 31-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC Truck Essentials H.O.T. program. He wrote the Ladder chapter and co-authored the Ventilation chapter for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II (Fire Engineering, 2009) and is featured in “Training Minutes” truck company videos on www.FireEngineering.com.

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