The Chilhowie Fire Department and Rescue Training Consultants will be hosting a NFPA 1670 Compliant Trench Rescue Operations course in Chilhowie, VA. The class will be October 9, 10, and 11, 2009. The class will cost $200 per student. The fee is to assist with supplies and equipment used during the class. Please contact us as soon as possible to ensure there is room available.

Contact info:     Brother Smith: 276-706-1724
                            Chilhowie Fire Station: 276-646-3131

At 15:49, Chief 201 and Engine 252 responded to the 38.7 mile marker on Interstate 81 south bound for a reported Motor Vehicle Collision involving a vehicle that had struck a bale of straw. The caller advised they thought straw might be on fire under the vehicle. Units arrived on-scene to find a small portion of straw on the shoulder of the road with smoke showing. The vehicle had backed away from the bale prior to arrival. A forestry line was used to extinguish the smoldering fire. The vehicle was checked and no other hazards were found. VA State Police assisted with traffic control on the highway. The call was cleared at 16:06.

Photos courtesy of Tom Rollins

The Chilhowie Fire Department received the latest addition to the fleet, Medic 258. The 2009 Dodge Ram 4500 4x4 ambulance was built by AEV and Northwestern Emergency Vehicles in North Carolina. The ambulance will be stocked with a variety of medical equipment, and also feature firefighting equipment as well. The vehicle is being stocked and will likely be in service within the week. It is the first ambulance to display the new paint scheme.

Photos courtesy of Tom Rollins

At 18:50, Chief 201, Engine 252, and Medic 257 responded to the 3800 block of White Top Road for a reported Motor Vehicle Collision involving one vehicle. Upon arrival, units found one vehicle partially in the roadway with the occupants uninjured. The vehicle traveled into the ditch before coming to rest. Traffic was controlled and the battery cable was disconnected. VA State Police and Smyth County Sheriff's Department were on-scene. Units remained on-scene until Lowe's Garage removed the vehicle from the roadway. The call was cleared at 19:46.

Photos courtesy of Tom Rollins

Around 14:00 hrs, Chief 201, Engine 252, and Medic 257 responded to the 100 block of Dillard Road for a reported Motor Vehicle Collision involving one vehicle. Upon arrival, units found three patients out of the vehicle. Two patients were transported to SCCH-ER via Medic 257, and one patient refused care on-scene. The vehicle had sustained lateral damage due to striking a tree with the right side. The call was cleared shortly after patients transported.

Around 01:15 hrs, Chief 201, Engine 252, and Medic 257 responded to the 300 block of Side Trail for a reported Motor Vehicle Collision involving one vehicle. Upon arrival, units found one occupant out of the vehicle with minor injuries. The patient was packaged and transported to the ER. The vehicle sustained a head-on impact into a tree just off the roadway. The vehicle also struck a fire hydrant. The battery cable was disconnected from the vehicle to prevent further hazards. Units cleared the call after the vehicle was removed.

Photos courtesy of Tom Rollins

Around 18:15 hrs, Chief 201, Engine 252, and Medic 257 responded to the 300 block of Middle Fork Road for a reported odor of smoke inside a residence. Upon arrival, Chief 201 advised responding units of a residence w/ nothing visible from the outside. Crews entered the residence and began investigating to find the source of the odor. The odor was traced back to the heat pump outside the residence. No hazard was found, so members installed a smoke detector prior to units clearing the call.

Photos courtesy of Tom Rollins

At 15:55, Chief 201, Engine 252, and Medic 257 responded to the 1100 block of Lee Highway for a reported tree fire. Chief 201 arrived on-scene the area with nothing visible. Engine 252 crew arrived on-scene and began clearing brush to gain access to obtain a pole number from the power pole. The pole number was reported to AEP and due to finding no hazard, units cleared the call around 16:15.

At 14:27, Chief 201, Engine 252, and Medic 259 responded to the 37 mile marker of Interstate 81 north bound for a reported Motor Vehicle Collision involving a tractor trailer and a car. Upon arrival, units found the car still in the roadway and the tractor trailer pulled to the side. The car sustained a front-end impact into the tractor trailer. Airbags deployed in the car, and the battery was disconnected. Both patients signed refusals. Interstate 81 was temporarily closed until the vehicles could be removed from the roadway. The call was cleared at 15:05.

At 11:23, Chief 201, Engine 252, and Medic 257 responded to the 36.7 mile marker Interstate 81 south bound for a reported Motor Vehicle Collision involving one vehicle. Upon arrival, units found one occupant that had exited the vehicle prior to arrival. The patient signed refused medical treatment or transport. The vehicle sustained front-end damage due to striking the guardrail. Traffic was controlled and the call was cleared at 12:01.

Photos courtesy of Tom Rollins