The Buzz of Tavares

[NJFFSA16]

Okay....what's your SOP on this scenario? Would you even know WHERE to contact a beekeeper?

TAVARES, Fla. (AP) - Thousands of bees swarmed a fatal five-car
accident Thursday, stinging police and motorists, and delaying
paramedics attempting to assist injured motorists.
The accident started around 8:40 a.m. when a truck carrying
several bee hives along U.S. Highway 441 was rear ended into
oncoming traffic and into another car, according to the Florida
Highway Patrol.
An unidentified passenger in the truck was killed.
The driver, Albert Mitchner, 55, of Crescent City, was taken to
Orlando Regional Medical Center and was listed in stable condition.
Two other motorists were taken to local hospitals. Their
condition was not immediately available.
Two paramedics allergic to bees were unable to get out of their
ambulance because the bees were loose.
"There were three to four beehives in the middle of the road
and they were swarming," Lake County Fire-Rescue Lt. Mike Cordle
told the Orlando Sentinel.
A beekeeper called in to help clean up the bees told deputies
that he has just sold the hives to the men in the truck, Cordle
said.

(Copyright 9982 by The Associated Press)

[PuffyNPFD]

Something new everyday!!!! In Firehouse April 2000, they have an article on how to deal with bee swarms as Las Vegas does. Wouldn't want to be there when this went down.

[apatrol]

Pack up a couple of guys and spray the hives and bees with several APW's....I have not tried it but i bet a low pressure class A foam will have the same effect...waits there wings down so they cant fly and for some reason our APW's (with reg dish soap) will kill the bees...... Believe it or not we have a Dept in our mutual aid ring that has a bee response team..

[Bones42]

I've seen smoke used on TV by bee keepers. Anyone know if that would help or hurt...using a smoke machine?

Other thought would be to try a fog pattern in the area you are working in...

[SilverCity4]

I second Puffy's recommendation about the article in FH.com. They recommended using foam as well.

We had a similiar topic a while back. I personnally would rather do about anything else than mess with swarming bees (or hornets, or wasps). You can't reason with the little suckers. I don't know if I'm allergic, but I don't want to find out THAT way.

I'm thinking full gear, air pack, and duck tape my wrists and ankles. Anybody got a hazmat suit?

Unrelated factoid: 7% of all unexplained traffic fatalities are attributed to insects in vehicles. I can believe it. Ever had a bee fly in your window while you're driving down the road?

[prometheusd]

I had a ground bee problem once. Guy mowed his lawn and agitated the bees. They were nuts for a while. Finally just nuked them with a little fire (prob not a good idea in this case). They were crispy critters after the flames were out. Only took out a 4ft square piece of grass. The guy later called an exterminator. I was a conservationist at the time so I trapped a few of them and identified em. They were a southern ground bee only found as far north as Tenn. accourding to petersons. They showed up in northern ohio one summer.
Go figure.

PD

[EastKyFF]

I read somewhere you can do quite well in full gear & SCBA, using a fog pattern to tame them down. But you do have to work fast.

Plan B: Raaaaaaaid!

[JTL]

The best method is to walk about 300 yards down the road to the police officers. Coat them in honey. Quickly remove yourself. Now work on patients.

[NJFFSA16]

Clever....very clever! Now, who chases the bears away?

[MalahatTwo7]

On the serious side, the use of foam, I think would probably work well for the reasons stated. Something to remember for the future if it happens in my district.

Now for the not so serious: JTL, nice idea and I like it very much, especially after the CLUSTER#$%@ 2 car MVA we had yesterday. More cops and ambulances than at a Tim Hortons convention. But that is another story.

Keep the good humour flowing!!