N.C. Chief: Seat Belts Saved Firefighters

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The four firefighters aboard the ladder truck that rolled while en route to a call last month are OK, and have returned to duty.

Chief John McGrath said he doesn't want to think about what would have happened if they hadn't been buckled up.

"They were definitely saved by the belts," he said. "We all know we dodged the bullet."

McGrath, who has been at the helm in Raleigh for the past three-and-a-half years, said many things raced through his mind when he heard about the crash.

"I felt like the bottom dropped out of my stomach," he said. "Was anyone hurt -- civilians, firefighters?"

He would soon learn that the captain, the lieutenant driving, the lieutenant tillering, and a firefighter were not seriously hurt.

The crew was en route to an alarm when the rig rolled as it turned left at an intersection.

"Speed was definitely a factor," the chief said. "That's obvious."

McGrath, the former operations chief in Philadelphia, said he's seen more than his share of grief in the fire service over the past 32 1/2 years.

That's why he's a stickler for safety. In addition to buckling up, he pushes his crews to take responsibility for looking out for each other.

"These are the people who are coming to your house for a BBQ. They are the ones you and your family go places with. I'm telling them to be friend. Tell them when you see them go out without a seat belt or into a situation without a pack."

McGrath has been making the rounds to every single station sharing his feelings about safety with all crews.

He said after watching the video, firefighters know just how lucky the crew was that day. "I really think they are taking it to heart."

The chief, who also is the incident commander for the National Fallen Firefighters' Memorial Weekend, added: "We have to change the way we do business. We're in the helping business not the hurting business. We can't help anyone if we don't get there."

The wreck brought that message home.

"It was very scary. We are so grateful that there were no serious injuries and that they are back to work..."