Four firefighters have been injured in the accident involving the fire engine on Highway 19. They were responding to a house fire at 3716 Quail Creek Road, after two Horry County Fire Fighters, Lt. John Fowler and Firefighter Craig Covino, sustained minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.
One suffered a sprained ankle and the other suffered first degree burns on his wrist. The Battalion Chief says both were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Since the two were sent to the hospital, additional crews were called out and sent to the scene. On the way there, the fire engine wrecked, overturning on its side. An off duty firefighter was following behind the fire engine, saw the accident, and called 9-1-1.
When rescue crews arrived, Firefighter EMT Jason Dunn had already freed himself from the overturned engine. He was treated and released at Loris Community Hospital. Firefighter EMT M.J. Chaddick was freed by fire rescue crews and taken to Loris Community Hospital, then transferred to McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence and is in stable condition.
Two more were trapped inside the overturned engine. Firefighter EMT Philip McElroy was trapped for two hours underneath the engine. He was taken to the Medical University in Charleston and in serious condition. And Lieutenant John Volosin, who was trapped for an hour, was also taken to MUSC and is in serious condition.
Dr. Michael Smith, an Emergency Room Doctor at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, was on scene after the accident was called in. He's also the Medical Director for Carolina Lifecare and the Assistant Medical Director for Horry County EMS.
"I've done this for 14 years, and this was one of the worst accidents I've ever seen," said Smith.
Because McElroy was trapped under the fire truck for so long, Smith was called to help. There was a chance Smith would have to amputate his leg, so they could get him out and save him.
"I was there to provide another level of service, should it be needed, but honestly, these guys did one of the most amazing rescues and extraction I've seen, and got him out with out us having to do more," said Smith.
But just how did the accident happen? We're told no other vehicle was involved and highway patrol says at this stage, it looks as if the truck went around a curve, went off the roadway slightly, and then over-corrected, causing it to flip. It was carrying a thousand gallons of water, making it pretty top-heavy. But officers may need more investigation before coming up with a final cause.
The Myrtle Beach Critical Incident Stress Debrief Team came to offer the county EMS support. They are trained to help emergency responders cope if they need help, or someone to talk with about the stress of being so close to the victims.
"You're talking about a close knit family, and you know, the family member they work with everyday," said Lt. Dan Walker, Myrtle Beach Fire Department.
The fire everyone was responding to destroyed the house. One person was inside the home when the fire started, but did make it out ok. It appears the fire started in the kitchen.
WPDE will continue to update you as more information becomes available.
Republished with permission of WPDE-TV.
Related:
