Units from South Sumter departments responded to multiple calls for service Friday evening when severe storms moved through the area.  Cuba Engine 2 responded to the 600 block of County Road 1 for a reported tree down in the road.  Engine 2 arrived on location to find a tree blocking both lanes of travel and wrapped in power lines.  Engine 2 also reported a MVA at the location of the tree.  While Cuba units were working on this incident, units from Whitfield and Siloam responded to a MVA at County Road 42 and Alabama 17.  Units from Siloam cleared a tree from Alabama 17 before they were able to continue responding to the MVA.  There were no major injuries at either location and fire units had to wait for some time for AST to arrive on location.  All units were back in service around 0000 hours…  Just another busy night in South Sumter. 

Cuba, Kinterbish, Ward, and Siloam responded to the scene of a structure fire in the Kinterbish Area on Water Street.  Dispatch advised that the occupants of the structure were out, but one had received injuries and an ambulance was responding as well.  Cuba Police Asst. Chief MacDonald arrived on scene first and advised that the structure was completely involved, all occupants were out, and the exposed structures were in danger.  Cuba Engine 2 arrived on scene and placed a handline in operation to protect an exposure on the D side of the structure.  The Cuba Engine was just running out of water when the Ward Tanker arrived on scene to provide water.  The tight quarters of the street prevented the deployment of the drop tank, but the tankers 2,500 gallons of water was enough to supply the engine until the next tanker could arrive on scene.  The fire was held in check to the original building and no other stuctures for wildland was damaged as a result of the fire.  Unfortunately the family of five lost their home, but all escaped with their lives.  The tankers from Ward and Siloam were more than a lifesaver today with the near drought conditions that exist in the area along with the gusty winds this afternoon. 

 The structure was completely involved prior tot he arrival of the first unit.  The first engine initiated a defensive attack to protect the exposure located next to this side of the structure.

Cuba Firefighter Tony Odom working to cool the structure during overhaul.

Cuba Engineer/Sgt. Scrivner is cooling a hotspot while Chief Vaughan and Captain Culpepper talk.  The high heat of the day caused firefighters to drop the turnout gear once the fire was out. 

Preparing the Ward Tanker to go back in service.

Asst. Chief Fisher is getting the hose ready to go back on Cuba Engine 2.

Units from South Sumter stations and many other agencies answered a call for help in the City Limits of York.  York Police and Fire arrived on scene at I 20-59 and Alabama 17 to find a patient trapped between two 18 wheelers.  Members from the Sumter County Rescue Squad as well as the Northstar Ambulance Service worked for around and hour to free the trapped victim from the accident.  The extrication was complicated by the fact that the victim’s vehicle was wedged between the other two vehicles and Simmons Wrecker service was required to free the vehicle.  The patient was transferred to MedFlight and flown to a trauma center.  The victim is expected to make a full recovery. 

Preparing to extricate the patient.

The tractor from the second 18 wheeler.

MedFlight landing at the scene.