At approximately 1:34 PM today the Bethel Park Police Dispatch Center dispatched the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company (BPVFC) to assist Bethel Park Police (BPPD) and Tri-Community South EMS (TCS) with the rescue of an injured male. The male was over a hillside in the area of Bethel Church Road at Oakhurst Road. Our volunteer fire fighters began responding to the stations from all areas of Bethel Park and Chief Officers began responding directly to the scene. When 110 Deputy arrived on scene, he found that the male had fallen approximately 15-20 feet over the hillside. 110 Chief arrived assuming command while 110 Deputy went over the hill to assist BPPD officers with the patient. Other volunteers responded in apparatus from all 3 of our stations to the scene. Once crews arrived on scene they set up a 4:1 rope system and lowered a stokes basket down the hill. The patient was packaged and secured into the basket and the 4:1 rope system was used to pull the patient up the hill where he was turned over to TCS EMS for patient care at 1:59 PM.
This is a reminder that our community relies solely on volunteers for fire protection. They have to respond to the stations to get equipment to respond to an emergency. Calls like this do not happen often, but our volunteers have received specialized training and obtained nationally recognized certifications for many different types of rescues and hazards. Just this past Monday we practiced for scenarios just like this one at our weekly drill. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter to assist the community with rescues like this, please reach out. We could always use more help.
