June 24, 2016 proved to be a busy day for your Leonardtown Volunteers. The day began at 04:09 hours when Engine 1, Engine 7, Engine 9, Engine 6, Truck 1, Truck 7 and Squad 6 were dispatched to the 41605 Courthouse Drive at the St. Mary's County Courthouse for the Commercial Building Fire. Engine 11, Truck 1, and Engine 14 made the response. Upon arrival, a furnace malfunction was discovered. Power was secured to the boiler and units returned to service a short time later.

At 12:21 hours, Company 1 was dispatched to the area of Hollywood Road and St. John's Road for the Personal Injury Accident. Squad 1 responded shortly after. Upon arrival, the crew secured the involved vehicles and assisted with patient care. Once patients were assessed and the scene and vehicles were secure, Squad 1 returned to service.

At 16:35 hours, Company 1 was dispatched to the area of St. Andrew's Church Road and Fairground's Road for another Personal Injury Accident. Truck 1 and Engine 11 made the response since Squad 1 was operating on another accident. Truck 1 arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle into a tree. The operator of the vehicle had fled the scene. After the vehicle was secured, the scene was handed over to police and Truck 1 and Engine 11 returned to service. The operator was apprehended a short time later by police.

At 16:37 hours - only two minutes after the previous crash was dispatched - Company 1 was alerted to Route 5 in the area of Leonardtown High School for a Motor Vehicle Accident that was reported to be serious with one vehicle overturned. Chief 1A was the first to arrive on scene. The location was corrected to just south of Moll Dyer Road on Route 5. Chief 1A established the command, confirmed that two vehicles were involved with one overturned and requested a helicopter. Due to the nature of the injuries and the weather, the helicopter was cancelled. Squad 1 arrived on the scene, secured the vehicles and helped with patient assessments. Two signed refusals were obtained and one patient was transported to Medstar St. Mary's Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

At 17:03 hours, Company 1 was dispatched to the area of Big Chestnut Road and Bayside Road for the Motor Vehicle Accident involving a pedestrian. Squad 1 and Chief 1 responded shortly after dispatch. Captain 1 was the first to arrive to find a single patient with life-threatening injuries and immediately requested a helicopter. Squad 1, Engine 11 and Chief 1 arrived shortly after and Chief 1 established the command. The patient was assessed, packaged and was transported via Trooper 7 to a local trauma center. Engine 11 handled the landing zone. The command was terminated, units cleaned up and returned to service.

***As the summer progresses and community activity increases, the officers and members of the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department urge the public to drive safely and defensively to avoid accidents like the ones above. Drive to survive.

Photos courtesy of thebaynet.com.