2008 Volunteer Responses

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Marlinton Rescue Squad would like to recognize its volunteer members who, over the past year, responded to a total of 367 calls. This number is down significantly from years past, thanks to the valuable help received from Pocahontas Memorial Hospital’s OUR Ambulance Service. Marlinton Rescue and OUR Ambulance split up the 911 response coverage during the weekdays, with OUR Ambulance covering from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays when Marlinton’s volunteers need to be at their regular jobs. The volunteers of Marlinton Rescue respond to 911 calls for EMS after 5 p.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. The volunteer members listed below save the taxpayers of Pocahontas County over $600,000 annually in salaries and benefits. Member responses for January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008 are as follows:

Shawn Dunbrack – 233; Tom Dunbrack – 163; Jennifer Miller – 162; Donald Sharp – 117; Tom Miller – 105; Joe Clendenen – 73; Jordan Clendenen* – 61; Travis Cook* – 55; Chris Weber – 48; Jared Clendenen* – 37; Anita Doolittle – 34; Eric Stemple – 33; Lisa Howard – 23; Missy Keatley – 19; Chad Carpenter – 17; Russell Bond – 12; Ronald Sharp – 10; Jane Hunter Wilson – 10; Robbie Sharp – 9; Randy Stemple – 7; Michael Ferrell – 6; Travis Keatley – 1; and Rick Ziegler – 1.

*Denotes Junior Members (age 16-18) who are permitted to respond on certain types of calls as a training experience.

In addition to the time these members put in on ambulance calls, they also attended and/or taught several hours of continuing education. The members meet twice each month to refresh and update their EMS skills. Many members also volunteer to assist with the administrative duties necessary to keep the squad running and the equipment in top condition.

If you would like to become an EMS volunteer, contact any of the members or download an application from www.marlintonrescue.com/downloads. New applicants are subject to a complete background check, finger-printing, drug/alcohol screening and must pass a physical agility test. Successful applicants are supplied with necessary training, immunizations, uniforms, and communications equipment free of charge, in exchange for a volunteer commitment to respond to as many calls as possible.

Marlinton Fire & Rescue Respond to Tanker Truck Accident

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At 6:31AM Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 Marlinton Fire & Rescue was toned for a tractor-trailer accident on Route 39 East of Minnehaha Springs in Pocahontas County. Initial information indicated that the truck was a fuel tanker, but it was unknown if the truck was loaded or empty. The first out unit, Attack 122, arrived on scene to find that it was a loaded tanker carrying gasoline and diesel. The truck and trailer had rolled over onto the passenger side and was off the roadway in the yard of a nearby residence. The driver was entrapped in the cab and the tanker was leaking.

Marlinton Fire & Rescue on-scene

Marlinton Fire & Rescue on-scene

Attack 122 began immediate preparations to stop the leaking fuel and stop all passing traffic. Rescue/Engine 119 arrived on scene, followed by Squad 117. The driver was entangled in his seatbelt around his ankles and was hanging upside down from the wreckage of the cab. The driver was conscious and alert and complained of pain in both legs with numbness in his feet as well as back pain and numerous cuts and abrasions. As firefighters from Attack 122 contained the leak, the crew of Rescue/Engine 119 assisted the EMS crew of Squad 117 with extrication. The driver was quickly disentangled by cutting the seatbelt and was transferred to a backboard and then to Medic 12 from Pocahontas Memorial Hospital for transport.

Damaged tractor

The extent of the damage to the tractor can be seen here.

Due to the severe amount of damage to the tractor it was not possible for firefighters to safely disconnect the batteries from the tractor so the scene was considered unsafe and the entire area was evacuated of nearby residents and all traffic was stopped approximately 1 mile from the scene on either side. Emergency Services Director Melvin Martin contacted Chief Peacock and assisted in making the necessary notifications of the WV Regional Response Team, EPA, Dept of Transportation Enforcement and the trucking company. Firefighters set up temporary dam materials in the nearby Cochran Creek to stop any fuel that may enter the water from traveling downstream.

Members of the WV Regional Response Team arrived on scene at approximately 11:30AM and established safe zones and took photos and soil samples of the accident site. Marlinton Fire-Rescue units remained on scene as traffic control and stand-by while crews arrived to pump off the remaining gasoline and diesel from the tanker. Approximately 700 gallons was lost from the tanker before the leak was stopped by Marlinton firefighters. Marlinton Fire & Rescue crews remained on scene until approximately 1:00AM on Wednesday February 4th.

Other agencies assisting in the operation were Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Shavers Fork Fire & Rescue with WV Regional Response Team, WV Division of Highways, Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Department, Pocahontas County Office of Emergency Management, WV State Police, WV Public Service Commission – Transportation Enforcement, WV Environmental Protection Agency, WV Division of Natural Resources, Emergency Response, Inc., Varner Construction, Ryder Construction, L & R Excavating and F & F Service Center.

Photos courtesy of John Casto.