New Gloucester Fire Rescue responds to many different emergencies every year. On August 9th, we handled a call that was definitely not routine.
At 4:29 PM, New Gloucester Fire Alarm dispatched a still alarm for a patient trapped under a tractor. Ambulance 1 responded within 60 seconds of the call at the paramedic level with both on-duty firefighter/EMS providers. Engine 2 and Squad 1 responded with call company members who came from home. Additional help was requested from Gray Fire Rescue, who responded with Heavy Rescue 47 and Car 1.
First to render aid on scene was Portland Maine Fire Department Paramedic Casey Bunker, a New Gloucester resident who happened to be driving by at the time. Ambulance 1 arrived on scene shortly after with Paramedic Carl Van Nest and EMT Britt Jimmo. Together, they were able to lift the tractor off of the patient and remove him from underneath.
They quickly recognized the patient had a serious chest injury and performed a needle decompression of the patient’s chest. This is a critical skill that only a paramedic can perform in the prehospital setting. The patient was stabilized on scene and rapidly transported to Central Maine Medical Center for further care, with a dispatch time to arrival at the hospital time of 37 total minutes.
It is not every day that we get to meet a patient after the call and hear about their outcome. Today, Peter Madsen and his family stopped by the fire station to say thank you. They were very appreciative that they still have their husband, father, and grandfather with them for the holidays and many years to come. We’re happy to see you doing well, Mr. Madsen, stop by to visit anytime.
Responding on the call for New Gloucester Fire Rescue were:
Ambulance 1: FF/Paramedic Van Nest; FF/EMT Jimmo
Engine 2: Captain/Paramedic Hale Fitzgerald
Squad 1: FF Jared Schwartz, Jr.; FF Traedon Schwartz
Pictured are FF/P Van Nest and Captain Fitzgerald with Mr. Madsen and his family 
— from NG Fire Rescue Facebook page
