| New Gloucester Fire Rescue Press Release |
Prepared by: Deputy Chief Hale Fitzgerald
Number of Alarms: Still with Special Calls
Incident Commander: Deputy Chief Hale Fitzgerald
Incident Number: 23-NG0573
Incident Date and Time: December 17, 2023 at 1111hrs
Incident Location: Behind 80 Gloucester Hill Road in New Gloucester
Number of NGFR apparatus in response: 4
Number of NGFR personnel in response: 13
First NGFR unit on scene: New Gloucester A1
General Incident Description: At 1111hrs, New Gloucester Fire Rescue was dispatched to the area behind 80 Gloucester Hill Road for a patient trapped under a tree that he was cutting. The patient was reported to be approximately ½ mile behind the residence. Due to the remote location, potential injuries, and the possibility of a prolonged extrication, Gray and North Yarmouth were requested mutual aid with their UTVs. Life Flight of Maine was also requested.
New Gloucester A1 arrived on scene at 1115hrs, followed closely by Engine 2 and Squad 1. Lt. Nick Hegarty established command and assigned resources to locate the patient. Command was then transferred to Deputy Chief Hale Fitzgerald, who established a stationary command post at 85 Gloucester Hill Road. The patient was located at 1123hrs, and began receiving care at the paramedic level. The crew on scene with the patient relayed to command the resources they needed for extrication. Additional manpower was able to bring stabilization equipment and lifting airbags into the scene.
Mutual Aid resources from North Yarmouth Fire Rescue and Gray Fire Rescue arrived on scene, and Life Flight of Maine was able to land in a field near the location of the patient. The patient was extricated at 1148hrs and transported to the ambulance via UTV. Life Flight was able to clear as the patient was stable to transport via ground ambulance. The patient was in the ambulance at 1205hrs, and then transported to MMC, arriving at the hospital at 1248hrs.
Remaining crews on scene made up and went in service. A1 cleared the hospital and went in service 1314hrs.
Mutual Aid to the Scene: Gray Fire Rescue with a UTV, North Yarmouth Fire Rescue with a UTV and Ambulance, Life Flight of Maine with a helicopter.
Mutual Aid to the Station: Poland Engine.
Entrapment: One patient trapped under a tree. Patient extricated by fire service personnel.
Injuries: One patient transported to Maine Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Contact Information
Hale Fitzgerald, Deputy Chief
New Gloucester Fire Rescue 611 Lewiston Road New Gloucester, ME 04260
deputychief@newgloucester.com
207-926-4142
— NGX editor’s note: The incident timeline has been updated and clarified.
