Close call shows paid fire team needed
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| Letter to the Editor | April 23, 2001 |
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http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=1713936&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=32266&rfi=8
| LETTER Close call shows paid fire team needed | ||||||||
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| My brother almost lost his life while attempting to cut down trees in his yard in Orange. Having cut down many trees, we felt we were capable of handling this job. |
| Were we ever wrong. The tree in question was enormous and way out of the league for unprofessional homeowners. My brother and I watched from the ground while our oldest brother began the first cut. The large limb he was cutting did not fall the way we planned and struck him in the forehead while he was on a ladder some 18 feet in the air. The branch recoiled and pinned him. A quick call to 911 and the sounds of sirens made me feel a little more comfortable. Boy, was I wrong. The way the Orange Volunteer Fire Department handled this scene was a complete disgrace. I credit my brother Bobby for saving a life since I believe had he not been the first to reach him things would be very different today. To leave someone in a tree for almost an hour while he is bleeding profusely from his forehead as you drive over to the highway department three times to get a bucket truck, a front loader and a backhoe, none of which were used in the rescue, seems a little unprofessional to me. Why during this time wasn’t a professional tree removal company called in? Thankfully, they realized they were in way over their heads and someone called the Milford Fire Department. Milford arrived and soon after my brother was free. After a long ordeal and extensive surgery, he will recover. I was a little irate during this event and I apologize to any of the Orange police officers on the scene for my actions as they all were very helpful and professional. We all know that when a tragedy happens to someone we love, help cannot get to us fast enough. When it does arrive, believe me, you want trained professionals on the scene, and I’m afraid that Orange just does not have what it takes. The people of Orange need to realize that they need to have a full-time paid, professional fire department. Michael Patrick Urbonas West Haven |
| İNew Haven Register 2001 |