Nine volunteer firefighters from two Westmoreland County companies were honored by the county commissioners Thursday for their quick action far from home.
The firefighters, from Lloydsville and Marguerite departments, were traveling in a convoy Oct. 3 to Maryland, where they planned to attend the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. It was foggy and rainy on Route 30 in Fulton County, just outside of Breezewood, when they came upon an overturned car.
Inside, a pregnant woman was trapped in the passenger seat.
Firefighters reached the critically injured woman through the trunk and a window and pulled her out. They kept her stable until paramedics arrived.
“Lucky enough, we were able to use equipment from Marguerite’s squad truck that was behind us,” said Lloydsville Fire Capt. Jim Jellison Jr. “It was the right place at the right time.”
Both the passenger and driver were hospitalized. A state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officer was on scene when the firefighters arrived and an operating room nurse stopped to help, Jellison said. Raystown EMS and Breezewood firefighters were both easy to work with when they got there, he said.
“It was like we work with them every day,” Jellison said.
Honored at the commissioners meeting with a proclamation were: Jellison and Lloydsville firefighters Gerry McCracken, Luke Stynchula and Tyler Himler, Lt. Nick Rubino and Assistant Chief Mitch Samick and Marguerite firefighter Mike O’Barto Jr. Also honored but not present at the meeting were Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham and firefighter Parker Foster III.
Jellison said most members of the group have training as an EMT, paramedic or pre-hospital registered nurse.
