York Village Firehouse, being staffed by Firefighter Nick Hilton as a fill-in, was full of volunteers doing numerous projects around the station. Rescue Boat 1 was out on the water doing a detail. Squad 2 was out of service for some mechanical work, so Engine 4 was running as
the primary Engine. The day proved to be slow for calls. As night fell things began to pick up. York Village Fire and York Ambulance were dispatched to a home on Buffalo Ln for a male who had fallen down a flight of stairs with a head injury. Crews were faced with a patient with serious injuries. Firefighters and Paramedics were looking into flying the patient out by helicopter, but that was impossible because of all three medical helicopters that could be available were grounded due to weather. The patient was transported by York Ambulance as well as York Village firefighters to York Hospital, and later transported to Maine Medical Center.
An hour later, while crews were at the York Village Fire Station, York Dispatch toned us out for a report of a Motor Vehicle Accident roll-over, car vs. moose with unknown injuries on I-95 Southbound. While responding, dispatch notified us that York Beach Fire Lt. Jeff Welch was on scene and reporting possible ejection and entrapment. Engine 4, Truck 8 and Ambulance 2 responded as well as an Ambulance from Ogunquit and Wells and an Engine from Wells. C-1 (Chief Balentine) signed on scene and reported a vehicle into the tree line off the highway, a large moose in the roadway and 3 patients. One patient was on the ground next to the vehicle, and the other two patients were heavily entrapped in the vehicle. Crews began extrication and confirmed one fatality. All persons were eventually extricated from the vehicle. Engine 4 and small crew stayed on scene until 3:00 am cleaning up debris in the roadway from the moose and returned to the station to clean up equipment.
We at the York Village Fire Department have a strong brotherhood bond, and its nights like this that prove that. We are often faced with challenging situations and we rely upon each other during these situations to relieve the stress involved. Even more important, when it is time to go home, are our Family and Friends who are there for us and offer continuous support after situations like this. Thank you.
