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Heavy Rain Keeps Firefighters Busy

Springfield Firefighters were kept busy on Tuesday, September 28th, from the heavy rain that hit the area from the remnants of Hurricane Jeanne.  Firefighters handled 29 emergencies during a 12 hour period from Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday morning.

The heavy rains helped to bring Darby Creek over it banks once again and caused flooding in the area of West Rolling Road at Rutherford Drive and Doe Run Lane.  Firefighters were dispatched to West Rolling Road at 19:18 hours for a Water Rescue.  Responding firefighters were advised of vehicles in the water with possible subjects trapped.  TAC 44 and Chief 44-9 responded to the intersection of West Rolling Road and Rutherford Drive and had two vehicles in the water.  One vehicle was still occupied by the driver and firefighters acted quickly before the situation got worse.  Firefighters positioned TAC 44 in front of the vehicle and one firefighter made his way onto the hood of the vehicle and instructed the driver to get out of vehicle thru the driver-side window.  Once the driver was on the hood of the car, firefighters assisted the driver of the car into the cab of TAC 44 and then proceeded to drive out of the flood waters onto Rutherford Drive.

At the same time this rescue was taking place another car drove into flood waters at West Rolling Road and Doe Run Lane.  Firefighters from Rescue 44 assisted the driver of the vehicle out of their car and to safety.

Firefighters were busy in the area of Doe Run Lane while flood waters from Darby Creek were effecting homes on that street.  The water level did not get as high as the flood waters from Hurricane Floyd, but still caused some minor damage to homes on Doe Run Lane.  Firefighters checked homes to make sure that the flood waters were not effecting electrical services in the homes creating a hazard to the residents.

Firefighters were called back to Doe Run Lane, Wednesday morning at 04:32 hours, for smoke inside a dwelling in the 400 block.  Upon investigation firefighters found that an electrical surge had hit the area and firefighters had to check 14 homes on the street.  The electrical surge had damaged electric meters on the outside of the homes and firefighters used Thermal Imaging Cameras to check the inside of the residences for any possible problems.

Firefighters would like to remind residents that when you see rising waters during rain storms, do not try to drive your vehicles through the water.  What appears to be shallow water may be to much for your vehicle to get through safely.  Firefighters had to rescue two drivers who put themselves in life threatening situations and they were fortunate that the outcome was a positive one.  Springfield Fire Company would also like to remind residents that during any inclement weather emergency, if you feel that a situation is not safe in your home or outside your home, do not hesitate to call 911.  Waiting to call 911 could cause harm to you, your family or your home.