138 INCIDENT
Incident Diary: Highway 138 Extrication
What follows is an incident report detailing a dramatic
traffic collision that occurred in the Cajon Pass in late June.
The account is described in first person from Capt. Jager’s
perspective as operations section chief on the incident. The
call is one that highlights County Fire’s ability to work together
across jurisdictional lines and tactical disciplines, as units from
both Division 1 and 2 responded, and with EMS, extrication and
hazardous materials mitigation skills all in play. The incident
even required the response of a hospital surgical team for the
purpose of executing a field amputation. In all, responders
showed superior professionalism in providing the best possible
care for the patients involved—Editor’s note
On June 24 at approximately 23:45 hours, San Bernardino County
Fire was dispatched to a traffic collision with extrication at I-15
and State Highway 138. Initial units dispatched were ME2, ME40,
MA305, BP40, and BC141. Comm Center dispatchers advised
incoming units of multiple people trapped with a fuel leak and that
vehicles were possibly crashed into the Shell Gas station. BC141
added R304, HM73, and MA304 to the assignment.
By: Gary Jager
a face-to-face for further instructions. Stepping out of the unit, I
was presented with the following scene.
Off the roadway, we had a large diesel dump truck fully
loaded with wet cement (estimated at 80,000 pounds) resting
completely on top of a Chrysler PT Cruiser. The truck was also
partially impinged on a concrete reinforced steel barricade
erected on the perimeter of the gas station. This canted
the truck on an approximate 20-degree angle to the driver’s
side. On the driver’s side, ME2, ME40 and BP40 had begun
extrication. The dump truck appeared to be extremely unstable.
Once at the ICP, BC Campos and I concurred that I would
assume Operations, and I received a rundown of units on
scene and their assignments. With all units advised of this
decision, I left the ICP and was able to complete a survey of
the whole scene. The complexity of the extrication and the
efforts it was going to take to stabilize the vehicles became
frighteningly clear.
Because of its elevated position, I chose R304 as the best
spot to oversee the incident. I divided Rescue Group into two
divisions, with Capt. John Flesher’s ME2 crew working the
passenger’s side, and Capt. Dave Burkart’s ME40 crew on the
driver’s side. HM73 with Capt. Kyle Hauducoeur was assigned
Hazmat Group, with the objective of controlling the fuel leak.
BP40 was reassigned to the driver side to assist ME40.
Ten minutes after the commencement of extrication, the first
victim was rescued and transported by MA304 to Arrowhead
Regional Medical Center (ARMC) in Colton.
Hazmat successfully mitigated the fuel leak, and Captain
Hauducoeur’s team was transitioned to safety officer to fill
the request placed by the IC. The remainder of HM73’s crew
was re-tasked to Captain Flesher’s rescue group on the
passenger’s side.
20 FIREWIRE | VOL.3
Concurrently, we were addressing the top priority of stabilizing the
dump truck to provide safety for the victims and rescuers. Initially,
this was accomplished utilizing a chain secured to a front loader
that was near the scene. Realizing that this arrangement needed
to be significantly reinforced, Engineer Bryan Chriss was assigned
Heavy Operator Group with the objective of stabilizing the vehicle
by any means necessary. It should be noted that due to the slope
behind the truck, removal of the wet concrete was not feasible, as it
woul