BATTALION 14 News & Information

On Friday, February 2, LAFD members were dispatched to a Physical Rescue report of a "Man Trapped by Crane" on the Northbound 405 (San Diego) Freeway near Ventura Bl.

To view a video of the incident click here.

TF 88 was first to arrive on scene and reported that they had a large construction crane that had overturned trapping the operator inside. In addition they reported that they had additional injuries to motorists on the freeway caused by the crane boom which had extended over several lanes.

Access to the incident was difficult due to the associated traffic jam on the freeway and adjacent surface streets. After requesting additional resources LF 88 developed a strategy for the incident that would address the specific needs for the Rescue, Medical and Scene Safety components.

Initial additional resources included E 99, RA 83, EMS 10, USAR 88, HR 56, RA 909, BC 10 and BC 14.



When Battalion 10 (Cairns) arrived on scene he assumed the role of Incident Commander and assigned Battalion 14 as the Safety Officer, EMS 10 as the Medical Group Leader, and USAR 88 Captain (Ojeda) as the Rescue Group Leader.



Members simultaneously addressed the rescue and medical needs of patients on the freeway and in the overturned crane. Fortunately the injuries suffered by the driver of a Semi-Truck that struck the crane boom and a passenger in an SUV that was forced into the center divider were minor.


The challenge for the members responsible for the Physical Rescue of the trapped crane operator was to effect a rescue and address the medical needs of a patient pinned in a very small confined space. When the crane overturned it fell on (and crushed) a large commercial generator. The operator was pinned inside the cab between the crushed generator and the collapsed superstructure of his operators cabin. In addition, the rescue would be complicated by the fact that the operator's legs were trapped and pinned by the collapsed cabin.



Working in a confined space approximately 18" wide members of the Rescue Group, including USAR 88 and TF 88 developed a plan for freeing the patient. Additional members began the critical task of using heavy timbers to shore up the crane boom. Due to the leakage of diesel fuel and hydraulic oil from the crane additional companies were assigned the task of Scene Safety and immediately placed a charged hoseline backed by portable fire extinguishers near the crane to protect the patient and FD members.




RA 83 assumed the role of patient care and continually assesed and met the medical needs of the trapped operator from above his position on the boom of the crane. Although the operator was trapped and in obvious pain he remained conscious and alert throughout the incident and was able to talk with his rescuers.




With the arrival of Heavy Rescue 56 an action plan was put into place to slowly raise the crane boom in order to relieve the downward pressure on the large generator. With the pressure relieved from the generator the Heavy Rescue would be able to place a large chain around the base of the generator and slightly pull it backwards and away from the crane cabin providing access for Rescue Group members.



As the equipment was being put into place for the above operation members of the Rescue Group utilized the Holmatro Tool's large cutters to make relief cuts in the crumpled sheet metal trapping the driver. Members took great caution in this operation in order to insure the safety of the patient. This operation, combined with the movement of the generator, enabled members to reach the patient and free his trapped legs from the collapsed cabin.




Division 3 (James) arrived on scene and assumed the role of Incident Commander. Recognizing the need for rapid transport to a Trauma Hospital it was decided that an Air Ambulance would be the best means due to the heavy ground traffic. Fire 4 responded to the incident with Paramedics and landed on the now closed 405 Freeway to await rescue of the patient.




Additional companies assigned to the rescue included TF 89, LF 75, RA 78, EMS 14, RA 88, EMS 17 and RH 114.