St George Fire Protection District

On April 19, 2024 at 1945 Hours the St George Fire Department was requested mutual aid by the Central Fire Department to the 15000 Block of Hooper Rd for a motor vehicle collision requiring extrication. SG 80, 81, 82 and Squad 605 responded to the request. While enroute St George Fire units were advised the incident involved a semi-truck with a loaded trailer which had overturned leaving the driver heavily entrapped.

Upon arrival St George Fire Department units found the Central Fire Department actively working to stabilize the semi-truck which was upside down in a deep ditch. The scene also had multiple broken power poles with wires still energized. The truck had sustained catastrophic damage. The incident commander assigned all arriving St George members to assist with gaining access and assessment of the heavily entrapped driver. St George members immediately entered the “hot zone” where a nearly 80,000-pound commercial vehicle rested on makeshift supports. St George personnel working alongside members of the Central Fire Department operated without regard of their own safety for over 2 1/2 hours to free the critically injured driver. The extraordinarily complex disentanglement operation required responders including St George Firefighters to tunnel into in an extremely confined area. They then had to operate AMKUS hydraulic rescue equipment inches from the patient as well as themselves. The personnel worked in conditions placing them at significant risk while effecting the rescue. The driver was successfully extricated from the truck after being trapped for nearly 3 ½ hours. He was loaded into an awaiting helicopter for transport to a regional trauma center. The patient eventually underwent surgery and spent nearly 2 weeks in the hospital recovering from severe injuries. He is expected to recover from his injuries.

The St George Fire Department Special Operations Division along with Central Fire Department personnel operating on the scene brought great credit upon themselves as well the fire service by performing an extremely difficult rescue at significant personal risk which resulted in the rescue of the driver.

Members of the Central Fire Department: