Two Commercial Fires — 11-16-08

Two Recent Accidents

Southern Stone County Fire and Emergency Crews were busy with back to back Accidents. The first Accident occurred on US Hwy 160 Near Hwy 248 as a SUV Pulling a trailer jack knifed causing the SUV to roll over. Occupants reported to be non-injured. The second accident occurred as units were clearing the first Accident. The second involved a Budget rental truck. The accident scene was located at The Highroad /hwy 465 exit to Hwy 76. The truck was loaded with household contents. The occupants sustained minor injuries.

Eric Nielsen Southern Stone County Fire District Public Information Team

SSCFPD Firefighters Battle Condo Fire

Branson West, Stone County, Missouri, September 29, 2008 – Shortly after 2 am a resident at Schooner Bay Condo’s was up late working on his computer when he heard a popping sound. He looked outside to see a neighboring condo unit on fire. He quickly called 911 and began knocking on his neighbors doors alerting them to the fire. Southern Stone County Fire Crews, first on scene reported heavy fire and requested a second alarm. The fire was quickly knocked down and reported under control in about an hour an a half. A fire wall protected 4 units of the 12 unit condo long enough for firefighters to stop the fire before it penetrated the fire wall. Fire officials report the 4 condos will be able to be reoccupied.

The fire started in a garage attached to the condo unit. The fire is still under investigation. One of the activities the Southern Stone County Fire Volunteers participate in are preplanning their community in case of an emergency. This preplanning played an important role in Monday morning’s fire. First on scene crews quickly began fighting the fire while 2nd arriving crews knew exactly where the water source, a boat ramp at the lake, was located and knew with out any search time where to set up water supply. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Southern Stone County Fire Marshall. The building was over 20 years old and did not have a sprinkler system.

Fire Crews Respond to Water Rescue in Reeds Spring

Branson West, Stone County, Missouri, April 10, 2008 – Fire crews around 7:30 AM this morning responded to a report of residents trapped inside a mobile home by rising flood waters on Spring Street in Reeds Spring. Southern Stone Fire Engine 6114 with a crew of 3 firefighters proceeded across the flooded road to a residence on Spring Street where flood waters were up to their front porch.

Fire crews extended a ladder from the cab of the fire engine to the front porch so 3 adults and 3 children were able to cross above the flood waters into the cab of the fire engine. The family was taken to a house in Reeds Spring clear of the flood waters.

No one was injured. Southern Stone County Fire Officials want to remind motorist that crossing flooded road ways can be extremely dangerous. They were experiencing many stranded motorist this morning.
Until the flood waters recede Spring Street is blocked by flood waters and stranded cars between the Animal Shelter at 413.

Photo of Battalion Chief Dustin Rogers and Firefighter Joe White Photo courtesy of Gordon Weathers, Public Information Officer

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT
05-20-08 12:55 PM

Southern Stone County Fire District responded to a motor vehicle accident at the Cape Fair Bridge. The vehicle left the road before the guard rail and ended up approximately 300 feet from where the guard rail began.

Due to the high lake level the vehicle was in 12 / 18 inches of water. The vehicle struck a tree and caused heavy damage trapping the driver inside.

18 Firefighters including the Technical Rescue Team worked nearly 40 minutes to extricate the driver. The female driver was transported via Cox Air Care to a Springfield hospital. She was the only occupant.

Incident Archive

Fire Crews Respond to Fiery Crash

Branson West, Stone County, Missouri, April 18, 2008 – Fire Crews were dispatched from Southern Stone County Fire to the one vehicle Motor vehicle accident with one person ejected and possibly another occupant trapped in the burning vehicle Thursday evening on OO Highway 3 miles north of Kimberling City. 

The victim was dragged away from the burning vehicle by bystanders on scene before fire crews arrived. Firefighters attended to the patient while additional crews quickly knocked down the fire and began searching the vehicle and surrounding area for the possible 2nd victim.

Firefighters were able to locate a second victim. The patient was turned over to St. John's EMS and she was flown out by helicopter. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol website Joanna Burk, 38 of Galena lost control of her 1997 Dodge Caravan and left the roadway and overturned. Joanna was taken to St. John’s of Springfield with serious injuries.

Fire Crews Respond to 12 Year Old Boy Stuck in the Mud

Branson West, Stone County, Missouri, April 6, 2008 – Fire crews on Sunday about 12:00 pm responded to the report of a 12 year old boy stuck in the mud. Firefighters from Station 11 in Reeds Spring and SSCFPD High and Low Angle Rescue Team responded to the report of a 12 year old boy stuck in the mud.

Two boys from a subdivision on Ance Creek road were exploring through a drainage tunnel. When the boys reached the tunnel one boy decided to cross the muddy creek bed and sunk about chest high in the mud. The 2nd boy ran for help and called 911.

Firefighters ascended down a large embankment to the creek where the boy was stuck. When firefighters got to the boy he had removed himself from the muddy creek. Firefighters delivered the boys to their parents at the command post.

SSCFPD Officials would like to remind citizens that with the amount of rain we have received lately. Saturated creeks and river beds can be deeper then they appear and exercise extreme caution when exploring in the woods and valleys.

SSCFPD Firefighters Battle Dock Fire

	Branson West, Stone County, Missouri, March 15, 2008 – At approximately 11:45 pm Friday evening a Missouri Highway Patrol Officer report a large boat dock south of the Kimberling City Bridge was on fire. Initial fire crews on scene report 9 boats and a dock fully involved. Fire crew began salvage operations releasing boat from the dock and pushing them into the water where they were recovered by Sea Tow and Missouri water Patrol. Second arriving units began battling the fire which was brought under control in about 45 minutes. During fire attack two boats that were fully involved drifted toward a neighboring dock. A crew of firefighters defended the dock extinguishing the boats and pushing them away from the uninvolved dock. Nine boats were destroyed by fire and 9 boats were saved on the 20 stall boat dock. Fire crews were on scene approximately 3 hours battling the blaze. The fire is believed to have started from a lightening strike to the dock that sent an electrical surge through the docks electrical system, grounding out on a pontoon in one of the docks causing the fire. Further investigation by Southern Stone County Fire officials continued through the weekend.

February 25th Incident - Water Rescue

January 24th Fatality

Southern Stone County Fire Responded to a one vehicle accident on 01-24-08 around 9PM The driver was a younger male, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident occurred approximately 1/2 mile from Hwy 13 on Talking Rocks Road. 16 Firefighters responded using heavy extrication equipment to free the victim from the wreckage. The extrication took 20 minutes. No other information is available at this time.