Russell Matteo - Fire Fighter

Russ's most memorable call

To pick one situation of event as most memorable is rather difficult. Meaning several stand out in the ever growing list of moments to remember or forget: The first event is what lead Angie and myself to join the HVFD, We were going into the church (Pineview Bapt.) and heard a crash on highway 53. Head on collision with entrapment, van vs. car, VAN ON FIRE , driver entrapped, laceration to the left side of head, in and out of consciousness, passenger broken ankle, dazed and confused from wreck.Angie took patient care while the van was on fire, I started attacking fire with extinguishers brought from the church, people trying to open the hood of the van to better attack the fire were stopped and told to move back by me. I got the fire out after using 3 or 4 Dry chem extinguishers and started to help remove trapped driver. His door was pushed back about 4 to 6 inches, we broke the sliding drivers side rear door and began working on getting the drivers legs free, with that done we could not get him out very easily so myself and one other gentleman (Walter, later I found out he is a Supervisor at H.E.M.S.I.) Broke the driver seatback off the seat and used it as a back support to get the driver out. We simply laid him back on the seatback and moved him out. About that time HVFD arrives on scene and looks at us. John Webster asked Angie and I if we were interested in being Volunteer fire fighters. It all moved so fast and everyone on the scene was looking at Angie, Walter and myself as if we had just done something that was beyond belief. Angie and I went and talked with the the Chief and several other of the HVFD member that were there and told them we kind of liked the idea of volunteering, so we have been with Harvest VFD since that day. Other events are just as exciting but not as important as the one above that got the ball rolling for our days volunteering with Harvest VFD. So many fires, MVA's and medical calls, they are the moments that shape the way we handle a life threatening, stressful situation with professionalism and confidence that makes the difference to those we are helping. Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts. I only hope that our actions can and will make a difference for the people we are called upon to help.