Golden Hour in the City of Gold - 12/09/2001 Oroville Fire Department Gold Pin Award Recipients: Battalion Chief Bill Orthel Captain Doug K. Martin Lieutenant Dean Hill Jr. Engineer Deen Bertagna Engineer Steve Estes Firefighter Ryan Hemstalk Firefighter Travis Bowersox Firefighter Paul Carlos Volunteer F/F Mel Wangberg Parameeic Brian Irwin Paramedic Karen Vilander Paramedic Nancy Hunnington Paramedic Bob Kurts EMT Brian Simpson EMT Mark Gonzales December 9, 2001 At approximately 01:40 hrs, the City of Oroville Fire Rescue Department, along with the California Department of Forestry / Butte County Fire Rescue, responded to an auto accident. The first arriving engine reported a vehicle into a power pole with two victims requiring major extrication. The city engine and the county squad carry a similar complement of Holmatro Rescue Tools, a pump, combi tool, and rams with extensions. Both units immediately put all of their tools into service. Due to the extent of entrapment, a request was made for the city truck company to respond with their full compliment of Holmatro spreaders, cutters, rams, lifting bags, dual power units and accessories. Meanwhile they continued to make progress, cutting hinges, A posts, B posts, etc. When the truck arrived with additional Holmatro tools, their cutters and spreaders were also put into operation. At this point, the decision was made to pull the car from the power pole, using a come-a-long. Once the wreckage was about 6’ from the pole, they continued with their cutters and spreaders and completed the extrication. Two victims were successfully removed from the vehicle and transported to a trauma center where emergency life saving surgery was performed. Captain Martin, of the Oroville Fire Department stated, “ Thanks to the expertise of the personnel and the capabilities of the Holmatro equipment, the total time from arrival to extrication and transport was 40 minutes, well within the ‘golden hour’.” The Holmatro equipment used included, “3-power units, 2 – combi-cutters, 2001 cutters, 2008 spreaders. All tools performed excellent.” December 6, 2001 It should also be noted that three days earlier, this same department responded to another vehicle accident where they deployed both sets of tools, to simultaneously remove the driver and passenger doors of a mini-van and rolled the roof. The driver was promptly removed, but their ram was needed to roll the dash, providing the 3” necessary to free the passenger's legs. This entire extrication lasted only 25 minutes. (photos not available)