Shortly before the start of the 4 p.m. rush hour commute, Station 5 along with Station 4 (Malvern) for their Ambulance and Medic were dispatched to Northbound Rt. 202 in the area of mile-marker 14 and Lancaster Ave. for an accident reported serious. The initial 9-1-1 calls reported a 1 vehicle accident with a patient ejected.

Ambulance 5-1 was already handling another medical call, and thus Ambulance 4-1 was dispatched to cover Ambulance 5.

Engine 5-2 made the response immediately, and while enroute, the Pennsylvania State Police advised Chester County Fire Board of one patient down in the roadway in the southbound lanes of Rt. 202, and requested an medivac helicopter to be placed on standby.

Engine 5-2 along with Captain 5 (B. Humphreys III) arrived on location and confirmed the report, and immediately started patient care. Ambulance 4-1 along with Medics 4-1 and 4-2 arrived shortly thereafter.

Per PA State Dept. of Health EMS Protocols, a critical trauma patient should be taken to the closest trauma center for stabilization. In East Whiteland, Paoli Memorial Hospital (PMH) is the closest trauma center to us, being just out of our local, and is certified as a Level II Trauma Center. Therefor with the exception of pediatric emergencies, burn patients, and other special circumstances (such as an extended extrication or MCI) all of our trauma calls are transported via ambulance to PHM.

Following Dept. of Health Protocols, the Medivac helicopter was stood down, and the patient was transported via ambulance to PMH's Trauma Center in critical condition.

As units where cleaning up on the highway, Chester County Fire Board advised that the company was due along for the Box Assignment with Station 68 (Valley Forge), Ladder 4, and Station 2 (Berwyn) for the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) on a reported house fire on Primrose Lane in Charlestown Township.

Engine 5-3 and 5-5, already staffed from the accident, immediately made the response, followed shortly after by Engine 5-2.

The initial 9-1-1 caller reported seeing thick gray smoke coming from the rear of a house as they were passing by, and were unsure if anyone was home.

Deputy 68 (Taylor) arrived on location along with East Whiteland engines and reported of a controlled burn in the rear of the residence with no services needed. The assignment was recalled and all East Whiteland units were available from a busy afternoon at 1637 hours (4:37 pm).