Sink Hole With Dog Rescue
 
By Deputy Chief Dwayne Ausherman
March 30, 2014
 

AT 0727 Company 1 was dispatched for service call to assist a home owner with her dog in a small hole. Rescue/Engine 11 arrived on the scene and found a small sink hole at the back of the apartment building. Rescue/Engine 11 requested the ATR Team to assist. Chief 1-3 arrived on the scene and established command. The ATR Team arrived and began assessing the sink hole. Crews placed ground pad around the hole. The crew could hear the dog but could not see the dog. Command requested the Frederick City DPW to use there camera to locate the dog. DPW arrived on the scene and used the camera to locate the dog. The dog was located about 10ft. down and about 1ft. back in a crevice. Crews put a hotdog on a slide rule to try to lure the dog out of the crevice so they could snare the dog. This was unsuccessful. Command requested SOP 50 and a backhoe from Frederick City DPW. The ATR Team and a worker from DPW used the backhoe to make the hole bigger. The Team dug down about 3ft. and found two large rocks hindering the ability to use the backhoe. The hole was located between the rocks. The Team had to dig by hand the rest of the way. Air monitoring equipment was used to check the air quality in the hole. Do to the cold weather, warm fresh air was place down the hole. Command requested Canteen 1 for rehab. The H.I.R.T. Team set up warming tents for the personnel on the scene. The crews worked for several hours in high winds and snow. At 1411 the dog was rescued out the hole. The dog was turned over to Frederick County Animal Control.
The Dog was Transported to a local vet for treatment. A special Thanks to the Frederick City DWP for there assistance.

 
Units: RE-11, ATR Team, Chief 1, C1-1, C1-3, Canteen 1 and AMB-18
 
Mutual Aid: SOP 50, Battalion 901, Safety 901, HIRT Team, Frederick County Animal Control and Fredrick City DPW