Click here to follow STATter911.com on Facebook (hit "like")
Yes, this is helmet-cam video of a rescue by members of the Mystic Island VFC in Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. It is the type of call no firefighter likes to hear. A citizen reporting a loved one who is trapped.
This video captures the drama and the suspense. But the firefighters came through in the end and everyone lived happily ever after. And Mystic Island VFC, Station 72, has a fan for life.
My guess is our legion of keyboard incident commanders, KICs, will be blasting the publisher of this rag for even posting such a video. Or possibly I will be hearing from PETA claiming a HIPAA violation for showing the victim's face. Or the anti-camera faction for publishing such a graphic video. Fire away.
Do you want to sell a rig? Click HERE to find out how with SellFireTrucks.com.
Also on STATter911 …
- Early video: Another Stockton, California fire. Will it live up to the standard set by the last one? – January 6, 2012
- Stockton gets defensive: Early raw video of a house fire with evacuation tones. – January 8, 2012
- Helmet-cam: Stockton, CA house fire. – November 27, 2012
- Man behind most popular helmet-cam video ever finally speaks. Impact of wounded Army Pfc. Ted Daniels’ firefight video has interesting similarities to firefighter videos. – January 28, 2013
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
"This video captures the drama and the suspense." ~ Dave Statter
Dave, my sarcasm detector just exploded.
Oh the humanity!
Crowbar, you must be reading my mind. My original plan was to use that line in the excerpt. Or better yet, on a hot, summer day – Oh the humidity!
Statter
We've done this before except it was about half a mile back in the woods and we had to use the 3 section 35. I don't think we would of put it on Youtube but whatever floats their boat.
…. well ma'am, have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree?
"…have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree?"
I remember waaaay back when a Capt of mine said that to a kid whos cat was stuck up a tree.
I whispered to my Capt, "To be honest, I think they rot and eventually fall down."
That’s my favorite question! A lady came to the station on Christmas Day and we had the same response. Cat was up there for three days. She guilted us into getting it down. No YouTube video though.
It would have been easier with a 357.
AMEN
So many people on here keep promoting "Train, train, train!" Well, this is a perfect opportunity to do some ladder work. Hands on always helps. And I noticed the ladderman did make proper use of cat-resistant PPE. Good boy!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(my cat just walked on my keyboard)
Don’t worry about securing that halyard, it’s just a cat.
Thanks it,s always nice too see how it can when someone like these guy,s do the job instead of a home owner,or the one that own,s the cat,you save them also.
"Keyboard Command established"; I was going to mention the "cat skeleton in the tree" thing, but someone beat me to it. Community service at it's best. "Command to Safety, make sure everyone has their gloves on and ties off the halyard on the ladder before climbing". Note to self, figure out an abbreviation for the turnout coats. We can probably save about $100 a coat by doing away with the billboard back. "Keyboard Command terminated, Former Chief clear of the scene". K
We used to handle all cat in a tree calls by carrying a can of peas on the apparatus.
Statter
OK, you have me stumped. I'm not a cat person, what were the peas for?
I am not a cat person either Former Chief, but I learned this trick from my father who used it for ice fishing and it became SOP in my department. You open the can of peas and carefully ring the tree a single line of peas evenly spaced. Then you wait. Hope that helps.
That must be where that old gospel song comes from.
"Peas Release Me"…
BOOSTER HOSE 101 !!!!
Deck Gun!
How come the cat wasn't put into a safety vest?
I remember seeing a video of a firefighter getting electrocuted from a power line while attempting to rescue a cat from a tree. Is it worth putting any firefighter in danger (however slight) to rescue an animal?
More firefighters have died during training than during cat rescues. I guess we better stop training.
Building assignment comes out down the street, great we have an engine crews worth of guys and a firetruck RIGHT HERE…. wait… Keyboard Command to tree house ops… yeah we're gonna need you to take off the loin cloth, drop the tuna and come down so we can go to a REAL emergency!
True story. We got a call from this lady crying about her cat. She must have called 4 times but she wasn't in our district. After the 4th call we called the nieghboring company and asked if it was okay to get this damn cat out of the tree. So we get there and the cat is like 30 feet up there. After 30 mins a pretty good crowd has gathered and then the a radio reporter and the newspaper. Someone calls the district company telling them to "get your ass down here, Belvedere is getting all the press". Finally a tree climber shows up (we don't have a ladder truck) and gets the cat to the cheers of the crowd. We all get our picture taken then we hear a siren approaching. Its the district ladder responding….just a little too late. I still have the newspaper article somewhere.
Didn't want to use SQRT30 to just push the cat out of the tree? lol.
My question is the ladder haylard. PLEASE TIE IT ONLY TO THE BED SECTION NOT AROUND THE FLY!!! IF you have to quickly raise the ladder for a rescue you will waste time undoing the knot and haylard. Great Pr, Great ladder practice, and of course…. STRIKE DA BOX! K
So here is a question…..what is the difference of getting a cat out of a tree and going out on a frozen lake to save a dog?
Thought provoker there huh?
cats climb trees all the time . They can down on their own. A dog walks on a solid surface not knowing it's thin ice. Last march I removed a dog from a burning house, but I won't climb a tree for a cat .
Easy answer Dickey, dogs are worth saving. Cats? Not so much. lol
Anyone else see the Steve Martin flick "Roxanne"?? Open can of cat food at the base of the tree. If necessary, back everyone off so Fluffy isn't distracted by the all the activity.
I was also impressed with the gawdawful amount of lettering on their coats. Holy Overkill, Batman!!
I'm slightly disappointed. Not a safety vest to be seen amongst the 4 of them.
Sigh……….when will we learn.
the lengths firemen will go to get a little p#@sy
I guess some companies will do anything to up their call volume as it appears they came lights and siren as the engine is out front with everything on. Yes, if that was a true rescue and the ladder was needed to be raised to much time was wasted undoing the haylard or maybe it was the first time using the ladder. What was with the guy in the backyard wearing his David Clark headset? Yes, it is good PR as long the homeowner makes a good donation!!
O.K. so this is from the resident "Statter 911 reader/cat whisperer" (Bet you didn't know you had one! ) I have had my own cats get stuck way up in trees a few times over the years. I would never call the fire dept. What I learned to do is put a tall extension ladder up to the tree right beside the cat, Tie it off so it is secure. And WALK AWAY !! 15-20 minutes later the cat will be at the door begging for food !! It works every time. The cat cannot go down the tree, but it WILL go down the ladder. But not when you're standing there. I have had mine in trees for 2-3 days and they are always down 15 minutes after the ladder is secured. Better solution – no more outdoor cats !! You can rent tall ladders at any rental place or you can also call a tree service for a fee. But the ladder has worked for me every time. I no longer have outdoor cats !! Thank you very much to all the firefighters that have rescued animals and help us everyday with everything else.
Thanks catwhisperer (I am allergic to them). But I still think, as I always have that ringing the tree with a single line of peas is the way to go.
Statter
Dave, with my luck the pea can would end up bouncing off the tree and hitting ME in the head and then I would end up needing EMS, therefore defeating the purpose !!! Love your website. You have an awesome sense of humor. Thanks for the good read everyday.
No Jane,
You take the peas and make a single line around the base of the tree.
You know what that’s for don’t you? Former Chief didn’t.
Dave
I was in a video one time getting a cat out of a tree………
With the deck gun.