Gladwyne Firefighters were alerted to a serious car accident just after 2pm today. As the dispatch was going out, the Montgomery County Dispatch center received word that the occupant of a vehicle accident was trapped in the vehicle and that the car was catching fire. The dispatch was then upgraded to include Rescue 22 (Belmont Hills) and Rescue 21 (Penn Wynne) to assist with the extrication. Narberth Ambulance and Lower Merion Police were also dispatched.

Upon arrival of Lower Merion Police, they found a vehicle into a tree with the driver trapped in the vehicle and the engine compartment of the vehicle was on fire. Lower Merion Police officers with the assistance of a couple of bystanders, disentangled the victims legs from the wreckage and started to pull the victim from he burning car.

Upon arrival of Gladwyne Firefighters, we assisted the Lower Merion Police with moving the victim away from the burning vehicle to the opposite side of the street, and firefighters then extinguished the fire. Once the victim was extricated, the rescue companies were recalled.

Engine 24 responded within 2 mins and 55 seconds of the dispatch with 8 firefighters on board. Engine 24-1 responded with 4 additional firefighters 59 seconds later. It is because of the rapid response that this call did not end up worse than it already is.

The victim was transported to the Lankenau Hospital by the Narberth Ambulance Paramedics in serious condition. We want to send our thoughts and prayers to the victim.

Excellent Job goes out to the Lower Merion Police and the Bystanders who pulled the victim from the burning car, without them doing this, the victim would have perished in the fire.

Remember to have a SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!