FRIENDSHIP — Friendship Fire Dept. used its extrication equipment Monday night to free a driver stuck in a vehicle after a single-vehicle crash. The department continues to see a dwindling roster of responders, leaving its EMS provider filling the gaps by creating quick access resources.

First on scene to the Waldoboro Road (Rt 220) crash near Barnes Point Road, Fire Chief Kevin Benner announced the need for extrication equipment at approximately 11:25 p.m. The driver, and single occupant, of a Yukon had left the roadway, driven into bushes and sideswiped a tree before coming to a stop. At the time that Benner arrived, the driver appeared unresponsive, but then awoke before appearing to lose consciousness again. With initial unknowns in regards to the driver’s survival, the rush to gain access to the vehicle became crucial.

By midnight, five members of Friendship Fire were on scene.

Friendship’s EMS provider, Waldoboro EMS, also responded to the call. By the time the FD had cut off one of the car doors, the patient had become responsive again. Waldoboro EMS took over care and transported the patient to Pen Bay Medical Center. 

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, and Hillside Towing hauled away the vehicle at approximately 12:15 a.m.

Waldoboro EMS, which has two ambulances and operates 24-7, responds to all medical calls in Friendship and Jefferson, per inter-local contracts with each town. WEMS responded to 121 calls in Friendship in 2023, according to Derek Booker, Chief of Waldoboro EMS, in the Town Report. WEMS also responds to calls in Warren when Warren Ambulance can’t provide a full crew, and is a second-call option for Union Ambulance, which covers Union, Appleton, and Washington. 

According to WEMS in the 2023 Town Report for Friendship, their roster of 34 includes one Paramedic, two Advanced EMTs and an EMT who happen to live in Friendship and therefore can get to some local calls quickly if the personnel happen to be available. WEMS also stores advanced life support equipment at Friendship FD and has supplied AEDs to Fishermen’s Heritage, Benner’s Wharf (next to Town Wharf, Friendship Town Office, Flood’s Cove, Advent Church, Davis Point Loop (2), and Bramhall’s Wharf. WEMS has also provided training for residents in hands-only CPR, First-Aid, Stop the Bleed, Narcan and AED training at the Hahn Center.

WEMS full roster includes:
15 - Paramedics
9 - Advanced EMTs
7 - EMTs
3 - Ambulance Operators

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com