Not enough engines

The intersection of 48th. Street and Vine Street is one of the busiest intersections in Lincoln. I am not for away from it because I am so regular at the Kinkos store they call me Metamucil. Over the last couple of years, I have been at or near the Kinkos front door when that wrenching sound of of whap, crunching metal, and screeching tires fills the air. This intersection is the home of the whopper--not the sandwich--the car accident kind.

Yesterday was that kind of day. I was just getting out of my car when those all to frequent sounds filled the air. I looked and saw a pickup about halfway through the intersection and an old white Buick sitting on the median, smoking and crushed. The pickup won this contest.

With cell phone in hand, I dashed to the Buick. Two ladies, both dazed, were in the car. The passenger was in the most pain and rolled around in the seat. Another man soon was at my side. Thankfully, he was a volunteer fireman with some paramedic experience. He jumped into the back seat and we made a quick evaluation of what was going on. Diver would be OK. Passenger needed medical help. She complained of side pain and held her head.

I called 911 and gave them the necessary and what seemed at the time, alot of unecessay information. Help was on the way. 10:37 am.

One of Lincoln's finest was on the scene pronto. The young policeman hopped out of his car and put his car in a protective mode in the intersection. He made some notes, identified the drivers, collected their insurance information and had the pickup drive move his truck from traffic.

Where are the nice folks from the fire department? In past times, Engine 9 or Engine 2 and in a couple of really bad cases, Engine 7 or Engine 5 could already be heard off in the distance or they were already here. Not today. Not even a hint of one.

"Did fire get the call?" I asked the cop.

He punched his microphone and soon looked back at me. "Yup, they are on the way."

Strange.

I looked to the South down 48th Street and their was a fire department ambulance about 100 yards away. The unit was just sitting there. No lights or sirens. Just stuck in backed-up traffic like a ton of other Lincolnites.

Then, the unit suddenly came to life.

I am sure there were a few sudden surges in blood pressure as the ambulance made itself known. I waved at the officer and pointed at the ambulance. Unfortunately, he had parked his car in the one place that would have allowed the ambulance to zip right up to us if the cop waved a few folks through. With a few waves, a zig and a zag, the ambulance was on scene. It sure would have been nice to have some firemen and a big pry bar to get the passenger side door open and get the lady out. As it was, she would be coming across the driver's side and out. Still no sound of siren or blarring air horn off in the distance.

The paramedics relieved the volunteer fireman who had been holding the lady's head to reduce any cance of neck damage until a collar could be put on here. I am sure his arms ached. It had been quite a while.

Finally, off in the distance, just coming over the top of the hill on Vine Street, a fire truck emerged with full lights and siren. His air horn blasted away. Engine 1 pulled into the intersection and stopped.

Engine 1? That company was from the downtown Lincoln station. No wonder it took so long.
Where were the neighborhood guys? Engine 2? Engine 9? Engine 7? Truck 7? Engine 5? Truck 7?

I zipped an email off to the chief expressing my concerns about response time. I got an email back that the response was within limits. I remailed and wondered about where all of the above were that they had to send Engine 1 from downtown. Busy he said. I waited a day and checked the fire department run logs. They must have been called out for training at stations 7, station 5, and station 2. Engine 9 had a call.

Had the ambulance not happened along, the poor lady would have waited a very long time. So would the volunteer fireman. Her ambulance was sent out under code "Bravo" which means the fire engine is coming with blarring air horn and lights and siren. The ambulance, head injury or not, was just coming.

At least for one day in Lincoln, there were not enough engines.