Wrecker

Incidents involving heavy vehicles involve more considerations on scene. One answer is for firefighters to use the wrecker/tow truck for rescue work.

By Tim O’Connor

The vehicle rescue extrication operations necessary to remove trapped occupants from vehicles on the road today are immense compared to previous tactics. Technology has improved greatly over the past decade; most advancements have been made toward keeping the vehicle’s occupants safer than ever before. New metals used in structural components create a stronger frame around the passenger compartment. Although this is a great improvement, it creates problems for first responders when we need to gain entry after a crash.

Along with vehicle construction, people’s habits have changed. The pandemic has resulted in people staying at home, ordering all kinds of goods online to be delivered. Now, delivery vehicles zooming around the streets abound, and more tractor trailers and supply chain vehicles are on the road to help keep items on the shelf. Couple these vehicles with the general public’s lack of patience and you have the perfect conditions for an increase in heavy rescue accidents. Incidents involving heavy vehicles involve more considerations on scene. How much do they weigh? Can you stabilize them adequately with what you carry on the rig? Does the contents’ weight create any issues? What can you do to overcome them? The answer is at every accident scene but is repeatedly overlooked. Use the wrecker/tow truck for rescue work!

Tow trucks are present at every accident scene to remove the vehicles and help clear the roadway. Most are requested as soon as the police arrive and determine how many vehicles need to be moved. The resource is already coming; you just need to adjust its mission from recovery to rescue. We have found that most tow companies are eager to aid in a rescue with just a quick conversation held between parties beforehand. Taking the time to create a tow vehicle policy with their input helps speed up determining what is required and what is expected. This training should be the basis of your relationship from that point forward. The tow operator most likely has attended an advanced towing and recovery training course and has a deep understanding of his vehicle’s capabilities and how to use them to achieve the desired outcome. Once this is set, all that is required is to enact the policy when needed and everyone should be able to coordinate their actions.

What can you gain tactically using a wrecker in a rescue? Your first logistical challenge is getting the correct wrecker on scene. The biggest consideration you need to relay is the weight of the vehicle with which you need assistance. Most tow companies have a variety of wreckers; ensuring the correct one responds is paramount. The ability to control the entire weight of the vehicle creates immense advantages for your operations. Along with being able to control the vehicle’s weight, you need to relay what you want to do with it. Are you stabilizing? Are you lifting? This makes a difference in what vehicle is dispatched. You will need a rotator if you intend on moving a big rig tractor trailer or a similar type of vehicle at all. If you are only capturing and stabilizing the weight, a straight arm truck may be sufficient.

Now that you have requested the resource and given the preliminary information, you need to ensure there is room for the wrecker when it arrives. Most times, the need for a wrecker is not apparent on arrival. We position our apparatus to block traffic, provide a work zone, and enable use of the tools carried on the apparatus. We don’t position to allow anyone close access to the crash; this creates a small problem. Tow vehicles need a certain amount of space to set up correctly to enable them to use their entire lift capacity. Like an aerial device, they need to deploy outriggers for stable footing, which needs an area equal to or slightly greater than the length of the bed section of the truck’s boom. The setup requirements range from extending the stabilizers 20 to almost 40 feet to enable the truck to use its full lift capacity (photo 1). Short jacking limits your abilities.

You also need to consider the room needed so the wrecker can set up such that the tip of the bed section is as close as possible above the object to be lifted, enabling the full use of the wrecker’s lift rating. The longer you have to extend the boom to enable the lift, the more you sacrifice in lifting capacity (photo 2). As you can see, if space is an issue, it is imperative you communicate the weight of the vehicle you need to lift so the tow operator can err on the side of caution and bring a heavier wrecker. If the wrecker’s lifting capacity is reduced to below the weight of the crashed vehicle because you need to extend the boom to reach it, it negates any advantage you would have gained with the wrecker.

(1) Photos by author.

(2)

Stabilizing the vehicle is the most common use for a wrecker during an incident, but you can’t just sit and do nothing until it arrives. Immediately use cribbing and stabilization struts to start supporting the load. When using stabilization struts, remember, they all have a weight rating. You can achieve full-load capture by placing a number of struts along the load. Something is better than nothing; an unsupported load is the most dangerous scenario.

Once the wrecker arrives, the crew will most likely need to help the operator. For responders, short staffing means only three on an apparatus; the tow operator responds alone. An incident requires a lot of setup; additional hands make it much easier. The tow operator should be intimately familiar with the wrecker and be able to verbally walk you through what he needs and where to find it. Helping to complete the stabilization is monumental in expediting the extrication. Repeated extrication training with the tow company will increase the comfort level of all parties. Fire department members will better recognize components the tow operator will need, and the tow operator will get better at recognizing how the fire department operates.

Using the wrecker to stabilize or lift involves mathematics and physics. The weight needs to be captured and lifted equally in all aspects. Balance points, the center of gravity, and the lift point are all involved in a successful lift. Setting the chains in a stable, solid location on the vehicle is imperative; use the tow operator’s expertise if you are unsure of how or where to place the chains. Along with this, the tow operator knows his rig’s capabilities; the setup may seem confusing or wrong to you. Follow the instructions as they are given. The tow operator is the subject matter expert and becomes the de facto crew leader of the stabilization effort. This hierarchy remains until the tow operator says he is comfortable that the load has been adequately captured and supported and feels that it is safe for you to operate under it if needed.

In addition to stabilization, you can also use the wrecker to lift and move components involved in the accident. Lifting and moving are more complex than simply stabilizing. When lifting, you need to consider additionally the lift capacity since you will now be holding the full weight of the vehicle. Any movement with that load requires using a rotator instead of a straight boom truck, and having a place to set the vehicle down once it is lifted; more space is required. Some wreckers can lift one vehicle and move another at the same time. Some have auxiliary winches that can pull a vehicle from underneath a load, especially beneficial when dealing with an underride entrapment. The ability to separate the vehicles makes for a more straightforward extrication since the components have been separated. Consider this option in an underride incident if it is available.

The availability of a wrecker for rescue is a tactical blessing; not all departments have this. Taking the time to set up agreements and plans and having hands-on training with tow companies before you need them will prove beneficial during an incident. Above all, remember that your responsibility is to work toward removing the trapped occupants in any way possible. If a wrecker is not available, traditional methods will be required. This is not failure; it just means you have more work to do.

Tim O’Connor is a firefighter with the Goodwill (DE) Fire Company with 20 years of service. He has an associate degree in fire science, has written articles for various fire service publications, and has presented at fire conferences across the United States. O’Connor is an instructor for the Delaware State Fire School and the lead instructor for Back to Basics Firefighter Training.