For Immediate Release

On October 30, 2022, at the Empire State Plaza, during the Vital Signs EMS Conference, the Joint Special Operations Team operated by LaGrange Fire District, Arlington Fire District and the City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department were awarded the “EMS Innovation Award for Operational Innovations”, by the NYS Department of Health, Bureau of EMS and Trauma Services.

The award was made in recognition of the successful rescue of a worker trapped inside his excavator, 2,500 feet down and half a mile inside the mine located in the town of Dover.  The incident occurred on December 14, 2021, at 1:40 pm.  The Dover Fire Department initially received the call for a person trapped in the mine.  Realizing the severity and complexity of the incident requested the Joint Special Operations Task Force.  Members of the LaGrange Fire District, Arlington Fire District and the City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department quickly responded.  Upon the arrival of the additional resources a joint unified command quickly developed an incident action plan and made entry into the mine.  As crews made entry into the mine they found the patient, a driver of an excavator which had been crushed by a 40-ton boulder from a collapsed ceiling.  With precision actions and constant communication among the team, they stabilized the boulder, provided ALS care, extricated the patient from the excavator and safely exited the mine.

In part to their continued dedication, leadership, teamwork, training, communications, and planning the Joint Special Operations Task Force was able to utilize the skills necessary in the combination of confined space and collapse rescue scenarios to rescue this patient safely and efficiently.

The LaGrange Fire District would like to thank those involved in helping to execute a successful rescue of the trapped worker.

For further information please contact:

Chief Tim O’Connor

LaGrange Fire District

914-475-4211 cellular

845-452-4999 landline