Winter weather poses challenges for first responders

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - As many of us can work inside, that’s not the case for fire department crews who brave the winter weather conditions to keep you safe.

After Monday’s snowstorm, icy roads continue to create hazardous conditions, making it especially difficult for first responders to answer emergency calls.

Brian Clingenpeel with Roanoke County Fire & Rescue said these crews are working harder than ever to ensure they are responding to calls regardless of the weather.

“Ice is just rather unforgiving,” Clingenpeel said, “Snow, you’re able to get some traction, but ice, it’s just not always that way.”

With more winter weather expected Friday, routine calls are turning into technical rescues, one dangerous incident happening Thursday on Webb Road.

“A very hilly and mountainous part of Roanoke County,” Clingenpeel said, “where a car went off an embankment about 50 feet.”

No one was injured but many agencies had to bring specialized equipment.

“We had our technical rescue people who know about ropes and haul-back systems and they had all that equipment headed that way, as well as a ladder truck headed that way,” Clingenpeel said.

Reaching the site was no easy task.

“Getting in and out of Webb Road is very treacherous for the time being,” Clingenpeel said. “When it starts getting icy, you have to stop and put on chains. That takes extra time. They were having to stop at the bottom of the hill and put two sets of chains on their back wheels to get up the mountain and get to the people who slid off the mountain.”

In another call, an icy driveway prevented them from getting to the door.

“We had to use ropes and a stokes basket to get this person from their house to the ambulance,” Clingenpeel said.

Similar incidents happened in another one of our hometowns.

According to the Stewartsville-Chamblissburg Volunteer Fire Department in a Facebook post, crews hiked 1/4 of a mile up a mountain to a structure fire after their fire truck slid off the road.

Despite the challenges, Clingenpeel said they are determined to get the job done.

“In fire and rescue services,” Clingenpeel said, “whether it is Roanoke County, Roanoke City, Bedford, Salem, wherever you are, there’s this brotherhood and teamwork and that, I think, is what makes it go as well as it does. Yes, it adds an extra layer to everything we do, but we have some really smart individuals, determined individuals, hardworking individuals. They are going to figure it out.”

Clingenpeel said there are some basic things you can do to help. Make sure your home numbers are visible and driveways and sidewalks are cleared.