Blizzard of 2006; EMS Takes Danger in Stride

Snow-covered streets and snow-packed tires made for dangerous travel yesterday for police, fire and ambulances responding to calls where life and death were only seconds apart.

``The crews have been doing an unbelievable job in tough conditions,'' said Chief of Boston EMS Richard Serino. ``It's a tough job on a normal day, nevermind carrying someone while trudging through a foot or a foot and a half of snow.''

A fire on the fifth floor of an apartment building at 650 Columbus Ave. displaced about a dozen people, injuring no one, but forcing firefighters to scale slippery ladders more than 50 feet to break the apartment's windows.

Fire engines, their tires chained and caked with snow, made slow progress to the apartment that mostly houses Northeastern University students.

The Fire Department and EMS said there were several extra crews working during the storm to make sure that despite the weather, coverage was not hampered.

``We put up extra ambulances so our response time is as close to normal,'' Serino said. ``We haven't had any of our trucks stuck yet, which is good. That hasn't always been the case. Overall the roads are pretty good.''

On Columbus Avenue, an MBTA bus stood by to shield those displaced by the fire until they arranged for shelter.

Meanwhile some kind-hearted students waited out the fire by walking to a nearby Dunkin' Donuts and brought ambulance crews donut holes and coffee.

``There's nothing worse than seeing people walk by with coffee while you're standing out in the cold,'' said Mary Lavelle, 20, of Connecticut.

Serino said EMS responded to a higher-than-normal 220 calls by 4 p.m. yesterday. Most were slip-and-falls, but crews are bracing for a flood of calls complaining of heart attacks as the snow tapers off and people attempt to clean their driveways and sidewalks.

``We urge people to really take their time shoveling,'' he said. ``If someone lives next door to an elderly person and can clear their sidewalk and walkway, not only is it going to save them a lot of problems, it may save their lives.''

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.