On Monday April 21, 2025 around 4:40 in the afternoon, New Castle County 911 started receiving calls reporting a person on fire behind a residence on Queen Avenue in Swanwyck. The incident was dispatched for Minquadale and Holloway Terrace Fire Companies. Additional calls provided conflicting address information between a house on Cheyenne Drive in Castle Hills and the original address of Queen Avenue, right on the district line. As information poured in, it was learned that the patient was a tree trimmer and was suspended 50’ in the air after making contact with power lines. Upon reading the updated notes, the on duty staff at Good Will, under the direction of Captain Shoemaker, made the response with Tower 18 and Ambulance A-18. While responding, Chief 22 provided positioning information for Tower 18 to gain the best access to the patient who was barely conscious and severely burned. Upon arrival, in a coordinated effort with all crew members, Tower 18 Operator Tyler Millman skillfully and successfully placed backed the Tower up a driveway and into the backyard of a house on Queen Avenue, avoiding multiple garden beds and yard ordainments. During the process, New Castle County Emergency Planner Edwards was coordinating with Delmarva Power to shut down the power grid, allowing for a rapid extrication without waiting on a lineman to respond. Once set up, Captain Shoemaker and Firefighter/EMT Slatcher entered the tower bucket and maneuvered to the patient. The patient was found upside down in a climbing harness with life threatening injuries. At this time, it appeared that power to the area had been cut, but there was no way to ensure the lines had been completely de-energized. With calculated risk, the crew in the bucket accessed the patient and began to carefully position the aerial under the patient to extricate the patient from the harness and away from the power lines without causing further injury. Once extricated, the patient was brought to the ground and removed from the bucket to awaiting EMS assets. From the report of “grid is down” to “EMS Patient contact” on the ground was six minutes and ten seconds.

For their actions on Monday April 21st, the following members have earned a Unit Citation:

Captain Tom Shoemaker

Firefighter/EMT Tyler Millman

Firefighter/EMT Dyllon Slatcher

Firefighter/EMT Dan McVey

Firefighter/EMT Sean Foote

In addition, in recognition of their lifesaving actions, the following members have earned a Meritorious Service Award:

Captain Tom Shoemaker

Firefighter/EMT Dyllon Slatcher