In an unusual twist, an off-duty firefighter became a first responder at the scene of a vehicular accident in a Portland strip mall parking lot. According to a post from Portland Fire & Rescue’s social media, the incident occurred just as the holiday rush was gaining momentum at the western edge of Portland’s jurisdiction, an area shared with Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue (TVF&R).
The report detailed how a rollover crash trapped the occupant inside their vehicle until an off-duty TVF&R medic, who happened to be shopping nearby, offered immediate assistance. The support came ahead of responders from Engine 18 and a TVF&R truck, who were dispatched to the accident site. Despite the potential severity of such a crash, the involved individual sustained only minor injuries, and with a ladder braced against a shattered window, they managed to exit the toppled car— a testament to the swift collaboration between on- and off-duty firefighters…