ACFPD No. 1 responds to multiple collisions after first snowfall

The Adams County Fire Protection District No. 1 had a busy two days following the first major snowfall of the year.

On Dec. 15, ACFPD No. 1 received a call at 1:05 p.m. for a two-vehicle collision at Highway 395 milepost 96.

ACFPD Fire Chief Scott Kembel said the department deployed two trucks and five firefighters to the scene. No injuries were reported from the incident.

At 2:14 p.m., the department sent three trucks and nine firemen to a two-vehicle head on collision at Interstate 90 milepost 238. Crews had to use hydraulic rescue tools to extract both drivers from their vehicles.

According to a Washington State Patrol report, Ethan Boerner of Rathdrum, Idaho, was driving a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup when he lost control and traveled through the median striking a 2001 Kenworth semi truck towing a trailer.

The semi truck driver Donald Wilson, also from Rathdrum, and Boerner were transported to East Adams Rural Hospital and both vehicles were impounded by Pete’s Towing.

Washington State Patrol assisted crews at the scene and stated the cause of the collision was driving too fast for the conditions.

Kembel said crews responded to a few slide-offs before and after the incident. He noted the heavy traffic and bad weather contributed to the collision.

At 4:05 p.m., ACFPD No. 1 received a call for an SUV rollover on I-90 milepost 238. Kembel said crews were unable to locate the vehicle.

Forty minutes later, the department received a call for a non-injury vehicle rollover at Paha-Packard Road and Urquhart Road. Kembel said the department was canceled from the scene before they arrived.

ACFPD No. 1 received a call at 1:04 a.m. on Dec. 16 for a semi-truck rollover.

Kembel said there was a miscommunication between the dispatcher and caller. The report received was for a slide-off that occurred earlier in the day.

Kembel said the activity for the department rises usually during the first snowfall as motorists tend to speed even when the snow is falling.