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Huron Expositor, 2000-05-31, Page 66 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, May 31, 2000 News Fire Chief still haunted by carnage from worst -ever accident on 40! By Susan Hundsrtmark Expositor Staff Lakeshore Fire Chief Bob Tapak almost turned around when he caught his first glimpse of the second worse multiple -vehicle accident in North America last Sept. 3. He was driving through dense fog to the scene and as he neared the 401 between Windsor and Chatham, a window opened briefly in the fog and "it was all I could do not to find a turn-off and get lost in Essex somewhere," he told close to 100 firefighters at an area meeting of the Firefighters Association of Ontario in Seaforth on Sunday. "A tanker had split in two and there was 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel on fire with fatalities and many injuries. I didn't want to go there-," he said. Tapak, whb led the command team during the accident which involved 87 known vehicles, 10 deaths, 78 injuries and 97.5 fire truck hours during the two-day emergency response, was visibly disturbed by video clips he shared of the accident: "Ten months later and it's still with me everyday," he said of the experience, adding that while he's made the same presentation several times to firefighters across southwestern Ontario, it's always difficult. "It's hard but if one or two of the chiefs learn something, it's worthwhile. It doesn't have to be the 401. It could he an overturned tanker in the middle of your town," he said. • Tapak walked the group through a moment -by - moment account of his experience at the scene. He said the fog that Friday morning had reduced visibility jn the Windsor area from 6 miles at 7 a..m. to zero miles at 8:27 a.m. and the first dispatch was received at 8:10 a.m. Tapak, who was home drinking coffee and planning his weekend when the call came in that Friday morning, said he didn't yet know his weekend had been planned for him. "My wife said, 'Take your time. You're not a very good driver,"' he said. Tapak, who had retired from the Windsor fire department "to do nothing" had been convinced to run the Lakeshore fire department a few years earlier until the local municipalities amalgamated. He said the six different fire departments called to the scene, along with ambulance and police, all worked together very well. "Everyone left their egos at home that day. There were no heroes except for the guys who were on the scene 18-20 hours," he said. The first ti the scen • nothing coordinates the, rc given and continued up the road looking for the accident. "In order to see the road, they did what no firefighter is supposed to do. They had to roll down the windows to see the white dots on the road. As firefighters, we're not supposed to take those kinds of chances but the day was very, very foggy," he said. He said when firefighters reached the flaming tanker truck, they didn't yet realize they hadn't reached the main scene, which was still half a mile down the highway. The "hot zone" involved five transport trucks and 15 vehicles all crashed together and all on fire. Tapak said one of the first people he encountered when walking onto the 401 was his sister-in-law, who had been involved in the accident. • "She had been hit six or seven times and had a broken wrist, arm and collarbone. She was one of the lucky ones," he said. His sister-in-law was concerned that Tapak's niece was further along in the hot zone and Tapak said that because he had to take command of the situation, he couldn't stop and help find his niece. - "There was nothing I could do and I felt guilty for a few days. I found out at 1 p.m. that she had taken another route that. day and wasn't in the accident," he said. Because of the size and devastation of the accident, Tapak said there were concerns they would run out of water. By 10 a.m., he knew firefighters were going to be 'on the sc.ene at least until evening and TaOak had to begin ordering more water• and food for the firefighters. By 11 a.m., Tapak declared the scene a state of emergency and the air ambulance arrived. Arriving as well were helicopters and planes full of media, which Tapak said "filled the sky like the Kussian airforce." Trucks full of bottled water and Coca-Cola were involved in the accident and the drivers opened them up and started distributing drinks. • "I drank 12-14 bottles of water that day, without Scotch. The Labatt's truck we got rid of right away," he joked. There was a news conference around 2 p.m. and at 4 p.m., Tapak went home and came back at 9 p.m. "The reason I left the scene is because you can't operate under that kind of stress and ') a good job. You do stupid kings when you stay in command that long and you say stupid things to the press that you can't take back," he said. News of the crash was on every television station across Canada and the United States and Tapak's wife took phone calls from Florida to Ste. Sault Marie, some of them asking for Tapak's cell phone number, which his wife did -not release. Showing pictures of the black, charred and twisted said. One of the Lakeshore firefighters said he'•II never forget the screams of a 14 - •year -old girl who was trapped in a vehicle and died. A firefighter asked Tapak what he would do if a similar incident happened in March when weather conditions would be worse. "We'd do the same thing but it would be tougher. The tapes can't describe what we were into there. The guys did a marvellous job under very trying circumstances." he said. The night after the 401 reopened following the multiple -car accident firefighters were called there again to another accident. "My guys had another roll- over there that night. I mean. hello! I guess it's part of the game," he said. Sit PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES to Review Draft Ambulance Deployment Strategy For Huron County The County of Huron, as part of the Provincial downloading of services, will take on the. delivery of ambulance services on January 1, 2001. You are invited to attend a public open house, between the hours listed below, to review and provide comments on a Draft Ambulance Deployment Strategy that has been prepared for Huron County. The open houses are being held on the following: MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2000 Between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Hensall United Church TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2000 Between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Blyth Anglican Church For real peace of mind, look for thi, symbol (.,t protection. We provide insurance protection that lets you sleep at night. That's because the collective strength of our 50 community based mutual insurers makes us among the most financially secure insurance networks in the world. For you, it means friendly knowledgeable service from people who understand your needs and provide the protection and service you want. Sebringville 1/4ul a7. jia,m'e my�aiy 393-6402 • 1-800-263 1961A NemOef Of me At onsano Yusaa mrwance assocrara+• Susan Hundertmark photo Shoniberg Fire Chief Bruce Jessop and Shomberg firefighter Joe Huson look over' some of Seaforth's tanker trucks during Sundays meeting of the Firefighter's Association of Ontario in Seaforth. remains of Vehicles in the accident, Tapak said police had to take vehicles apart like jigsaw puzzles to see if anyone's charred remains were left in the burned -out vehicles. "That's a Honda Accord, believe it or not," he said of one picture. "And, the people got out of there." A refrigeration truck was ordered in which to store the remains of victims. When it was all over, 228 firefighters and 30 pieces of equipment had been used on the scene. Tapak said he was in charge until the fire was out, and then the police and Ontario coroner took over. During an incident stress session for firefighters two days after the accident, Tapak said it was more difficult to talk about the accident than to actually be there. "What I remembered most was the roar of the fire and the constant radio chatter," he William Street to be paved in July Tuckersmith Township council at its May 2 meeting, accepted a tender of $97,905 from Lavis Contracting Company for construction of William Street in Egmondville. The road construction, which begins in July, will complete the curbs and gutters and paving of William Street. The tender for 597, 905 was accepted despite an earlier estimate of $91,000 for the project from the engineers. "We'll just have to pull that additional $7,000 from the budget of another construction project," said clerk -treasurer Jack McLachlin. A second tender of $140,924.42 was also received for the project from Yundt Brothers Construction. Council accepts gravel tenders Tuckersmith Township council at its May 2 meeting also accepted a tender from Jennison Construction to supply and haul 20,000 tonnnes of B gravel at $2.90 per tonne and of A gravel at $4.10 per tonne for the reconstruction of the Second Concession in the London Road survey. Skateboarders damaging benches on Main Street At least oris town bench has had to be removed and resanded from damage caused by skateboarders. All the benches, put up on town street and in a small park area by the Post Office, were sanded and refinished for this year, said John Forrest, road superintendent at council's May 9 meeting. "Some of the benches have already been badly scraped by skateboards," said Forrest. The benches have been on the street for Tess than a month. "The police have seen this and warned the kids," said Forrest, adding he hopes that will stop the problem. Hospital foundation, council partner on student The Seaforth Hospital Foundation and the Town of Seaforth are currently sharing a college student for a four-week placement. The Business Retention and Expansion committee brought the idea to the town's attention, reported deputy administrator Cathy Garrick at council's May 9 meeting. • While working from home,the Conestoga College student will he able to work on brochures for the Seaforth Museum and the hospital foundation and may be available to assist with some of the museum's cataloguing. .The four weeks is part of computer component of the student's business program at the college and the town and foundation will pay her mileage when she comes to town to meet with staff regarding her work. . fe`"/i"���`�"e g rez1-888-269-0377 Call LYNDA VINCENT at 527-2204 or toll free We've Earned the Trust o , Thousands Experience the medical miracle of LASIK — a painless, proven procedure that has permanently corrected thousands of cases of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The Windsor Laser Eye Institute is a world leader to laser refractive surgery. 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