News

Methuen FD responds to 30 ice-related 911 calls

METHUEN, Mass. — Tuesday was a very busy day for emergency responders.

Ice-related 911 calls had the Methuen Fire Department phones constantly ringing. Fire Chief Tim Sheehy said between 6 a.m. and noon, firefighters responded to 30 ice-related 911 calls, maxing out their fleet.

>> WATCH: School bus full of kids slides down road in Sutton

"We had a gentleman who fell, slipped and fell back on his head. A little contusion and bleeding on his head. He was OK, conscious, alert," said Private Sean Wholley, Methuen Fire Department.

On I-93 north, traffic was reduced to a crawl Tuesday after a car slid into a ditch.

The ice also made it tricky for first responders. Sheehy says one of the fire trucks was heading back form a call, going two miles an hour, when it hit black ice.

"The truck started sliding and slid into a guardrail. No damage to the guardrail, but the bumper of the truck got scratched up a bit," said Sheehy.

Sheehy says he's planning to hire additional firefighters, as well as another ambulance, to be able to respond to all of the ice-related calls.

WATCH THE FORECAST | DOWNLOAD THE APPS