Forts Lake / Franklin Creek VFD Fatality 2004

Lieutenant Eiland was the driver of a medium sized brush/rescue truck (F350) responding to the report of a brush fire. An engine company was also responding to the incident but was delayed by a train. The right front tire of the brush/rescue vehicle left the paved surface of the road, Lt. Eiland overcorrected to the left, and the vehicle entered a clockwise spin. The brush/rescue truck entered the ditch and flipped end-over-end and came to rest on its roof. Another firefighter passenger was able to get out of the vehicle. Other firefighters arrived on the scene but were not able to remove Lt. Eiland from the vehicle. Mutual aid was requested for extrication. Lt. Eiland was removed from the vehicle approximately 30 minutes after the crash and transported to a local hospital. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.