A Real EMS Story
Written by Joe Rose
On March 22nd, 2025, at 7:15 PM, our AmeriPro EMS team was dispatched to Parkview Tower, a high-rise apartment complex in New Albany, Indiana. The New Albany 911 Center advised our responding crew that a caller had reported the fire alarm sounding, along with the smell of smoke on the 7th floor.
Upon arrival, our crew staged alongside the New Albany Fire Department. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary as the fire department began assessing the scene. But just moments later, the situation escalated as reports came in of an active fire on the 4th floor. Multiple residents needed rescue, and several had sustained injuries.
In public safety, seasoned professionals often speak of “the big one”—a rare, career-defining event that first responders remember for a lifetime. It quickly became clear: this was the big one.
Through close coordination with the New Albany Fire Department, our EMS crews began receiving real-time updates from firefighters operating inside the structure. They quickly encountered multiple patients who had evacuated the building, many with varying degrees of injuries. As our teams initiated triage and treatment during the initial wave, the air was filled with the steady rhythm of radio traffic between the fire department’s battalion chief and the interior crews.
Then came a moment every first responder dreads
Amid the constant pulse of the fire alarm and the controlled chaos of the scene, a muffled transmission broke through: “Firefighter down!” In addition to caring for multiple civilian patients, our EMS crews quickly realized that a fellow first responder also needed their help, heightening the urgency of the situation
As EMS providers became increasingly inundated with patients, a Level 2 Mass Casualty Incident was declared, triggering a large-scale response that included nine ambulances. Additionally, five members of our leadership team were immediately activated to guide and support our 18 EMTs and Paramedics and two dispatchers dedicated to this incident.
Simultaneously, our communications team began notifying area hospitals of the developing situation, advising them to prepare for a potential influx of patients. Hospital availability was continuously monitored and updated throughout the incident to ensure efficient and appropriate patient distribution.
Paramedic and Field Training Officer Danny Jacobs, a longtime New Albany resident, lives just minutes from Parkview Tower. That evening, Danny was serving as the acting supervisor for our Southern Indiana operations while the primary supervisor was on vacation.
In accordance with our mass casualty incident protocol, Danny promptly called to notify Joe Rose, AmeriPro’s Kentucky and Indiana Director of Operations, of the developing situation. With over 30 years of experience as a paramedic and EMS leader, Danny immediately assumed the role of EMS Command—a critical position in any large-scale emergency.
It’s often said that the success or failure of a major incident hinges on the decisions made within the first 10 to 15 minutes. Without question, the effectiveness of our EMS response that night was a direct result of the swift, coordinated actions of our team and the steady leadership provided by Danny.
While en route to the scene, Joe Rose began monitoring radio traffic and mentally mapping out a response plan. His priorities were clear: Get as many ambulances to the scene as possible, notify our CEO, alert our Medical Director, inform area hospitals of multiple incoming patients, and ensure our crews are equipped to handle burn injuries and compromised airways.
Within minutes, Joe had successfully notified AmeriPro’s CEO, Medical Director, and several key leaders from both the Kentucky and Indiana teams. Reinforcements were on the way—the cavalry was coming!
While coordinating the EMS response for the incident, the decision was made to establish an EMS staging area, a designated rallying point just outside the immediate scene to manage the flow of resources and ensure safe ingress and egress. This staging site was set up near the intersection of East Cottom and Bono, located just moments away from the incident as seen below.
As Joe traveled north on State Street and approached the area, he turned right onto East Cottom and was met with a sea of flashing lights. There, he encountered six AmeriPro ambulances positioned in the staging area. He quickly stopped to speak with the Staging Officer for an update.
Dana Thomas, who was overseeing the staging operations, was actively coordinating EMS resources, including identifying ALS and BLS units and preparing them to enter the scene as directed by the EMS Incident Commander.
From there, Joe continued down Fischer Drive, parked his response vehicle along the sidewalk, and walked to the front of the building, where the incident command post had been established.
Upon arrival, Joe radioed Danny, who had been serving as EMS Command up to that point. “Car 901 to EMS Command, meet me at Side 1 near Engine 4 for a face-to-face,” he transmitted.
As Joe walked from his response vehicle to the command post, the gravity of the situation quickly became apparent. He passed several EMS crews assisting the Fire Department with patient movement to the triage area, personnel actively treating multiple patients, and a scene filled with emergency vehicles.
Within minutes, Joe and Danny assessed the current response strategy and finalized the EMS Incident Command structure. Due to the complexity of the incident, they expanded the initial framework to ensure clear leadership and effective coordination.
Joe assumed the role of EMS Command, joining the fire incident commander and emergency management officials at the command post. Danny transitioned into the role of EMS Operations Chief, overseeing several critical sectors: the triage sector, led by Paramedic and Field Training Officer Alex Weber; the treatment sector, led by Paramedic Jordan Boulard; and the staging sector, led by Advanced EMT and Field Training Officer Dana Thomas.
To further strengthen the response, Joe appointed Paramedic Supervisor Tammy Hall as EMS Logistics Section Chief, Communications Supervisor Brennan Bentley as Communications Section Chief, and Paramedic Supervisor Jennifer Ernspiker to lead peer support operations.
Over the course of approximately three hours, our team treated approximately 30 patients. Working in coordination with our mutual aid partners from Highlander Fire Protection District and Lynx Ambulance Service, nearly 20 of those patients were transported to area hospitals.
Once all patient transports were completed, the operation transitioned into the recovery phase. Crews moved quickly to restock supplies and reassign ambulances back to their primary service areas. Still coming down from the adrenaline and excitement of the incident, they loaded their equipment, climbed back into their units, and returned to the field—ready to serve the next patient in need.
The Day After
The next morning, as Joe reflected on the events of the night before, only two words came to mind: thankful and proud. In his decade-long career in EMS, this was the largest incident he had ever led. He found himself thinking back on the incredible efforts of the nearly 80 first responders involved—firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement, and emergency management officials—all working together under intense pressure.
As he reviewed the actions taken by his EMS team, it became clear just how extraordinary their performance had been. While the EMTs and paramedics on scene might humbly say, “We were just doing our job,” their rapid decision-making and exceptional prehospital care undoubtedly saved lives. They navigated complex medical scenarios involving multiple patients—at night, in a crowded parking lot—and handled each challenge without missing a beat.
Adding to that effort, there were several off-duty AmeriPro team members who, upon hearing of the incident, voluntarily responded to assist. Their willingness to jump in without hesitation speaks volumes about their dedication to the communities they serve.
This incident is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary work public servants perform every single day. These are the men and women in our communities who wake up, put on a uniform, and willingly step into harm’s way to help complete strangers.
Whether responding to a large-scale emergency like this or assisting someone who has simply fallen at home, our EMTs and paramedics show up—day in and day out—to deliver critical prehospital care when it matters most. They are a constant, quiet presence in every neighborhood, always ready to act.
So, the next time you see an EMS professional in your community, take a moment to thank them. A simple word of appreciation goes further than you might realize, it reminds them that their courage and compassion do not go unnoticed.
A Special Thank you to the AmeriPro Personnel Assigned to this Incident
- Joe Rose, Director of Operations (EMS Command)
- Daniel Jacobs, Field Training Officer (EMS Operations)
- John “Alex” Weber, Field Training Officer (Triage Officer)
- Jordan Boulard, Paramedic (Treatment Officer)
- Dana Thomas, Field Training Officer (Staging Officer)
- Kevin Washington, Operations Supervisor (Rehab Section Leader)
- Tammy Hall, Operations Supervisor (EMS Logistics Section Leader)
- Jennifer Ernspiker, Operations Supervisor (EMS Peer Support Leader)
- Brennan Bentley, Communications Supervisor (EMS Communications Section Leader)
- Dalton Henderson, Communications Specialist
- Ireka Abernathy, Communications Specialist
- Bailey Hawkins, Communications Specialist
- Isiah Cown, EMT
- Cyrus Calloway, EMT
- Travis Denny, EMT
- Dean Joplin, EMT
- Lucas Gainey, EMT
- Ashley Casseus, Paramedic
- Hannah Catt, EMT
- Noah Johnston, EMT
- Katherine Holt, EMT
- David Wate, EMT
- Christian Walker, EMT
- Danika Jacobs, EMT
- Charity Woods, EMT
- Autumn Thornburg, EMT
- Jonathan Lewis, EMT