February 12, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2001-14) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (334) 208-5806/Fax: (334) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org MOBILE FIREFIGHTERS TO REPLACE BROKEN BIKE Firefighters from Mobile Fire-Rescue Department will be presenting 6 year old Jermaine Sutton with a new bicycle on Wednesday, February 14, 2001 at approximately 3:45 p.m., at the Northgate Apartments located at 3250 Dauphin Street, Apartment J-14. THE STORY On Tuesday, January 30, 2001, Mobile firefighters were called to Northgate Apartments, located at 3250 Dauphin Street, to assist a child whose foot/leg became entangled in his bicycle. Friends and family members attempted to free Jermaine Sutton, 6, from the bicycle but were unable to. Mobile Fire-Rescue Department received the call at approximately 5:52 p.m. and Engine 15 from the Gus Rehm Station on Moffet Road responded to assist, arriving on the scene at approximately 5:59 p.m. Firefighters were unable to free his foot/leg either with the tools they had, so they called for Ladder Truck 10, also from Gus Rehm Station to assist with the Phoenix Tool (Jaws of Life). The second unit arrived shortly after and used the extrication tools to free Jermaine's foot but had to destroy the bike in the process. Knowing this was a Christmas present the family probably could not afford to replace, the firefighters went to the Mobile Firefighters Association and petitioned to purchase a new bike for Jermaine and agreed to do so. ###