Evans
Center teams up with Eden
to do Large Area Search Training
Mid-Town – March 19, 2002
Under the direction of Instructor Tom Partridge, Senior Fire Radio Coordinator for the Town of Hamburg and past chief of the Newton-Abbott Fire Company, about 30 firefighters from the Eden and Evans Center Fire Departments learned some large area search tricks tonight.
Partridge's presentation covered the basics of search and rescue to the unique challenges created by having a large area to search for a victim, whether it be a civilian or a downed firefighter. The techniques learned could be helpful in effecting a search and rescue in such large open areas as malls, apartment buildings, warehouses, manufacturing plants and schools.
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| Eden Asst. Chief Dave Cole (right) benchmarks the timing of the exercise and the progress of the search crews during the hands-on exercise | Eden Chief Paul Laing gives direction to the search crews about to go into the large storage building | Instructor Tom Partridge confers with the chiefs on strategies for establishing "control" of the large area search operation |
After the thorough presentation by Instructor Partridge, the crews then met at the Wm. Henry Farms at the corner of Rte. 62 and Rte. 75 near Eden's border with the Town of Hamburg. There the teams used Evans Center's team rope bag to search a large storage building. Both departments tested their thermal imaging cameras in the exercise as well.
The firefighters learned and practiced valuable skills as part of their continual training as Rapid Intervention Teams, a service each department provides to the other to support on-scene efforts.
Photos by: Tiger Schmittendorf/EVANS CENTER PIO
Firefighting is not for everyone – but volunteering can be. Evans Center offers limited duty memberships in the areas of Fire/Rescue only, Fire Police only, Emergency Medical Services Only, Water Rescue only, or Associate only. Associate members support the fire department through administrative, technology, fund-raising, clerical and other non-emergency business functions.
If you or anyone you know are interested in volunteering, please do not hesitate to contact the Evans Center Fire Company at 716/549-1221 or fill our our feedback form or e-mail to: info@ecvfc.org
