Copyright 2006 Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Inc.
All Rights Reserved 
 
By KIM RING
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE (Massachusetts)
 
BRIMFIELD, Mass. — In 2001, it was a rescue at the cliffs of High Rocks in East Brookfield that tested firefighters' skills.

A year later, specially trained rescuers plucked a worker from a 100-foot-high perch beneath the Massachusetts Turnpike and above the Quaboag River in Brimfield.

Both men survived.

Yesterday, using a complex series of pulleys and ropes and under the watchful eyes of trainers Dan Meloche of Better Products Co. and Worcester Fire Lt. John J. Griffin, firefighters from around New England safely raised Rescue Randy from below the Brimfield Dam.

"He doesn't look good," a woman walking her dog remarked as they passed the putty-colored, life-sized dummy lying in a rescue basket awaiting a trip to the top of the dam.

Before long, the command for tension on the yellow rope came. The basket was lifted and a trainee, attached with ropes, steered it over the steep, rocky incline.

Other rescue exercises yesterday involved volunteers playing the role of victims.

High-angle rescues are not common, but when the special skills are needed, having properly trained personnel is crucial.

"Will they use everything they're doing today on one rescue? Probably not," Mr. Meloche said. "But they will use some part of it on every rescue."

The high-angle rescue training is an advanced course that spans three days. Firefighters, some from nearby communities including Ware, West Brookfield and Worcester, spent a day in the classroom before setting out to test their knowledge with hands-on simulated rescues.

The terrain at the Brimfield Dam is steep and rocky. It could be similar to a site where a rescue might actually be needed - or it could be very different.

"We train for rescues on high rises, like in the city, where you see window washers up on scaffolding," Mr. Meloche said. "The techniques are the same."

The firefighters learn to use ladders not for climbing, but as a point from which ropes are fanned out and used to lift a victim from a ravine.

The rescues revolve around engineering - attaching pulleys to the load rather than a stationary object to lessen the weight for those doing the pulling.

"In cases like this, an instruction book isn't enough," Mr. Meloche said.

Seven of the students in this weekend's class are instructors at the state firefighting academy in Stow honing their skills.

Ware Firefighter Randy J. Wessels said the training is needed, although many departments find the cost of the equipment prohibitive.

"It's expensive," he said. "Just to set up a department, it's going to be expensive, but you need it."