(Left) Chattanooga firefighters shore up the trench with lots of lumber before lowering themselves down to look for victims. (Right) Senior Firefighter David Linam plays the role of a victim as he is safely lifted out of the trench by the firefighters.

Chattanooga firefighters have learned some of the latest trench rescue techniques from experts in the field, and today they are putting their new skills to the test. At a site located on the grounds of the Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Facility, two deep trenches were dug out for the drills. In this morning's exercise, the firefighters had to shore up the ditch so that they could safely climb down and search for victims. They eventually found the victim, which was a mannequin completely buried under loose soil. The mannequin was then replaced by a real victim so that firefighters could practice lifting a real person safely out of a deep trench.

After this morning's exercise is critiqued by instructors Kent Freeman and Stan "Kloppy" Klopfenstein with California Health & Rescue Training, the firefighters will take a break for lunch. Then they will be tested again this afternoon with an even larger ditch, with more victims and more challenges. Today's training is part of the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) training — funded with Homeland Security funds — that has been ongoing all summer. The Chattanooga Fire Department plans to field a USAR regional response team by the end of September.