Department: East Ridge (Tenn.) Fire Department
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Photos by Bill Carson/www.carsonphotos.net
On Jan. 4, 2007, firefighters with the East Ridge (Tenn.) Fire Department assembled for their weekly training at East Ridge Fire Station 1. The training would quickly prove to be rather different than what they’re used to. Fire crews had assembled two confined tunnels using pallets. The first tunnel was a triangular shape that features a small space through which firefighters had to crawl. The second tunnel was not as tight, but it featured ropes and wires strung back and forth, creating a very difficult obstacle.
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Firefighters had to devise the best course and then maneuver though the course wearing full turnout gear with an air pack. Some of the firefighters removed their air bottle packs and moved them through the spaces in front of them while still breathing air through their mask, and then re-donned the pack after they were through. However, the second obstacle was not as easy to maneuver through. In this part of the training, firefighters were required to leave their packs on. They had to learn how to get free if they got stuck.
The East Ridge firefighters all made it through the training with little difficulty. Training like this keeps firefighters on their toes and reinforces their ability to deal with strange situations inside a real fire.