The heat is on today for Chattanooga firefighters, literally and figuratively. They have been learning Urban Search and Rescue techniques for the past couple of months, and in recent days have been practicing rescue procedures involving collapsed structures. Their instructors are from the New York Fire Department and they are experts in the field of structural collapse.
Last Friday, a two-story brick building located at 1516 McCallie Avenue was demolished in preparation for today’s exercise. Adult and child mannequins were placed in the building. Then, under the direction of the New York experts (please see attached photos), public works crews using a huge track hoe razed the building.
Despite today’s blazing temperatures, the firefighters will be on site for a realistic training exercise. Their mission is to locate and rescue the “victims” in the collapsed structure. They will be using lots of specialized equipment, including high-tech search cameras that can snake through the rubble to find the victims. It will be hot, dangerous work maneuvering in the tons of debris piled up 15 to 20 feet high. News media are welcome to stop by any time today, but our instructors said the best action will occur after 1:00 p.m. Note to TV media: If you’re interested, we can videotape some footage from inside the rubble and provide it on VHS tape.
 Firefighters place the “victims” inside the structure before demolition. |  Firefighters will have to search through all of this rubble to find the victims. |