March is the month we celebrate the Irish heritage of America. Luck is a well-known phenomenon associated with Irish heritage. In the fire service, we do not depend on luck to survive the fireground, but sometimes it helps.
Around 1:30 a.m. on October 15, 2024, the Charlotte (NC) Fire Department responded to a reported house fire. First-arriving units found a large volume of fire in the attached garage extending to the main house. As the garage fire was being attacked, other units were assigned to check the main house for occupants and fire extension. The rapid intervention team (RIT) leader was performing his 360o survey of the fire building and recognized a compromised area in the second floor and alerted units to stay away. Just four seconds after that transmission, the second floor collapsed, sending firefighters tumbling. Trapped in the collapse was Firefighter Richard Anderson. His self-contained breathing apparatus cylinder was pinned in the debris and he was unable to self-extricate. A Mayday was issued, and attention was turned to rescuing Anderson. Once he was located, his air supply was secured, the cylinder was cut away, and he walked out of the collapse. Luck was definitely on his side. Learn more about this incident here, and check-out the Mayday Monday podcast to hear from Anderson and the incident commander, Battalion Chief Juan Pablo Soto.
SKILL/DRILL
For this month’s skill/drill, put yourself in the shoes of the RIT on the Charlotte fire. You are performing a size-up of the situation and a Mayday call is heard on the radio. A firefighter is trapped in the debris of the collapsed attached garage. In this scenario, the trapped firefighter is pinned by heavy debris that requires lifting. Get out your lifting equipment and practice. Place an old boot under a heavy object (think dumpster or concrete slab) and have your crews use a pry bar, air bags and/or hydraulic rescue tool and “rescue” the boot.
TRAINING OFFICERS
This is a great drill to apply the CRAWL-WALK-RUN technique of skill acquisition.
- CRAWL: Members gather the equipment and practice tool placement and perform the lift in a low-stress environment.
- WALK: Add stress by reducing the size of the work area and adding distractions.
- RUN: The trapped firefighter is in a smoke-filled room, requiring the rescue team to operate in zero-visibility
Let’s get ready for the worst-case situation. Don’t wait for the real thing…get out and practice. Hope for the best, but train for the worst!
Tony Carroll is deputy chief of operations with the Louisa County (VA) Fire & EMS Department.
