The Linden Fire Department has recently completed the final stage of a four part Technical Rescue Training class for 28 members of the department.
The technical training consisted of three disciplines, High Angle Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, and Trench Rescue. Each stage of the training was a one week class held at the Linden Fire Department’s training classroom and the Union County Fire Academy and taught by S.T.A.R.T. Rescue Training.
This Technical Rescue Training was only made possible through a $92,000 F.E.M.A. Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The 28 members that received the training are the newest members of the department, these members will not only keep Linden and Union County a safer place but ensure the development of the next generation of firefighters and fire service leaders.
The first discipline, High Angle Rope Rescue, was a 2 week class consisting of basic introduction to rope rescue the first week, a starting point in which they learned and became familiar with ropes, knots, equipment, repelling and safety. Then the second week was advanced rope rescue, learning proper techniques, advanced skills, team management, load factors and anchor systems. Confined space rescue was the third week of training. Using a lot of the rope skills they learned in the first 2 weeks along with their E.M.T. skills, they learned about hazard recognition, to manage rescue operations, and participate in various scenarios for team building. The fourth and final week was Trench Rescue, which teaches rescuers operational task functions for trench excavation collapse, proper shoring techniques and hands on skill stations in real trenches.
The $92,000 F.E.M.A. Assistance to Firefighters Grant made this training possible for the Linden Fire Department. Linden Fire Chief Joseph Dooley stated that “I truly believe that this training places the Linden Fire Department at a higher level of preparedness and we are better able to meet the challenges our profession faces”.