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On the evening of
July 19, 2004, the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company held one of
their many Monday evening drills. One evolution consisted of a
major hazardous materials incident and the other was a confined
space rescue. Even though this was a department-wide drill with
all available members in attendance, each evolution offered it's
own unique challenges. Both scenarios were run simultaneously
but independently of each other. This not only tested the
department's tangible resources, but also it's manpower.
On arrival: oil truck vs. a pick-up carrying drums, both marked w/ class 3 placards. Both vehicles are leaking product with a victim on the ground. Captain Randy Chesanek oversees entry team's level "A" dress-out. Elevated view of HazMat decon area and confined space entry point. A firefighter in structural firefighting gear is moved through decontamination. An entry team member in a level "A" suit is
decontaminated. View front the "hot zone", waiting for decontamination. A priority at a confined space incident is to change the atmosphere for the victim. This is being accomplished with a portable ventilation system. A ladder is used to protect personnel working around the entry point, and to allow for air exchange with the confined space. Final positioning of the tripod prior to entry. A rescuer is readied to make entry. A change-of-direction pulley is
utilized on a belay/tag line to help prevent the rescue tripod from tipping over. Even with the tripod securely anchored, human safeties are placed at each tripod leg. An anchor plate is used to multiply the amount of available anchor points needed for the many lines. Firefighters Kristin Juda and William Kruse tend to belay/tag lines anchored via Rescue 14. Rescuers are lowered and hoisted from the confined space via a 4:1 pulley system.
On arrival: oil truck vs. a pick-up carrying drums, both marked w/ class 3 placards. Both vehicles are leaking product with a victim on the ground.
Photographs
courtesy of Chief James Meade
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