This past Saturday, ten of Croton's Bravest - and a pair from Millwood Fire Department - spent the day reviewing techniques on how to save one of our own. This type of training is of unmatched importance and is a skill set any firefighter who puts on the gear needs to know.

Starting bright and early, we ventured over to the Metro-North Croton-Harmon Yard where we spent a couple of hours reviewing Large-Area Search. Using the Search Rope Kit utilized by members of our Firefighter Assist & Search Team (FASTeam), participants went over the basic concept of this search technique and took turns searching the warehouse. Our instructor, from First Due Training & Safety Consultants, shed some light on new ideas and concepts that our team is likely adding to our current operations.

Once we wrapped things up here, we took a ride south to the Millwood Fire Department's Training Center. Here, the instructors built a prop to simulate conditions that we can easily encounter where a downed firefighter is in a tight area and needs to be lifted up and out of a window. This type of training exercise is known as the "Denver Drill," as it was created after an incident with similar conditions that took the life of one of their firefighters (Mark Langvardt) happened on September 28, 1992. Since it is the duty of firefighters everywhere to never let a firefighter die in vein, this drill has been taught internationally in hope of never seeing this type of incident repeat itself.

Following this exercise, members participated in an exercise reviewing how to rescue members that may fall thru a floor during a fire. Similar to the Denver Drill above, this type of training is also named after a fallen brother in hopes of helping prevent this from occurring again. Engineer John Nance of the Columbus (OH) FD fell thru the floor of a commercial occupancy during a massive fire where - despite the heroic efforts of all firefighters on scene - he succumbed to his injuries before being rescued. Techniques used to lower a rescuer into the hole included using a charged hose line, a length of rope and the "Thru the Hole" rescue setup we carry that was created by Assistant Chief Chris Colombo. Members took turns as the rescuer lowered into the basement, as the victim and as the rescue team that hauled the rescuer and victim up to the 1st floor of the training house.

Also reviewed were some basic FASTeam procedures, tactics, equipment uses and ideas on how to keep this type of training as consistent as possible to keep our members prepared.

The Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department would like to thank Captain Donald DeRogatis and his crew from FDTSC for yet another great day of unmatched training.

We would also like to thank Metro-North Railroad and the Millwood FD for the use of their facilities.