Fire department keeps skills honed with monthly, annual training

Photo By Cedar Wolf | Fort McCoy firefighters complete a rope and confined space scenario May 7, 2021, at the garrison's Combined Arms Collective Training Facility (CACTF). This training is part of the Fire Department's annual technical rescue refresher, which is completed over the course of four days.  

FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

06.07.2021

Story by Aimee Malone 

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

Personnel with the Fort McCoy Fire Department worked on keeping their rescue skills sharp with a two-day technical rescue scenario conducted May 7-8 at the installation.

While the Fire Department is responsible for the sorts of situations that most people think of — such as structural fires and wildfires — personnel are also responsible for technical rescue, Station Chief Arthur Gerpoltz said.

“We’re also responsible for ropes rescue, structural collapse, trench rescue, and confined space rescue,” Gerpoltz said. “Those types are under the broader umbrella of technical rescue.”

May’s training focused on ropes rescue. This skill set involves fashioning harnesses out of ropes to move both equipment and personnel in and out of places that other equipment is not able to reach, such as pits or shafts.

“We … put a scenario out that there was a trapped worker who fell down a three-story elevator shaft, and then my personnel were given the task of retrieving them out of there,” Gerpoltz said. “We developed ropes systems to send down two rescuers and all the packaging equipment to retrieve that hurt individual.”

The fire department is split into two shifts, and both shifts completed the training on different days. Both shifts also recently completed a four-day scenario in which the firefighters rescued workers who’d been overcome by gas fumes from a mock sewer.

The large scenarios are conducted annually, but the fire department trains monthly on the skills required for technical rescue, such as the ropes skills. Gerpoltz said it’s extremely important for firefighters to keep their skills sharp.

“Part of our responsibility is not only to respond but to train, and we train a tremendous amount to make sure we are always ready to serve our community,” Gerpoltz said. “Being a firefighter or EMT (emergency medical technician) or diver … takes a tremendous amount of dedication and support from the community and Fort McCoy.”

The continual training means that Fort McCoy firefighters are ready for action whenever an emergency arises, whether it’s on post or in the surrounding area.

“We have to train so that we’re competent in the ability to deliver that type of service to not only McCoy, but the surrounding community, as well,” Gerpoltz said. “That’s why we train and train and train — to make sure we’re ready to respond.”

• Date Taken: 06.07.2021
• Date Posted: 06.07.2021 15:18
• Story ID: 398317
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US