Firefighters Learn Extrication Techniques in Dalton
DALTON, Mass. — On a chilly and early Saturday morning, more than a dozen new to early-in-their-career firefighters came out to meet with training officers and veterans to learn some valuable skills.
This morning? The proper techniques of extrication from an automobile.
Using a mixture of hydraulic and hand tools from Hurst, the trainees cut into two separate cars and pulled them apart piece by piece.
This was the sixth of seven planned classes, with the final class to be a live fire training drill still to be scheduled. Leading the this extrication class was Dalton Fire Department's Lt. Dave Thomas, with the assistance of Lt. Devon Whalen of Lanesborough Fire Department and Corey Wilcox of Lee Fire Department.
The training program began with Dalton Fire Department, said Thomas, but quickly spread countywide as other smaller fire departments joined in to train together and share their wealth of knowledge. For new recruits, the classes act as a great primary to taking the Massachusetts Fire Academy 1-2 Certification class in Springfield.
The classes have been designed with a mixture of lecture and practical application with a major emphasis on safety. Previous classes have covered topics such as proper hose training, venting and forcible entry.
Despite the brisk weather and early morning, the trainees have been very engaged and eager to learn according to Thomas. Trainees have come from departments all over the county, including Dalton, Lee, Richmond, Lanesboro, Hinsdale and New Ashford.
One of the topics discussed heavily while training was also the proper way to present yourself as a professional firefighter in this day and age of social media as many departments around the country have come under scrutiny for posting videos of fires or incidents to which they've responded. Any small error or way something in particular is handled can became a major public relations issue for a department.
Thomas hopes to continue offering the classes and training in the future with the aid of his fellow veteran firefighters and the support of the departments countywide.
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