RESCUE ME

RESCUE ME — Firefighters from the Union City Fire Department spent time in the pool last week at Aloha Pools & Spas in Union City for urban floodwater rescue training, which acquainted them with the basics and the dangers involved. All three shifts were able to train while on duty, with UCFD Lt. Mike Fussell and Firefighter First Class Matt Hoffman serving as instructors. Training Chief Rick Stacks said firefighters were taught how to use the water rescue sled (boat) and how to navigate flooded streets using feeler poles to look for open manholes and sinkholes created by flooded sewers and ditch banks. Among those in the water with the boat (photo above) at midday Aug. 5 were Hoffman (foreground), who was playing the victim, as firefighter Will Harris (center left) and Lt. Dale Webb swam toward him with the boat. On the opposite end were (background, from left) Fussell, Firefighter First Class Kevin Steele and Stacks, who was recording the exercise. In another scenario (photo below), firefighter Will Simmons gave a thumbs-up as he held “trapped victim” Hoffman to signify he was ready to be pulled to shore by firefighters anchoring him from the other end of the pool. Simmons had a carabiner and rope attached to him. Personnel were also taught rope throws to victims who may be caught up in swift water and use of a safety line to walk victims from a flooded residence to safety. Union City Fire Chief Karl Ullrich said it was very kind of Aloha to allow the UCFD to use a pool to become familiar with new equipment and learn new techniques.