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BLACKSTONE VALLEY, MA - Firefighters in the Blackstone Valley can rest a little easier at the next building fire they respond to because they know if they or one of their brothers gets into a jam, they now have a few new “tools in their toolbox” to rescue a downed firefighter or get themselves out of a predicament.

Last month, the members of the loosely formed Blackstone Valley Firefighters Training Group presented and participated in a firefighter safety and survival seminar that had been planned out for about six months. The training group is, at this time, an informal group of firefighters from a number of Blackstone Valley fire departments who many times work together at incidents due to manpower constraints. It was decided by a core group of these firefighters that an impetus to training was needed, and with several fire chief’s blessings, the training group was born. Douglas Fire Lt. Kent Vinson and Uxbridge Firefighter Joe Nedder took the reins of the group and have been leading their brothers down a much improved and safer path with regards to firefighter safety.

Nedder and Vinson, who both are certified instructors with the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, took it on their own to organize, book, and present a first-rate weekend Safety and Survival Seminar for many of the firefighters in the Blackstone Valley. The pair was very fortunate to secure the services of a nationally renowned fire instructor and author Rick Kolomay from the Schaumburg IL Fire Department whose area of expertise is firefighter safety and survival as well as Rapid Intervention Team training. Kolomay, along with friend and co-author Bob Hoff who is an Assistant Chief of Training in the Chicago Fire Department, wrote a book many consider to be ‘the Bible’ of Rapid Intervention Team training manuals.

Kolomay and Hoff have also traveled all over the country providing training that helps keep firefighters alive and well. Chief Hoff was not able to attend the Douglas training, but Kolomay did bring in two other veteran firefighters and co-instructors, Lt. Pat Lynch a 20-plus year veteran of the Chicago FD Squad 5 and Lt. Vinny Russell, longtime member of the Boston FD, currently in charge of Engine 10. Together, these three instructors imparted a wealth of information to all the seminar’s attendees.

Participants learned about case studies in which firefighter fatalities resulted. They were instructed in how to recognize these situations, techniques on how to deal with a similar situation, and more importantly, were given the opportunity to physically practice getting out of these hazardous, life-threatening situations in a monitored, controlled training atmosphere.

Firefighters were taught Rope Assisted Search Procedures (RASP) where searching firefighters use a rope anchored outside the building to assist them in expeditiously exiting the fire building should conditions unexpectedly deteriorate. A more aggressive use of thermal imaging is also incorporated into the procedure, using the camera to actively search large unobstructed areas that are shrouded in smoke.

Another concept that Rick Kolomay has introduced into his program is that of ‘Take the rear!’. Research has determined that some 65-70% of all residential fire victims felled by smoke or fire collapse somewhere in the back of the residence, usually trying to use the everyday exit to flee the building. In the ‘Take the rear!’ procedure, two firefighters armed with an extension ladder and the appropriate forcible entry and ventilation tools, go immediately to the rear of the building and open up and make a limited search of the various means of egress located at the rear of the fire building. This is done while other crews perform standard engine and ladder company duties from the front of the building.

The benefits of getting the rear of the building are many; ventilating helps to lift smoke and heated gases up and away from trapped occupants giving the best chance for their survival, and if the victims are in the rear of the building they can be found and removed much more quickly. They do not have to be dragged through the rest of the house to be brought out the front. It also benefits advancing hose crews by giving them additional visibility so they can reach the seat of the fire much more quickly.

And lastly, if doors are forced open in the rear, this gives interior firefighters additional means of egress if things unexpectedly go bad. These new concepts, coupled with practice of essential fire skills formed the basis for a very informative and educational weekend.

Lt. Vinson and Firefighter Nedder stated that the main reason for their efforts in organizing such a program was to promote firefighter safety throughout the fire departments in the Blackstone Valley. They feel that the number one priority of a fire instructor is to give your students adequate education and the tools to get them home safely once the job is done.

The class is very timely. Just recently the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and 14 partnering fire service organizations have called for all fire departments in the nation to conduct a “stand down” for firefighter safety beginning Tuesday, June 21. As of May 1, there have been 50 line-of-duty firefighter deaths – that is 10 more than at this same time last year.

A stand down is a method used by the military to correct an issue that has been identified as a problem throughout its ranks. The IAFC and its partners are urging fire departments to suspend all non-emergency activity on June 21 and instead focus entirely on firefighter safety.

“Firefighters are being killed at an alarming rate. The fire service simply cannot continue to do business as usual when so many of its own are dying,” said IAFC President Chief Bob DiPoli. “We are conducting the stand down to raise awareness of the need for increased vigilance toward fire fighter safety.”

Nedder and Vinson and the rest of the Blackstone Valley Firefighters Training Group will continue to teach their firefighters to remain safe and stay out of harm’s way. The pair would like to thank all the Instructors, Douglas Fire Chief Donald Gonynor, The Douglas Firefighters Association, and the Webster Rescue Squad. The group plans to organize future training sessions. Also, any Blackstone Valley fire department who is not currently involved with the training group and would like to get involved or ask any questions, Lt. Kent Vinson requests you contact him through Douglas Fire Department Headquarters.