ROCKPORT, MA — April 13th — Firefighters from Gloucester, Ipswich, Essex, and Manchester-by-the-Sea gathered at Central Station for the Rockport, Massachusetts Fire Department's second annual advanced Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) training. Instructors from the Boston, Hartford, and Providence fire departments delivered both classroom instruction and practical rescue situations during the training. In order to replicate difficult fireground conditions, firefighters performed low-visibility operations, window entry and exit procedures, wire entanglement scenarios, and restricted-space maneuvers.

According to officials, RIT training is still an essential component of fireground safety operations and focuses on firefighter rescue during emergencies. Since several departments frequently need to collaborate during emergency responses in real-world firefighter rescue operations, the experience also demonstrated the significance of mutual aid coordination.