ATHENS, NY — August 19, 2026 — Members of the West Athens-Lime Street Fire Company participated in Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) training with the Athens Volunteer Fire Department on Wednesday nite.

The joint exercise concentrated on recovering downed firemen from challenging situations. Firefighters trained in the Athens Community Center by using the building's attic, basement, and stairway.

Using ropes and handlines, crews rehearsed various techniques for extracting a fictitious downed firefighter from the basement. Working through fireman rescue scenarios in the attic and stairwell was another aspect of the training.

Firefighters from both departments had the chance to perform RIT operations and learn how to find and remove a firefighter who becomes unconscious during an emergency. The Athens Volunteer Fire Department thanked Jimmy Mac, its officers and all firefighters who attended the training.