Ferrisburgh and Vergennes Responders Simulate Full Vehicle Disassembly in Collaborative Exercise

Ferrisburg, VT - First responders from the Ferrisburgh Volunteer Fire Department and the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad (VARS) collaborated Saturday for an intensive, hands-on vehicle extrication drill focused on technical tool operations and patient-centered care.

The joint exercise took place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, offering personnel from both agencies a controlled environment to align clinical protocols with mechanical rescue maneuvers. The evolution gave newer firefighters practical seat time operating hydraulic spreaders, cutters, and stabilization gear, practicing complex glass management, door displacement, and full roof-removal evolutions.

A key focus of the drill centered on the psychological and physical experience of a trapped motorist. VARS personnel were positioned inside the passenger cabin as firefighters operated heavy powered equipment around them, offering emergency medical technicians direct insight into the noise, vibration, and sensory challenges patients endure during a technical rescue.

Both organizations noted that experiencing extrication from the inside out underscores the critical need for constant verbal reassurance, patient shielding, and clear communication between rescue technicians and treating paramedics on active roadway scenes across Addison County.