Castine Volunteers Master Cribbing, Vehicle Anatomy, and Glass Management in Bucksport Drill

Castine, ME - Members of the Castine Fire Rescue Department devoted four hours on Saturday morning to intensive, hands-on vehicle extrication training in neighboring Bucksport, reinforcing critical life-saving techniques required to free trapped motorists.

The specialized operational session took place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, hosted on-site at Dave's Automotive and Towing, which provided practical training vehicles and workspace for the department.

The evolutions were led by instructor John Swick of Fire Tech & Safety, focusing on the tactical operation and deployment of the department's battery-powered AMKUS rescue tools, which were generously donated by the Castine Fire Rescue Volunteer Association.

Participating firefighters performed comprehensive evolutions centered on modern vehicle rescue challenges, including primary vehicle stabilization, box cribbing to eliminate unexpected movement, controlled glass management, and hydraulic spreading and cutting techniques to displace metal and create rapid patient egress.

Training evolutions also placed substantial emphasis on rescuer safety protocols, educating personnel on navigating undeployed side and curtain airbags, pressurized hydraulic struts, sharp jagged metal edges, and dangerous stored mechanical energy within modern vehicle frames.

Emphasizing methodical precision and patient safety over speed, department leaders underscored the critical importance of regular advanced training for the isolated coastal community, noting that with only a single road leading in and out of the Castine peninsula, local volunteers must remain exceptionally prepared to serve as the immediate, definitive rescue force when severe motor vehicle accidents occur.