Category Archives: Training

Hose Training

Tonight we had a good practice session on how to deploy hose from our engine on the main floor up a staircase and down a hall to a room.  Not all fires and hose deployments are simple so this was good practice for all in how to work around corners and up stairwells.

Ice Rescue Training

Last night RVFC participated in ice rescue training with companies 31, 50 and Gamber’s dive unit. A 30 minute in-station powerpoint was presented first describing how to secure the scene and methods of rescue.  Then all companies (including E412, E413, S414, SU418, U419 and M415 from 41) went to the Department of Natural Resources game farm off of Gwynnbrook Road in Owings Mills for practical ice rescue training.  A whole was cut in the 8″ thick ice and volunteers in wet suits went into the water and then were rescued.

Busy night with several MVCs

After having a reasonably quiet November we are ending the month with a very busy Tuesday night.  Tonight we were alerted for a house fire in 56’s area just south of us.  E412 and S414 were both on the road but then canceled upon E56’s arrival.

Then shortly after that around 9pm tonight Station 41 was alerted for a rescue box with a patient trapped north of us on Route 30.  S414 arrived and took command and then E412, T404, E422, M505 and several other apparatus arrived.  One patient was trapped in the vehicle and S414 and T404 worked to extricate the person. After about 15 minutes with the spreaders and cutters on the car the person was extricated.  A helicopter was requested for transport but was not able to fly due to the poor weather so the patient was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

E412 arrived back in station and within 10 minutes were alerted, along with S414 and several other stations for another person trapped in their vehicle.  The location was not clear and it took several minutes to find the vehicle which, again, was on Route 30.  One patient was trapped in a vehicle off the side of the road and T404, E412 and S414 worked to extricate the person from their vehicle.  The patient was transported to a local hospital by ambulance.

Hose and foam training

Last night E412 and S414 went out in Reisterstown and did some foam and hose training. E412 is one of the few engines in the county that has a Compressed Air Foam System.  We use CAFS as part of our standard operating procedures as it has many advantages over plain water.  It performs a faster knock down and absorbs more heat with less water.  This will limit property damage and increase firefighter safety.

The foam is essentially dish soap and the picnic table was washed off before we left.

VES and RIT Training

Tonight Chief Murray led the crews through vent, enter, search (VES) and RIT training. Three stations were setup and the crew was split up through each of the stations. This training is some of the most basic and most important for rescuing people or firefighters that are trapped.