Skip navigation.
Home » cape may


Area Firefighters Train to Save Their Own

Government | Tue, 03/31/2009 - 1:23 am | Updated 1 year 17 weeks ago | Read 2460 | Commented 10 | Emailed 1
Tags: cape may, Cape May City Fire Department

By Harry B. Scheeler Jr.

CAPE MAY—Firefighters enter an abandoned movie theater as it burns to search for trapped victims when the roof suddenly collapses. Now the firefighters are trapped and are in need of rescue, while it sounds like a plot to a Hollywood action film this scenario frequently occurs in the real world of firefighting.

That’s why The Cape May City Fire Department trains for these types of emergencies every month.

On Monday, March 30 Chief Jerome Inderwies, Jr. and Deputy Fire Chief Richard Lundholm of the Cape May City Fire Department hosted a drill at the 1950’s era Beach Drive movie theater to prepare for such an emergency.

Many may be wondering who rescues the firefighters when they need to be rescued.

The Rapid Intervention Crew or RIC teams also known as a firefighter assist and search team are who firefighters call when they find themselves in need of rescue.

This team of two or more specially trained firefighters is dedicated solely to search and rescue of other firefighters in distress. A RIC team has no other operational assignment during an incident.

While the RIC team concept is not universal, The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have requirements for some type of RIC at structure fires. These standards require that a minimum of two firefighters be standing by in full personal protective equipment while other crew members are working in a hazardous atmosphere. The standards are the result of a series of incidents where firefighters became lost, trapped, or disoriented while fighting a structure fire without a RIC team present, according to Wikipedia.org.

Cape May County firefighters who are RIC team certified receive an additional twenty hours of special operations training.

The Cape May City Fire Department has fifteen RIC team certified members and spends an average of eight hours monthly training with area fire departments.

The Erma, Villas, Townbank, and Coast Guard Fire Departments participated in the drill.

The County Fire Police and Lower Township Rescue Squad also assisted.

Contact Scheeler at 609-404-6515 or hscheeler@cmcherald.com

Print | Email Updated 1 year 17 weeks ago

Login or register to post comments

Comments (10)

We welcome your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Read our "Policies and Standards for Comments".

»

Thu, 04/02/2009 - 10:43pm - Posted by: 153

You all did an awesome job at the drill,

»

Tue, 03/31/2009 - 8:12pm - Posted by: Anonymous

To 3/31/09 @ 2:06pm. We appreciate your input, it seems like you may have been there and if you were last night was the time for comment and not this web site. Further more if you were paying attention there was a safety officer at the door performing accountablity and search ropes were being used.

»

Tue, 03/31/2009 - 7:59pm - Posted by: Anonymous

One word- Jealous

»

Tue, 03/31/2009 - 7:45pm - Posted by: Anonymous

To the person who wrote " One word --SQUIRRELS " I hope when you need these well trained firemen, None of those so called " SQUIRRELS "... show up...

»

Tue, 03/31/2009 - 7:19pm - Posted by: Anonymous

TO the 2:06 post, we used the hose line as the "rope" to search off of with the team leader staying in the center of the isle. The members broke off always behind the leader to search the isles then return to the center to continue. The teams did bring in a search line which would have been tied off if the area was wider to search and or if the hose line ended. As for the area we knew it was a movie theater with row seats. But it was a great drill and I think all companies enjoyed working together.

»

Tue, 03/31/2009 - 5:10pm - Posted by: Anonymous

One word --SQUIRRELS

»

Tue, 03/31/2009 - 3:06pm - Posted by: Anonymous

It looks like it was a well run drill, and probably very informative. However, the failure to station a firefighter at the door, and the failure to utilize a large area search rope system should be corrected. The radio traffic sounds like these guys have a good handle on RIT operations and air management, but the use of a search rope system in large undefined spaces is essential. Following that hoseline in only works if the FFs in distress haven't gotten separated from the line. But, overall, nice work guys.

»

Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:18am - Posted by: Anonymous

Thank you for showing this video. This scenario is what all firefighters fear. If and when the time comes we will be ready. We pray this never happens, yet we know it does all too frequently. Those who continue to trash firefighters on this web site need to understand the true dedication and time these firefighters put in.

»

Tue, 03/31/2009 - 8:54am - Posted by: Anonymous

Great teamwork by all involved. Nice drill guys.

»

Tue, 03/31/2009 - 8:40am - Posted by: Anonymous

Nice article! We are always greatful for these brave volunteers.
Who deserves the credit for the photo on the home page? It is spectacular!

I found it on myspace I was unable to find where it came from originally.- Harry B. Scheeler, Jr.



more topicsMOST RECENT SPOUT OFFS

more homes TOP HOMES


more classifieds TOP CLASSIFIEDS

Property Transfer Chart