New Concept To The Whole Department

As I said in my last blog, we train. . . A Lot. Most of our training is for structure fires, search and rescue, and MVA’s. However, a new threat has been introduced in Lee County that we have engaged in, and it could be more difficult than one thinks.

    Spearhead trail, an atv trail covering a wide span of ground, has recently opened. With enjoyment comes ignorance. I have rode the trail multiple times, and I have been on the majority of the trails. Blue trails are “beginner” trails, and black trails are “expert” trails. I am a fairly advanced rider, as are members of the department, but we have only ventured on three or four of the black trails just to get familiar with them if a need rises that we have to do a rescue. The trails are very challenging and really pose a threat to people that don’t know what they are doing. Even the blue trails are difficult, in my opinion. The trails wouldn’t be so dangerous if people knew their limitations and wouldn’t try to be daredevils and impress their girlfriends. On the rules and regulations you receive when you purchase the permit, that is actually stated in the rules of the trail. There is always going to be someone that wants to show off, and that is how accidents and injuries happen. We recently purchased a new side by side for rescue on the trail, so now we have two side by sides; a six wheeler and a regular four wheel side by side. As rough as the trails are, I sure wouldn’t want to ride on a stretcher, in the back of a side by side, out of there. Many of the trails have big drop offs on both sides. Therefore, we have started getting repelling gear gathered up in the unfortunate case of an incident like that occurring. We actually had a call of a four wheeler flipping one day while eight of us were up on the trails riding. We responded, and thankfully no one was hurt. Many of us on the department have our own ATV’s and such, and it has been agreed that we are going to keep them loaded up and ready to go, in the case we get paged out for anything on the trail.

This is a picture of one little piece of a trail on Spearhead

Proper Training

Firefighting is a skill that not everyone can partake in. It takes time, perseverance, sweat, blood, and tears to earn the title of a firefighter. It also takes courage, strength, and a mindset that when the tones drop, it could be your last day on Earth. A successful day is when everyone comes home safe. Obviously, though, firefighting is a very dangerous activity, and when your are not prepared right, tremendous catastrophes can result. Training is a key role in any career, especially one that can kill you. One training session can be the difference between life and death in a structure fire. If you don't know the difference between an attic ladder and an extension ladder, when a fellow firefighter is trapped on the roof, you will bring the wrong ladder. By the time you go to get the right ladder, the roof collapses, and just like that. . . he is gone. A small error, which could be prevented with the proper training, just ended your brothers life. That may sound gruesome, but that’s life. It is small errors that turn into catastrophic tragedies. There is a saying that we have hanging in the firehall; “When the going gets tough, and mistakes are made. . .it is those times you realize you should have trained harder.” Such a simple statement, yet it has such a big meaning. I will be the first to say that we don't train near as much as we should. When we do train, though, it is very intense, very focused, and very long. We train for many situations, but there is some things that just can't be trained for. For example, we have did senario search and rescue, mayday (firefighter down, in need of help), tight spaces, roof collapse,etc. When we train, though, there is no true danger, the building is not actually on fire, and to be completely honest, the whole aspect of training is different. We train with passageways being clear and sturdy floors. In reality, most of the time doors and hallways are blocked or on fire, and the floor is burnt, so the slightest pressure on it can collapse it. Those are not situations that can be simulated.It would be idiotic to put us in danger and harms way, when there is no threat to another persons life. But you better believe, the second someone else's life gets put in danger, we will go through hell and back to save them. The first one in and the last one out. That's when all the training pays off.