On January 24-26, PFD conducted multi-company training on Rapid Intervention Teams. The training took place at the Prattville Fire Dept drill tower. Unlike normal fire victim searches using two firefighters, RIT teams are designed to extricate injured/lost firefighters in hazardous conditions using 4-6 team members. The team must be prepared to overcome unknown obstacles in order to find/remove the downed firefighter. Proper training and teamwork are essential in RIT operations. In this month's drill, the teams were dispatched into a simulated 5 story building to find a missing firefighter. Once inside the building, the RIT team encountered collapse conditions and were challenged to overcome several confined space situations while locating the victim. Once the victim was located in near zero visibility, the team encountered a narrow hallway requiring the use of the “Denver Drill.” PFD medics were positioned at the egress point of the building and initiated simulated patient care upon the removal of the firefighter. RIT team training is extremely strenuous and enforces the need for a progressive physical fitness program within the department. The training was very successful and concluded a 3-month training focus on firefighter survival.
