DRACUT — Fire Chief Richard Patterson reports that the Dracut Fire Department, along with members from several other local departments, underwent intensive training on using saws in emergency response at the fire department last week.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, 24 firefighters from Dracut, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Hudson, N.H., Pelham, N.H., and Salem, N.H. participated in training provided by Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Assistant Chief for Training and EMS Stephen Shaw.
Assistant Chief Shaw is a 27-year veteran of the fire service who provided classroom and hands-on lessons to firefighters ranging from deputy chief to probationary members.
Members were able to train to use various saws for jobs ranging from cutting through concrete pipes and steel guardrails to cutting through garage doors and roofing.
Chief Patterson reports that saw work is a low-frequency, high-risk event for firefighters, which is why realistic, hands-on training to build skills is important.
Saw work can include venting structure roofs to help vent gasses and control the spread of fire, cutting through metal and other materials to rescue trapped victims, and gaining access to buildings during working fires.
“Using saws to open a roof is imperative to vent a fire, exhaust the heat and gases and allow the firefighters to locate the fire and victims much more efficiently,” Chief Patterson said. “We rarely cut garage doors, but when we have to it’s almost always because someone is trapped behind it or we need to gain access to fight a fire. Because it is a low-frequency occurrence, training needs to be realistic and allow all members to start, operate, clean, and change blades efficiently and effectively during a real incident.”
“With the support of the chief, the town and the union we were able to get a subject matter expert to deliver much-needed hands-on training with various power tools in the proper techniques to force and ventilate an overhead door,” said Dracut Fire Deputy Chief Alex Voulgaris. “Our members are now better prepared to do their jobs.”
“I want to express our gratitude to Assistant Chief Shaw, who shares his expertise to help keep members of the public and his fellow firefighters safer,” said Chief Patterson. “I would also like to thank the members of the Dracut Fire Department, who work hard every day to ensure we are ready when our community needs us.”