Highland-Pierron Fire Department hosts training exercise

Highland-Pierron Fire Department hosted a unique training opportunity Aug. 22 that involved specialty equipment, high-risk situations, and over 40 firefighters from at least eight organizations.

Trench rescues are not a common emergency but require high levels of training and unique equipment to create a safe scene when they do occur. With rescuers having a 65% chance of also becoming victims, operating as safely as possible under high stress is vital.

Only rescuers who have undergone extensive training and certification are allowed to enter a trench environment, so this training was geared towards demonstrating how initial first responders can help secure the scene and be ready to help when those with higher training and specialty equipment arrive.

In this area, crews from St. Clair Special Emergency Services and Troy Fire Protection District would be called upon to respond. Those organizations brought apparatus and equipment to the training on Saturday to allow familiarization and hands-on opportunities to those in attendance.

Korte & Luitjohan Contractors in Highland provided space for the training and also dug three trenches to be utilized. The city of Highland brought out their vacuum truck to demonstrate how it could possibly be utilized in a trench rescue. Lunch was donated by the HPFD Auxiliary. These types of in-depth training would not be possible without the support of the community.