|
California border, from the coast to the Idaho border.
<br />During the past year, Technical Rescue Team members had drills and classes in Confined Space
<br />Rescue, Trench Rescue, and Rope Rescue. These included joint drills with the Springfield Fire
<br />and Life Safety Department.
<br />This year a Trench Rescue class for first responders was given by team members to the rest of
<br />the Eugene Fire and EMS Department, and a similar class was offered to local volunteer depart-
<br />ments. Providing this same training to our regional partners enhances our community's safety
<br />through the mutual aid assistance we sometimes request. The classes were well received by all
<br />in attendance.
<br />The team hosted a Rope Rescue Certification class for two new members plus those wishing to
<br />join the team as openings allow. The class involved ropes and knots, haul and pulley setups,
<br />long-haul transport over open spaces, and climbs and work on a 600-foot television tower. This
<br />class is a basic requirement for team membership; we are fortunate to have qualified instructors
<br />in our own ranks.
<br />Recent national disasters point out the need for personnel trained in these specialized fields and
<br />available for immediate response or deployment as needed, first to protect our community, and
<br />second, to assist others in need throughout the rest of the State of Oregon.
<br />Hazardous iVlaterials Team -The department's Hazardous Materials Team responds to haz-
<br />ardous materials incidents throughout Lane County as part of the State's hazardous materials
<br />response system. During the past year the team handled a wide range of emergency responses,
<br />including seven full team responses. Responses ranged from an overturned gasoline tanker in
<br />Noti to response to a fire at Gheen Irrigation. The HazMat team has also responded to numer-
<br />ousreports of natural gas releases to provide air monitoring and expertise to the incident com-
<br />mander at the emergency scene. ,: ..x.; ,~.
<br />~ _ .~ - ~;:
<br />Team members attended classes ~.~ ~, , ~`_~ . _____~~'_~- ~~ ~~ ~~
<br />in radiological response, identi-
<br />fying explosive devices, weap- ~ ~ ~~~~
<br />ons of mass destruction '~, ~ ~,~~~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ , ~; ,
<br />(WMD), decontamination, and ~- _,,,~~
<br />the use of infrared technology
<br />to identify unknown products.
<br />Team members have also
<br />trained members of the Eugene
<br />Police in WMD response and °"~~"'"" `~'~~~"'~ "``
<br />have developed professional relationships with police personnel, thereby improving our com-
<br />munication in the field. This level of collaboration and operational familiarity is imperative
<br />when working on potential HazMat mass casualty responses,
<br />Team members also provide rural outreach hazardous materials awareness and operations level
<br />training to our regional partners along with annual refresher classes to department personnel
<br />and our rural partners.
<br />Water Rescue Team -This team consists of 24 EFD firefighters ranging from the rank of Fire-
<br />fighter to District Chief. The team provides around-the-clock emergency response to the Wil-
<br />lamette River as well as other bodies of water within the city. Team members are specifically
<br />trained in swift water rescue techniques. From the Downtown Fire Station at 13`" and Wil-
<br />lamette, the Water Rescue team can respond to launch sites with a rescue boat or wave runners.
<br />Currently the water rescue
<br />fleet consists of a 23 foot jet-
<br />powered inflatable boat with
<br />a rigid aluminum hull, three
<br />wave runners, and afan-
<br />poweredair boat. The Water
<br />Rescue Team members are
<br />equipped with dry suits,. per-
<br />sonalflotation devices, and
<br />helmets. Crew members
<br />must achieve a high level of
<br />proficiency in water rescue
<br />and water craft navigation
<br />before becoming a full team
<br />member. Ongoing training is
<br />conducted on a weekly basis.
<br />The Water Rescue Team responds to a higher number of calls during the summer months, but
<br />responds consistently throughout the year to waterway emergencies. Swift water rescue is
<br />made extremely challenging due the ever changing river levels and flows. This environment is
<br />very unforgiving due to the constantly changing forces of nature and the types of rescues to be
<br />performed.
<br />The team recently upgraded its wave runners and is focusing more on utilizing their capability
<br />in low-water conditions, as the wave runners offer tactical and time-saving advantages over the
<br />boats in many types of operations in our area. This has required additional training of water
<br />rescue personnel. Eugene's Water Rescue Team also has begun engaging more frequently in
<br />joint training and drilling with our counterparts in the Springfield Fire & Life Safety Depart-
<br />ment, thus increasing the capacity of both teams.
<br />In June of 2007 the Water Rescue Team served as principal organizer of the seventh annual
<br />Family Fun and Safety Fest at Alton Baker Park. The event attracted an estimated 10,000 visi-
<br />tors,judging bythe number of life jackets and bicycle helmets that were distributed free of
<br />charge to area youth. The primary focus is water safety for young people, but Safety Fest has
<br />grown each year to promote an "all risk" family safety culture. Safety Fest attendees are enter-
<br />tained by awide variety of safety demonstrations, equipment displays, and fun activities. We
<br />would especially like to thank our many partners in this event, including the Eugene Police De-
<br />partment, Eugene Public Works Department, Springfield Fire & Life Safety Department, Wil-
<br />lamalanePark & Recreation District, Bi-Mart, KVAL-TV, and State Farm Insurance.
<br />24 25
<br />
|