ASHLAND - Large city fire departments have an
advantage over smaller town counterparts - they have the finances and enough
personnel to have specialized departments.
That's why the Ashland, Hopkinton, Milford and Southborough fire
departments formed the Southern Fire District 14 Technical Rescue Team, and
are trained in such specialized areas as trench rescues.
"These specialized areas are very difficult for individual
departments to have," said Ashland Fire Chief William Kee. "We're
not a very big department, so the only way we can have them is by teaming
with other departments."
Yesterday, the team, which includes 25 members, completed a three-day
training exercise at the Ashland fire station on Chestnut Street.
Two members of a Federal Emergency Management Agency task force on
technical rescue trained the team on collapsed building rescue.
"They were doing shoring techniques, breaching and entry techniques
and searching and extricating victims from structures," said Kee.
"Training is key - it's absolutely key. It's technical stuff, so you
have to stay proficient in it."
The District 14 team was formed in July 2001 as a joint project by the
chiefs of the four departments. The team meets for monthly training, as well
as large training exercises such as yesterday's.
In addition to personal firefighting gear, the team has equipped two
trailers with a variety of specialized rescue equipment, including lumber
for support of walls or ceilings, ropes, a generator, lights and other
necessities.
Access to the team is important for all of the involved departments,
Southborough Fire Chief John Mauro said.
"It's great that we can get a top-notch technical rescue team by
supplying a few members from each department that are equipped to handle
these technical situations."
Since its inception, the team has only been used twice: a woman trapped
in a cave in Sutton this summer, and the July explosion in Hopkinton that
killed Iris Carey, 4, and Violet Carey, 5.
Mauro said he'd be happy never to have to use the team again, but that's
not realistic.
"I see it as being very similar to the state hazardous materials
team," said Mauro. "The team may not be used for awhile, but then
you'll have to use it a few times."
Although it seemed odd to have building-collapse training on Sept. 11,
the anniversary of the terrorist attacks, Kee said it made sense.
"We stopped and had a small ceremony of remembrance," said Kee.
"To the members of the team, and to be bold, to firefighters
everywhere, that's the best way we can honor the firefighters who
died," Kee said.
