Moore firefighters participate in search and rescue training

2017-02-02 - BY THOMAS MAUPIN For The Oklahoman

Four firefighters from Moore’s Fire Station No. 2 were the first to participate in a search and rescue training session last week at the old Main Control Building at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. Other crews were scheduled for the training later in the week.

Assistant Fire Chief Ronnie Rawson, training officer and a 27-year member of the department, said the exercise was to practice entering a building and searching for anyone in that location. Firefighters were to search each room until a person, represented by a dummy, was found. Next, firefighters would check the person’s condition and remove that person from the building.

Once outside the building with the dummy, firefighters were reminded by Rawson of things to consider. What size is the building? How many floors are there? Is the building cleared? How do they know each room has been searched?

At that point, the firefighters re-entered the building and resumed searching other rooms and floors for other people. The search included the building’s basement and roof.

During a segment of the search, one firefighter explained that to show a room had been searched, they were closing the door to that room. He said in an actual search, such as after a tornado, tape would be placed on a door to signal the room had been searched.

Maj. Steve Allison, deputy training officer and a 12-year member of the department, said this training and others are required once a month by the National Fire Protection Association. He said each crew would take 35 to 40 minutes performing the search and rescue exercise.

Those taking part in Tuesday’s first session were Maj. Shonn Neidel, Sgt. Dustin Davis, Cpl. Clayton Hart and Cpl. Andrew Rasor.

After the training ended, Rawson met with the firefighters and went over what was done and how they performed their duties.

The firefighters wore complete uniforms, including helmet, face protection and breathing equipment. Allison said a firefighter’s complete outfit weighs about 45 pounds.