A SusanvilleStuff Photofeature
by Marshel and Jeremy Couso
Nearly 65 firefighters from Cal Fire, Susanville, Janesville, Westwood, Susan River, and Sierra Army Depot attended the first multi-agency vehicle extrication training day sponsored by Pit Row Dismantlers and Susanville Towing last Saturday.
The emergency responders were given 20 vehicles to practice life-saving techniques with ‘Jaws of Life’ cutting tools and other specialized stabilization tools used to extricate occupants of vehicles involved in impact or roll-over related accidents.
This all-day event allowed emergency responders to train with other departments and new equipment in an effort to reduce the amount of time it takes to safely stabilize a vehicle and remove the occupants for medical transport.
“I think this training is so valuable because all of the different agencies are working together,” said Susan River Fire District Chief Jim Uruburu, “and every department gets experience and knowledge of other department’s equipment.”
Uruburu said that every minute counts in a car accident, more training means more lives saved.
Lassen High School donated a school bus for the training that was used to create an accident scenario where a bus had rolled over on top of a passenger car.
“Fire crews were able to train responders on the use of stabilizing equipment and the use of emergency exits specific to a school bus,” explained Pit Row Dismantlers owner Jason Adams, who orchestrated the multi-agency training. “Susanville Towing used the wrecked bus scenario to demonstrate vehicle recovery methods and how their equipment and personnel are able aid in occupant removal and extrication as well.”
Pit Row Dismantlers donated a Toyota Prius Hybrid vehicle that will be used as permanent teaching module, showing the locations of high voltage cables and restricted cutting areas of the vehicle that are potentially dangerous to emergency responders and the vehicle’s occupants.
According to Adams community support for this event was overwhelming and he thanked The Pizza Factory, Carlson’s Tire Pros and Autopro Collision for providing lunch for all that attended.
We have more than 100 photos from the multi-agency training in our SusanvilleSnapshots.com gallery! Click here to see them all!
We have more than 100 photos from the multi-agency training in our SusanvilleSnapshots.com gallery! Click here to see them all!
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