Altus Fire/Rescue Department has hit the ground running for 2010! In addition to the unforeseen emergencies that our great City has succumbed to thus far, AFD’s training schedule is packed with intense, emergency response training in order to better prepare for emergency incidents.

Although the National Fire Protection Association requires firefighters to have specific firefighting qualifications, AFD prepares for all types of emergencies that are privy to our area. Firefighters just completed Rope Rescue Part I and Part II at the training tower on North Main through OSU-Fire Service Training.

Part I is a 16-hour program with classroom and hands-on training. Firefighters completed tasks in rope rescue equipment selection and use, knots, anchor systems, fixed rope systems, construction and operation of belay systems, rappelling, and system safety checks.

Part II is also a 16-hour program that allowed firefighters hands-on instruction in the construction of simple and compound mechanical advantage systems, patient packaging and transport in high angle rescue. The hands-on intensive scenarios challenged the firefighters with decision-making abilities and improved their capabilities to conduct sophisticated team rescues.

Spring is right around the corner, and people will be on the trails hiking and rock climbing. Chief Wheeler says, “With this training, our department is better prepared for technical rope rescues and the critical response time for a rescue is narrowed with trained professionals on hand in this area”.

OSU-Fire Service Training Instructors were C.D. Perkins, Boiling Springs Park Ranger; Ty Burnett, Claremore Fire Department; and Clay Richardson, Altus Fire/Rescue Lieutenant. Steven Davis, Altus Fire/Rescue Firefighter assisted.