York Village Fire had its regular Thursday night training last night. Members were focusing on Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) skills. RIT is specifically rescuing downed firefighters. Crews were working in limited visibility with the RIT SCBA bag (a specially designed SCBA) and the rope assisted search bag (RAST) The rope assisted search bag has knots every 20′ feet and metal rings denoting the way out (one knot per 20′) (80 feet into the building is 4 knots with a ring on the one closest to the doorway) firefighters use these tools under extremely difficult and stressful conditions so the equipment must be learned and memorized so that its use is automatic. This is one reason why our weekly training is so important. While learning essential job skills the firefighters also have fun which makes the learning environment very pleasant.
In the scenario, a firefighter is down and his PASS alarm is going off, while simultaneously the firefighter is low on air. The RIT team proceeds in with the search rope to locate the firefighter. They then asses the firefighter and use the RIT SCBA to provide lifesaving air while the members move the downed firefighter to safety, the company officer guides them along the rope that they brought in with them to the exterior of the building.
