ROCKLAND — Rockland and Rockport fire departments participated in a joint training Oct. 26 on vehicle extrication.

Camden Exxon donated three cars for the firefighter training and delivered them to the Rockland Transfer Station where the training was held. The cars were placed in three different positions for the training. One car was upright on all four wheels, another on its side, and one on its roof. 

Seventeen members of the Rockport Fire Department and 16 from Rockland attended the training. Firefighters Rodney Gibbs, Patrick Lowe, and Robert French lead the training, according to Rockport Fire Chief Jason Peasley.

Firefighters learned new techniques involving air bags and how to lift a vehicle to remove a trapped victim. Class participants then split into teams combining firefighters from both towns and learned how to respond to a variety of rescue scenarios involving cars that were upside down and rolled on their sides. Firefighters worked together using a variety of tools that are used to free victims trapped in vehicles following a crash.    

“It’s great for our department to continue joint trainings as we are working together more and more frequently when responding to actual calls. Seventy-five percent of Rockland Fire Department members are career firefighters and can always provide valuable advice for many of the Rockport volunteers,” said Peasley.

Rockland Fire Chief Chris Whytock added that “there is definitely a value of getting together for joint trainings, especially when the departments are sharing tools.”

Peasley said that upcoming trainings already on the schedule for the Rockport Fire department include a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) bailout, an obstacle course for December and a joint ice rescue as soon as the weather allows. Whytock added that a training on bailing out of a window using special equipment for that type of escape is also being planned.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com