Ohio Fire Fighters Train to Save Their Own

November 4, 2008 – More than 600 Ohio fire fighters are better prepared to save downed fire fighters after receiving training developed by Columbus, OH Local 67 member Craig Mosley and Grandview Heights, OH Local 1792 member Chris Evrard to standardize and improve fire fighters’ ability to respond quickly and effectively to fire fighters in trouble.

In 2007, the Columbus Division of Fire formed the Rapid Intervention Committee to address and standardize the varying skills and operating procedures in fire departments.
Grandview Heights Local 1792 arranged to use an old grocery store warehouse for the training. Meanwhile, committee members Mosley and Evrard worked together to develop the training program.

“In determining what to include we knew that we wanted to include the Nance Drill, named after a Columbus fire fighter who died in the line of duty,” says Evrard.

John Nance died in July 1987 while responding to a four-story commercial building fire. The origin of the blaze was thought to be in the basement. As he was searching for a place to cut a hole to relieve some of the heavy smoke, the floor collapsed under him. Attempts to rescue him were unsuccessful.

In the Nance Drill, one rescuer is lowered into the hole where there is a trapped fire fighter. The rescuer then prepares a bow-shaped knot called a handcuff hitch and slips the "handcuffs” around the trapped fire fighter's arms. When the ropes are tightened, the rescuer steps back and calls up for fellow fire fighters to lift out the trapped fire fighter.

“After the training, one fire fighter reported that he had been on the Nance fire and wished he had had this training then,” says Evrard. “That really meant a lot.”

The training also included:
• The Denver Drill – developed to help a downed fire fighter through a narrow window opening while working in a small area of space.
• RIT Pack – helps fire fighters get a reserve air supply to a fire fighter low on air and then rescue the fire fighter.
• MayDay station – creates a scenario in which fire crews call in a May Day after entering a maze in which a fire fighter becomes entangled in the obstructions. The final step includes a fall-through-the-floor simulator.

Participating locals included Columbus Local 67, Grandview Heights Local 1792, Upper Arlington Local 1521, Worthington Local 3498, Pleasant Township Local 2937, Miffin Township Local 2828 and Franklin Township Local 1441.