Two Tennessee Locals Host Joint Fire Ops

October 18, 2010 – Chattanooga, TN Local 820 and Cleveland, TN Local 3748 fire fighters hosted their first joint Fire Ops 101 at the Chattanooga Fire Academy. Chattanooga City Council Member Andrae McGary and Communications Director Richard Beeland from Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield’s office both braved turnout gear to get a feel for what fire fighters do every day.

“This was a unique opportunity for our government leaders and the media to experience the dangers we face on a daily basis,” says Local 820 President Jeff Eldridge. “They need to know how important it is for fire fighters to have sufficient staffing and resources.”

Local 3748 President Dennis Carroll adds, “This year’s Fire Ops served as a great test trial for future Fire Ops. We learned a lot and are confident that next year’s event will be even more successful.”

The participants suited up in turnout gear and went through several emergency service evolutions guided by Local 820 and Local 3748 fire fighters. The scenarios included a pump relay, search and rescue, vehicle extrication and an Urban Search and Rescue evolution which required participants to dangle 40 feet in the air from rescue ropes.