IAFF 7th District Holds District-Wide Fire Ops

On May 22 of 2009, the IAFF 7th District hosted its fifth Fire Ops at the HAMMER training facility in Richland, Washington. Thirty-six decision-makers and media traveled from various points in Washington, Montana and Idaho to participate. “This program is as much about education as it is about relationship-building,” says IAFF 7th District Vice President Ricky Walsh. Accordingly, locals must send members to accompany its participants. This year’s participants completed six evolutions: live burn, search and rescue, EMS, propane emergency, roof operations and extrication. It was covered well in both print publications and television news stations. “This is a huge event that requires about 100 of our members to conduct, so it takes a lot of coordination,” says Walsh. “I am really fortunate to have the HAMMER facility nearby for us to use.”

The HAMMER provides hands-on training for emergency service professionals for high-risk tasks and to learn how to use technologies.