SCARNG firefighters train with local county firefighters

Courtesy Photo | South Carolina Army National Guard firefighters, soldiers of the 264th – 268th Engineer Detachments, 751st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, based at McCrady Training Center, Eastover S.C., spent an exhilarating day at Fire Station 29 with Columbia-Richland County Fire Department, Oct. 13, 2012. Their mission: cross training. Soldiers worked with firefighters of Station 29 to complete fire rescue exercises pertinent to their safety while on rescue calls. One of their critical tasks for the day was Rapid Intervention Training. RIT encompasses the procedures, protocols and actions necessary for the safe rescue of a fellow firefighter that has been hurt or trapped in a structure fire.  

COLUMBIA, SC, UNITED STATES

10.13.2012

Courtesy Story

South Carolina National Guard

By Staff Sgt. Tracci Dorgan, 108th Public Affairs and Sgt. Sasha Matthew, JFHQ Public Affairs

COLUMBIA, S.C.- South Carolina Army National Guard firefighters, Soldiers of the 264th – 268th Engineer Detachments, 751st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, based at McCrady Training Center, Eastover S.C., spent an exhilarating day at Fire Station 29 with Columbia-Richland County Fire Department, Oct. 13, 2012.

Their mission: cross training. Soldiers worked with firefighters of Station 29 to complete fire rescue exercises pertinent to their safety while on rescue calls. One of their critical tasks for the day was Rapid Intervention Training. RIT encompasses the procedures, protocols and actions necessary for the safe rescue of a fellow firefighter that has been hurt or trapped in a structure fire.

Staff Sgt. Andrew Centella, readiness noncommissioned officer for the engineer detachments, coordinated the exercise with Chief David Messner of the Columbia-Richland County Fire Service. This is the second training mission the soldier firefighters have completed with state firefighters and the beginning of a partnership between Richland and Lexington County fire departments and the SCARNG. The partnership was put together to build a community action plan that utilizes all assets available in a time of emergency, not just on drill weekends.

Currently, soldier firefighters take emergency calls for the Eastover area during drill weekends. As part of this partnership, soldiers could be called in for large emergencies.

“Eight trucks and 30 more firefighters can bring a lot to a tragedy,” said Centella. “With the training we have already started, we are getting to know each other and learning from each other, which will make it easier to work together in a time of emergency.”

“Today, two engineer detachments trained with Columbia-Richland County, two trained with Lexington County, and one detachment stayed at McCrady to perform normal drill weekend activities,” said Centella. “The South Carolina Army National Guard, 264th – 268th Engineer Detachments, make up the largest Army National Guard fire fighting station in the U.S.”

Spc. Tom Meldzuk, a tanker engineer for the 264th – 268th Engineer Detachments, said he got a lot from the RIT training.

“Working with the full-time firefighters from Station 29 is very beneficial. They give us helpful tips and show us more advanced procedures. They also show us where we need to work on our skills.”

“Speed is the most important thing when it comes to rescuing a downed firefighter. We focus on communication within the team which enables everyone to work faster,” added Meldzuk.

Centella said he hopes this cross training will not only better prepare the soldier firefighters, but also “bring awareness to the state that we exist as a fire fighting unit and can be activated for state missions because we have a lot to offer.”

Sgt. David Fowler, firefighter with the 264th – 268th Engineer Detachments, said he and the other firefighters have the opportunity to observe state firefighters perform routine procedures, such as reacting to an emergency call within two minutes of receiving the call, while stationed at Station 29 for a 24-hour duty day.

Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Welsh, command sergeant major for the CSSB, observed the RIT exercise and said “The command of the CSSB, 264th – 268th Engineer Detachments, and the firefighters of the South Carolina Army National Guard are looking forward to future joint training exercises with state fire departments. This vital training gives the soldiers opportunities to get out and conduct missions.”

• Date Taken: 10.13.2012
• Date Posted: 10.26.2012 15:37
• Story ID: 96829
• Location: COLUMBIA, SC, US