Published: May 13, 2008 02:56 pm            

Technical Rescue Task Force gathers in Plainfield for training

PLAINFIELD, Ind. — Firefighters from across the county are hoping that the creation of a new technical rescue task force will help them work together on incidents, while providing residents with more assistance in the event of a water or confined space rescue.

Plainfield Fire Lt. Joey Beikes said this is the first task force of its kind in the county.

The focus of the task force, Beikes said, is to provide residents with county-wide coverage in the event of a water, high angle rope, confined space, or ice rescue.

Battalion Chief Michael Hildebrand said, “These are low percentage runs. They don’t happen often.”

Before the establishment of the county task force this past January, firefighters from each of the county’s departments — Avon, Brownsburg, Danville, Liberty Township, Lizton, Mill Creek, North Salem, Pittsboro, and Plainfield — were trying to perform these types of rescues by themselves or relying heavily upon Marion County departments to assist them.

But with the creation of the centralized, county-wide dispatch center and established mutual aid alliances, firefighters from several departments can be dispatched at the same time to provide the lead fire department with assistance.

“It’s about grouping all forces together instead of as individuals,” Beikes added.

Hildebrand said the idea for the task force was the brain-child of the members of the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association. Association members wanted all firefighters, whether career or volunteer, to be not only highly trained, but to have the ability to work together efficiently.

Beikes said they have been hosting meetings for the past couple of Saturdays at the Plainfield Fire Department Headquarters.

Beikes said the meetings allow firefighters from different departments and different shifts to meet each other and take a look at the available rescue equipment.

“It’s for the future goal of performing on the same level,” he added.

But there are challenges, he admitted. There are three types of departments in the county — career, volunteer, and a combination. Beikes said they all have different schedules, training, and department procedures.

Hildebrand said, “They have to accept the fact that there’s more than one way to do this.”

He said the task force is made up of firefighters from career departments, but is open to everyone.

“Not one department can fund it on their own,” he added.

Beikes said the task force recently applied for and received a grant for $5,000 to be used for the purchase of water rescue equipment. He said it will primarily be used for water rescues in the Lizton, North Salem, Pittsboro, and Mill Creek coverage areas.

He said they plan to reapply for the same grant next year and rotate it between all of the departments.

Because each department has equipment for different types of rescue, Beikes said the task force will be training quarterly until everyone knows how to work all of the equipment and knows what to do in various situations.





Amanda Roach writes for the Hendricks County Flyer in Avon, Ind.

        

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