This past week our department conducted RIT training at 16th and Arlington on the east side of Indy on the campus of the now closed Naval Avionics Center. Each of the three shifts were brought in for three demanding drills each involving a downed firefighter. I made a trip on my day off to take photos of A-shift as they made their way through each drill.
You can see the entire photo set here on Flickr.
The "Denver" drill was performed in a simulated hallway with a roof-type obstacle. A team of two firefighters climb over to find a downed firefighter, unresponsive and unable to help during the rescue. The rescuers are directed to package the firefighter and position him for removal over the obstacle and then through a small opening to safety.
The maze drill was conducted in a building in which a maze was constructed throughout the first floor. Two firefighters maintained a right or left hand search pattern through simulated rafters, exposed floor joists, wire traps and stairs to find a downed firefighter who was then packaged and pulled back through the maze.
The third drill was called RIT combat. Basically simulating an actual RIT mission, RIT combat challenges the whole fire crew to find and rescue a downed firefighter upstairs in a two-story residence. This drill was a good test for a crew's ability to communicate and organize a rescue.
Each of these drills were physically demanding on their own. Put together, they emphasize the importance for each crew to train regularly on their own and to maintain a high level of physical fitness. Great job by Chiefs Duncan and Taylor and the rest of the instructors for organizing a valuable training for our department!
-MAG
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