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14 OCTOBER 2007

FRACKVILLE PA -USA

     Once again the firefighters from 27 RESCUE were training.  This past weekend it was a road trip to Old Forge, Greenwood and then finally Frackville PA.

     The weekend tour was hosted by the Old Forge Fire Department 93 Engine with instruction by the newest area favorite training team from Task Force 1 Inc.

     Task Force 1 again brought FDNY Squad 252 Captain Tricarico to Northeast PA.  Captain Tricarico was in Throop last month as lead instructor of a Truck Company program hosted by the 27 RESCUE.

     The 16 hour session included evolutions in a vacant Old Forge PA warehouse on Saturday and concluded with a live burn on Sunday.  The burn was held at the Schuykill County Training Center in Frackville PA.

     Think you know all there is to know about Engine Company Operations?  THINK long and hard about your answer!  Better yet...talk to Captain Jim Williams (BIO) of the Old Forge Fire Department 93 Engine.

     For those of you who don't know Captain Williams he's synonymous with Engine Company operations throughout the "Down Valley" of Lackawanna County PA.  Jim has been a member and firefighter since 1978 and a fire officer since 1984, oh yeah he's trained a little bit too.

     The following article is taken from the Old Forge Fire Department 93 Engine website (www.offd-e93.com).  It's the Captain's take on how he requested an Engine Company Class from the private training company Task Force 1, Inc.

 IT WAS ANYTHING BUT NORMAL

When I talked to Ron Richards about doing an Engine Company Class we wanted something different.  Boy did him come through.  When he first arrived at 98’s Station he was kind of quiet.  That changed in the first 10 minutes.

Captain Tony Tricarico (left) of FDNY Squad 252 was the lead instructor.  He did a power point program for the first 2 hours, which was about the only thing normal that would happen for in the next 2 days. After taking us outside up to PNC Field we stretched out some 2 ½  off the high rise packs to the stand pipe systems.  He explained how we would stretch these lines around the floor areas and told us what it would be like with people running out in a real emergency.

When lunch was over we went into abandon warehouse in Old Forge and we had to put 2-2 ½  lines stretched 450 ft. thru the building up a second floor thru a old work type area and put water out the window area.

Want to see what the class was all about? 

     Here's a few links including photos and video:

     OLD FORGE Fire Department 93 ENGINE guest author Captain Jim Williams HERE>

       TASK FORCE 1, Inc HERE>     DAY 1 PHOTOS>    FDNY Squad 252>

       "It's raining fire BABY!"  VIDEO

The next scenario was if a Firefighter had fallen thru a hole in the floor and how you would be able to get them out using a hose line.  Let’s just say it was unbelievable in showing how Teamwork and a 2” line could lift someone out of that hole.  We did this probably 10 to 15 times with everyone either being rescued or pulling them up thru the hole.  After this Saturday ended and we knew this wasn’t just a normal Engine Company Class.

Sunday morning we moved to Schuylkill Fire Training Center a place we have used many times.  Now this was our comfort zone, our home court, time to shine, and show him what we do as we call “bread and butter”,  SO WE THOUGHT.  As we responded in to the front door we found Capt Tricarico standing there letting us know the front door was out of bounds.  So another way had to be used. This was what was going on all day, just when you thought you knew what he was going to do he changed the game plan.

In all Sunday we did 5 scenarios each being different and more difficult, and making you think more and more this was ANYTHING  BUT NORMAL.  So when the day ended we all looked at each other and felt this was  probably one of the best classes we had ever taken.  It was incredible to see new methods and he was able to push us to do things we never had done in any Engine Company Class before. 

In closing,  when the opportunity arises and you want and think you are up to the challenge, schedule a class with Task Force 1 and ask for Capt. Tony Tricarico, tell him Jimmy sent you.