Members of the Harrison Fire Department recently trained for high angle rope rescues.
HARRISON –
Earlier this year, a construction worker at one of the town’s waterfront development area project sites fell some 15 feet from one platform to another below.
The Harrison Fire Department sent a crew to help rescue the individual, recalled Harold Stahl, the town’s public safety director.
Given the fact that there’s a lot of residential and retail construction going on now and there will be even more happening as redevelopment activity continues, Stahl figured he would get the town’s fire personnel, as first responders, fully prepared for any future emergencies.
To that end, the Harrison Fire Department sent eight of its members to the Morris County Fire Academy for 40 hours of “high angle rope training” May 12 to 15 to hone skills that are needed for rescues at high elevations at construction and/or highrise tower sites.
Fire Lts. Joe Cavanaugh, Dave Prina, Bob Underhill, Joe Faugno and Bill Faulkner joined Firefighters Eric Hausman, Steve Fostek and Kevin DeGaetano in successfully completing training conducted by instructors Harrison Fire Capt. Joe Lang and retired Dover Fire Capt. Scott Warner.
Now that these men have gained certification in these skills, they, in turn, will be able to help train the other Harrison fire peronnel, Stahl said.
To go along with the training, Stahl said, the department purchased state-of-the-art equipment that firefighters can use for rescue missions, including 1,200 feet of new rescue rope, four Class 3 harnesses and hardware used in high-angle rescues.
– Ron Leir
