Waukesha Fire Department Trains for Accident Scenarios

A group of Waukesha firefighters spent part of their morning Wednesday training  for horrific accident scenes at . They were able to develop and refresh their skills for future calls that involve extraction of a patient.

“We work hand in hand,” said Kevin Johnson, deputy fire chief of training and EMS, about working with Elder's Towing. “We use their assets that we don’t have and their expertise, though we are the rescue people.”

Elder's Towing has the tools and equipment that the fire department can use in extrication situations to help stabilize vehicles. Elder's Towing works with the fire department in training once a year “not only to give them the experience with cutting cars apart, but also to show them – with the equipment that we have – how we can assist them out on the scene,” said Gordon Irvine, manager of Elder's Towing.

The worked with the towing company at a scene earlier this year after they rescued an elderly gentleman and . Elder's Towing brought the van out of the river after the firefighters completed a successful cold water rescue.

On Wednesday, though, it was different as firefighters worked to “rescue” one of their own from a bus that was tipped over. Irvine said he likes to give the fire department “surprises” when they come to training each year.

One of those surprises was the food that was left in the back of a vehicle. With the sun beating down on the stinky food, the firefighters were stuck making jokes about the stench while working to take the roof off the vehicle.  

But it’s not all fun and games in training. It’s practicing for real-life situations to keep the firefighters experienced in between serious calls.

“We try to give them different scenarios every time they come out,” Irvine said. “It gives them something new.”